Today is National Public Lands Day, an event created by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). This day was first recognized in 1994, so it's one year older than me. The event is hosted by many government entities, including the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Army Corps of Engineers. It's an opportunity for people to volunteer at public lands, whether they are planting threatened species, picking up trash, or assisting with maintenance. In fact, it's the largest single-day volunteer event in the United States. When this event was last held in 2019, it drew over 150,000 volunteers, which created an equivalent of $15 million in volunteer work.
As a park ranger, I get to assist volunteers during public lands day. This year, I helped to paint a fence at the Lakeview Sandbar in Vidor, Texas, which is part of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Volunteers received a water bottle with the NPS logo and will also get a fee free park pass by mail. Additionally, many entities waive their fees on this day.
If you missed this opportunity to volunteer, don't worry! The National Parks have opportunities for Volunteers-in-Parks (VIPs) throughout the year. You can use the NPS website to find a park nearest you.