National Public Lands Day on September 26 Keeps America's 250th Year of Service Going

News provided by

National Environmental Education Foundation

Sep 01, 2026, 08:35 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- July 4th may be behind us, but the 250th anniversary celebration continues, and National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is part of it. On September 26, communities nationwide will mark the 33rd annual NPLD, one of the nation's largest single-day volunteering events for public lands.

Caring for Our Shared America
Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), NPLD brings communities and public land agencies together to care for outdoor spaces.

Volunteers remove trash along the Lower Salt River near Mesa, Arizona, during a National Public Lands Day event. The site will host the 2026 NPLD Signature Event on September 26. Photo by Natural Restorations

Volunteers plant mangroves during a 2022 National Public Lands Day event at Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area in Florida. Photo by Paul Marino Photography

"This year's theme, 'Caring for Our Shared America,' speaks to what the nation's 250th is all about," said Sara Espinoza, president and CEO of NEEF. "National Public Lands Day gives people another chance to be part of that story."

This year, NPLD is part of a broader effort to make service a defining part of America's 250th. NEEF partnered with America250 on the America Gives campaign to help make 2026 the largest year of volunteerism in U.S. history. NEEF is also partnering with Outward Bound USA for The Reset, inviting young people and families outdoors on September 26.

NPLD by the Numbers
In 2025, more than 55,000 volunteers joined over 900 NPLD events, contributing $9.4 million in volunteer service.

"The National Park Service and the American public remain grateful for the energy, creativity, and heart NPLD volunteers bring each year," said Samantha Zurbuch, Nationwide Volunteers-In-Parks Program Coordinator at National Park Service.

Partners Behind NPLD
NPLD comes to life through federal partners, including the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service; state park systems; and local nonprofit partners. As the national coordinator, NEEF brings those efforts together into a shared day for public lands.

"We are honored to be working with NEEF," said Paul McCormack, president of the National Association of State Park Directors. "By supporting NPLD we have a chance to honor America's State Parks by giving back to the public lands that belong to and connect us all."

Events Across the Country
NEEF supports organizers with resources, grants, and an online platform.

Across the country, events include:

Roll, toss, and help a burned landscape recover at Hafen Lane Park, Nevada: Make native seed balls and toss them into a burn scar.
Learn to fish with a park ranger at Little River Canyon National Preserve, Alabama: Junior anglers can learn the basics, with supplies provided.
Pull on some waders and help the wetlands at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC: Remove invasive plants and collect litter.
Give back, then join the fun at Helen McCabe State Park Property, Washington: Volunteer, then enjoy fishing, scavenger hunts, and a bullfrog-catching challenge.
Clean up the river at this year's NPLD Signature Event near Mesa, Arizona: Remove trash during the 11th annual Lower Salt River Cleanup.
Celebrate salmon, science, and song at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington: The 37th annual festival features music, archery, arts, and hands-on learning.