National Public Lands Day

Forest Service Naturalists with Children at Cape Perpetua, Siuslaw National Forest. | Photo courtesy of US Forest Service PNW

Celebrate National Public Lands Day in Yachats on Saturday, September 29, 11a.m. to 3p.m., by helping kick-off the Agents of Discovery Cape Perpetua Scenic Area "Healthy Forest" mission. Explore the Discovery Loop Trail using the US Forest Service's Agents of Discovery game app. Participants will receive special kick-off appreciation awards. Spanish language assistance will be available. The Cape Perpetua Visitor Center (2400 US-101, Yachats) will feature special exhibits about aspects of a healthy old growth, temperate rain forest. Call the Visitor Center at 541-547-3289 for more information.

Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and general health. This year’s event, on September 29, 2018, will focus on restoration and resilience of our public lands. 

This year is the 25th anniversary of National Public Lands Day as well as the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System and National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. It’s a big year for our public lands!

There are many ways to participate in National Public Lands Day.

• You can visit a national park for free.
• You can take part in a volunteer work project.If you volunteer on this day, you will receive a fee-free day coupon to be used on a future date.
• You can share your favorite outdoor activity on social media channel with the hashtag #NPSVolunteer, #FindYourPark and #NPLD!

National Public Lands Day is organized annually by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in cooperation with Department of the Interior, Department of the Army, and Department of Agriculture. The National Park Service is one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. Other participating federal agencies include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers.