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Dear NPLD Site Managers, Partners and Volunteers:
With Spring here, many of you will start seeing an influx of visitation to your parks and public lands. In addition to gearing up for your visitors, it's also the perfect time to start planning your volunteer events. This year, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is on September 24th. It's never too early to register.
This year we are focusing on increasing the number of volunteer activities in state parks and urban areas. We've reached out to new federal programs, city and state organizations such as America's State Parks (see article below) to bolster support for NPLD on the state and local level.
Last month, NPLD was highlighted in the President's America's Great Outdoors report and is working closely with the First Lady's Let's Move Outside! program to highlight the benefits of getting outdoors and being active.
Please take a moment today to register your volunteer worksite for this year's NPLD. It promises to be the best edition yet!
Robb Hampton
Director, National Public Lands Day
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 NPLD Partners with America's State Parks
Invite Your State Parks To Be a Part of NPLD | |
 Last year, over 130 state parks around the country hosted events. Thousands of dedicated volunteers removed invasive plants, cleaned up trash and restored state historic sites. This year, NPLD is hoping for a record number of state park events thanks to a new partnership with the America's State Parks initiative. America's State Parks is organized by the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) and is committed to giving a unified voice to all state park systems.
America's State Parks is inviting every state park system in the country to participate in NPLD. State parks can show their support for NPLD by promoting participation to affiliated parks or signing a Memorandum of Mutual Support with NPLD. In 2010, NPLD signed Memorandums of Mutual Support with Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Kentucky.
To learn more about this partnership, please visit our website. |
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Site of the Month
A National Landmark Protected at the Local Level |
 In just one day visitors to the Grove National Historic Landmark can learn about Native American history, tour a museum and spend time exploring savanna, prairie and wetland habitats. It's a unique destination that offers families a chance to learn about the local history and environment of Illinois. The Grove is managed by the Glenview Park District and was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of Interior in 1976.
The Grove National Historic Landmark recently registered for their third consecutive NPLD. In 2010, volunteers, including two Cub Scout troops, helped remove invasive species and collect native seeds for replanting. The Grove's restoration steward held an educational session on park biology and the benefits of reclaiming the land from invasive species. For this year's event, the Grove expects over 100 volunteers will remove brush and debris and continue their native seed collection project. |
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Be Water Wise Launches in DC
Expands Beyond Miami and Atlanta to the Nation's Capital
The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is proud to annouce the launch of Be Water Wise in its third city, Washington, D.C.
Be Water Wise is a K-12 education program focused on water conservation. It is a unique program that utilizes public-private partnerships to create resources and curriculum and provide professional development and funding for teachers. Be Water Wise brings together federal and local governments, businesses, nonprofits and public schools to provide meaningful water conservation education to students.
After successfully implementing Be Water Wise in Miami and Atlanta, NEEF decided to bring the program to Washington, DC. It was a natural fit, as D.C. is faced with many water conservation challenges related to storm water management and its location at the heart of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
For more information, visit the Be Water Wise webpage. |  |
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The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) provides knowledge to trusted professionals who, with their credibility, amplify messages to national audiences to solve everyday environmental problems. Together, we generate lasting positive change.
NEEF partners with professionals in health, education, media, business and public land management to promote daily actions for helping people protect and enjoy the environment. Through our primary programs- Classroom Earth, National Public Lands Day, National Environmental Education Week, Business and Environment, Earth GaugeŽ, and Health and Environment- we offer Americans knowledge to live by. To learn more, call (202) 833-2933 or visit www.neefusa.org.
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Our Programs | |
National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve America's public lands. NPLD began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers.
The Public Lands Program aims to increase the capacity of public lands stewards to engage local communities to help care for our public lands. The Public Lands Program provides online training resources, networking opportunities and small grants to increase the capacity of friends groups.
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National Sponsor | |
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. operates under a Global Earth Charter which was set forth to promote environmental responsibility for every aspect of the company and significantly reduce the impact that Toyota's vehicles have on the planet.
In line with their commitment to environmental responsibility, Toyota has sponsored the National Public Lands Day program for 13 consecutive years. They have also sponsored Tour Grants and the Every Day Grants.
Toyota encourages employees to get involved in NPLD activities by helping to care for parks, forests, rivers, beaches, shorelines and other public lands. Read more about Toyota's strong commitment to the environment and their support of National Public Lands Day.
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Corporate Sponsor
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Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
Through its partnership with National Public Lands Day, Northrop Grumman employees across the nation will join together to improve and enhance public lands, supporting the company's corporate responsibility efforts in embracing green initiatives and translating values into action. |
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Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts | |
NPLD has a special partnership with both the Girl Scouts of the USA and the Boy Scouts of America.
Scouts are invited to get involved with National Public Lands Day by volunteering at a local park, forest or other public land.
NPLD is an excellent opportunity to educate Boy and Girl Scouts about the natural world while engaging them in the outdoors. Register now.
If your Scout troop registers online with NPLD, they will receive volunteer certificates and Girl Scouts may be eligible to earn the Get with the Land patch.
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Fee Free Day |
National Public Lands Day is a fee free day on many federally managed lands. Volunteers who participate on National Public Lands Day at federal land sites are rewarded with coupons for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas. Learn more.
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