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Dear NPLD Site Managers, Partners and Volunteers:
With the start of the school year, teachers, scout leaders and parents are looking for ways to inspire students, keep them motivated and introduce service learning projects. National Public Lands Day is just a few weeks away and classrooms are using NPLD to jump-start community service.
Many student organizations have already signed up to build trails, remove invasive plants and trash, paint signs, beautify landscapes and more on America's public lands.
- Over thirty elementary, middle and high schools are participating in clean-up projects, with many more using NPLD to hold World Water Monitoring Day testing.
- Colleges, including the University of Illinois, Middle Tennessee State University and U.C. Santa Barbara will be using NPLD as a day for students to bond and improve the local community.
- The Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. are strong partners of NPLD. Over 175 sites have reported that scouts will be participating in their event. 25 troops have also taken advantage of our scout registration feature.
The latest NPLD press release is available online and it further highlights how NPLD is engaging youth in service as they head back to school. Download the press release and distribute it to your local newspapers, blogs and schools.
There are less than 30 days until NPLD and we're hoping you'll join us in making this year's event the greatest in the program's history.
Robb Hampton
Director, National Public Lands Day |
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World Water Monitoring Day and NPLD
Partnership provides hundreds of groups with test kits |  World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) has been a strong partner of National Public Lands Day for the last 2 years. Last year, WWMD provided over 100 sites free water quality tests kits. The test kits were a fun, easy way to integrate an educational activity into NPLD. Many school groups were introduced to NPLD for the first time because of this incentive.
This year, WWMD increased their support of NPLD by offering free test kits to any group that registered before September 1 and requested a kit. So far, over 375 test kits have been requested.
This offer is ending soon. To receive a test kit, register for either NPLD or WWMD by September 1. Mark the appropriate check box and a test kit will be mailed to you soon. |
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September is a Celebration of Service
Organizations are joining NPLD in bringing community service to the month of September |
National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest one-day volunteer event for public lands. Although the vast majority of NPLD events occur on September 24, many sites have alternate dates throughout the month. For example, school g roups often host their events during the week, so as to include as many students as possible.
Nonprofits who support community service and outdoor education are leading volunteer celebrations throughout September. The majority of the events can count as a part of NPLD and should be registered online.
- The Natural Service Network is inviting youth to participate in Service Outside September. S.O.S. is focused on engaging young people with fun service projects. The goal is to illustrate to youth that volunteerism enlivens the spirit, improves health and helps build new friendships.
- The Sierra Club's youth and outings programs will engage in outdoor service events throughout the month and offer opportunities for youth, veterans, military families and diverse communities around the country to participate. Key Service Outdoors dates are on September 11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, and on NPLD.
- The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is inviting families to participate in a family hiking day on September 24. The hikes can be in conjunction with many of the volunteer events happening on NPLD. Taking the family hiking is a great way to integrate Let's Move Outside into a NPLD celebration.
If you are hosting a volunteer event in September, and haven't yet registered it with NPLD because it is not on the 24th, go online now to register your event and receive free promotional materials in our next mailing. |
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Register for NPLD and Receive Free Promotional Materials
The last date to receive free promotional materials is Sept 8 | |
As a thank you for hosting a volunteer event, NPLD offers free promotional materials to site managers. The posters and brochures help attract volunteers and educate others as to why your event is part of NPLD. Federal sites also receive fee-free coupons for their volunteers.
There are two more mailings of promotional materials left. If you register your event by the morning of September 1, the materials will be mailed out the first week of September. The last date to register and receive free promotional materials is September 8.
Registrations will continue to be accepted until September 24, but promotional materials are not guaranteed. The promotional materials are also available for download online and include Spanish language versions. |
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Colleges Are Embracing NPLD
Schools are using NPLD to get students working together | |
 National Public Lands Day is a day to get outside, meet new people and help the community. For colleges, NPLD provides a great opportunity for freshman and other students to intermingle and discover the natural resources surrounding the campus.
Three colleges have planned their own NPLD clean up events:
- Middle Tennessee State University, Center for Environmental Education - Students will be performing water quality testing, cleaning a stream and maintaining the Sinking Creek watershed.
- University of California Santa Barbara Residence Halls Association is removing invasive species from Arroyo Hondo Preserve.
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is hosting two events. The first is to perform maintenance on the campus rain garden. The second event is to pick up debris and remove invasive species from Allerton Park.
Many more colleges are lending a hand to registered sites including:
Arkansas Tech University, Humboldt State University, Jacksonville State University, Marist College, Missouri Western State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Northwestern University, University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin-Marinette.
If your university would like to get involved with NPLD, email jjones@neefusa.org or register online at www.publiclandsday.org. |
 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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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. |
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About NPLD | |
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. |
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