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Dear NPLD Site Managers, Partners and Volunteers:
National Public Lands Day had another successful year in large part from the support of our partners who helped promote NPLD events through press releases, newsletters, social media and worked with us to produce educational resources.
- World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) - For the second year in a row, WWMD donated water quality test kits to site managers. In 2010, they donated 100 kits. This year, WWMD mailed out over 300 test kits and were the catalyst for many school-based NPLD events and educational programming.
- Natural Service Network - The Children and Nature Network's Natural Service Network is dedicated to getting young people out in their local environment to volunteer. The Serve Outside September celebration promoted NPLD as a great way to jump-start service projects.
- America's State Parks - The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) encouraged state park systems to be active with NPLD.
- Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. - Over 130 scout troops participated in NPLD with many of the troops leading their events and serving as inspiration for others.
Similar to how these partners helped NPLD provide tools to site managers, Friends Groups support local public lands by leading educational and volunteer events. NPLD wants to help Friends Group in their goals to improve our nation's public lands by inviting them to apply for Every Day Grants. Jump to the article below to learn more about this funding opportunity.
If your organization would like to partner with NPLD, contact jjones@neefusa.org. We're always looking for innovative ways to connect with volunteers and public lands managers.
Have a great Thanksgiving! Robb Hampton Director, National Public Lands Day |
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NPLD Final Review
The numbers and impact of NPLD 2011 |
 This year, NPLD was responsible for hosting 2,067 sites. More than 170,000 volunteers contributed $17 million in improvements to public land sites in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Volunteers helped remove invasive plants, clear trails, plant trees, restore historic sites and build nesting boxes at public lands ranging from local community gardens to Yosemite National Park.
Additional 2011 stats and news:
- 37 states and 71 cities, counties and towns released proclamations declaring September 24 as NPLD.
- It's estimated that volunteers removed 500 tons of trash, collected 23,000 lbs. of invasive plants, built and maintained 1,500 miles of trails and planted 100,000 trees, shrubs and other plants.
- The eight federal agency partners accounted for 42% of all NPLD sites, continuing their strong support of volunteerism. NPLD was a fee-free day at national parks, wildlife refuges and range-lands. Volunteers who worked with the federal agency partners received
 fee-free coupons. - There were two signature events: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta and Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. The Atlanta event featured an urban camping trip for youth, while the U.S. Surgeon General spoke at the Rock Creek Park recreation and health fair.
- Publicity for NPLD remained strong as television shows, newspapers and blogs promoted the nationwide effort and individual events. NPLD was featured on LivingSocial and Robb Hampton, director of NPLD, was interviewed on The Weather Channel.
- NPLD launched a new website and expanded its outreach through social media networks.
If you have questions about NPLD 2011, or would like to learn how to get involved further in 2012, please contact npld@neefusa.org.
Now we turn our attention to NPLD 2012 on Saturday, September 29, 2012. See you there! |
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NPLD is a 2012 Fee-Free Day
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Every Day 2012 Grants Program Opens!
Helping our public lands by helping their friends | |
Our nation's public lands need our support every day. With stretched budgets and limited staff, land managers at federal, state and local public lands need all the help they can get. That help often comes from nonprofit organizations whose missions are focused  on serving public land sites and improving the health and responsible use of those sites. Sometimes these organizations are called Friends Groups, sometimes Cooperating Associations, sometimes, simply a partner.
These volunteer organizations, while dedicated and passionate, are often underfunded and understaffed. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), with generous support from Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., seeks to strengthen these organizations and unleash their potential to serve their public lands. NEEF's Every Day Grants will strengthen the stewardship of public lands by supporting Friends Groups through funding for organizational capacity-building.
The Every Day Grants application is now available. Applications are due January 13, 2012. Learn more and apply online.
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Planet Connect Get Green Video Contest
High school students can show how they would green their city
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 The National Environmental Education Foundation's Planet Connect website serves as an education portal for high school students interested in the environment. The website features information on grants, green jobs and colleges and has contests and success stories.
If you know a high school student with a great idea for improving their city, invite them to enter the Get Green Video Contest, presented by Staples.
The 2012 Get Green Video Contest theme is STEM, specifically how Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics can be used to green a city. The high school student should make a video between 30 to 120 seconds in length that reflects how they hope to achieve their green goal for their city or town. The deadline is December 8, 2011.
Visit the Planet Connect website for rules and links to uploading your video.
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Site of the Month
Nashville comes together to clean J. Percy Priest Lake | To the southeast of downtown Nashville lies J. Percy Priest Lake, a reservoir and public land formed by Percy Priest Dam. Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the large lake serves as a recreation destination for much of Middle Tennessee and Nashville. Of the thousands of visitors that enjoy Percy Priest Lake each year, some leave behind garbage that become a haza rd to wildlife and a public nuisance.
In 2008, a group of dedicated volunteers decided that they would take action to restore Percy Priest Lake to its original health. They formed the Nashville Clean Water Project to lead large scale clean-up events and bring together hundreds people to remove trash from the lake. Their first clean-up event was the largest water clean-up in Nashville's history.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Nashville Clean Water Project joined forces for National Public Lands Day 2011. More than 260 volunteers removed 104 cubic yards of trash and 81 tires over 11 miles of roadway and shoreline. They helped improve 120 acres of habitat. The Percy Priest Lake event was the largest NPLD event in Tennessee. |
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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 Gauge, 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
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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.
Scout troops that register online with NPLD can download 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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