Check out the Web site for National Public Lands Day -- www.npld.com

National Public Lands Day is an event held every September when volunteers invest in those special places where people go to hike, camp, fish, look at wildlife, learn about the culture of various public lands, and enjoy the outdoors.

National Public Lands Day: Improves lands for outdoor recreation and tourism with volunteers joining tribes in doing hands-on work; Teaches visitors about the natural resource and cultural issues on tribal lands and the need for stewardship of these valued places; Creates a partnership between tribes and the local community working together to enhance tribal lands.

Here's how to get an American Heritage River involved in National Public Lands Day:

1. Working with the local community, select a site for this volunteer workday known as National Public Lands Day. Identify projects where volunteers can make a substantial contribution to improving public lands. Some examples: repairing trails, installing signs, removing invasive plants and putting in native plants, gathering seeds, repairing docks, protecting archaeological sites, cleaning up along roads and streams, painting buildings and making facilities accessible to all. Determine what must be done to get ready. Important questions to ask: What tools, materials, equipment, and preliminary work are needed? How can managers get the needed supplies?

2. Seek community participation Determine whether the local community can provide tools, materials, food and other supplies. If appropriate, ask community leaders or a friends? group to find donations from the community.

3. Work with the land manager to plan the volunteer workday How many volunteers are needed? What will the volunteers do? Decide on the number of hours the volunteers will work (morning, afternoon, all day).

4. Promote National Public Lands Day in the community and in schools. Posters, brochures, news releases and items of appreciation for volunteers are provided free-of-charge by the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation.

5. Assist the land manager in getting ready for National Public Lands Day. Volunteers should work and learn about the cultural resources of public lands. Use the day as an opportunity to teach volunteers about these treasured lands. Decide whether to provide lunch and/or snacks for the volunteers. Outline tasks and number of volunteers needed for each task. Identify crew leaders to work with volunteers. Provide safety training for crew leaders.

6. Have a successful National Public Lands Day - Saturday, September 23, 2000 -- with volunteers doing real hands-on work and learning more about their public lands.

 

For more information, contact:

Patti Pride

National Environmental Education & Training Foundation

1707 H St., NW, Suite 900

Washington, DC 20006

Phone: (202) 833-2933 x 474

FAX: (202) 261-6464

e-mail: pride@neetf.org