Volunteer and Explore on National Public Lands Day
Arlington’s Benjamin Banneker Park event on Saturday is part of largest single-day volunteer event for public lands in the U.S. National parks across the country are also free on Saturday in honor of National Public Lands Day, and with so many in the region, it’s a great day to explore. Most public lands sites hold volunteer events, but others, like Wolf Trap and the National Mall, will host family-friendly celebratory events.
On Saturday, September 27, 175,000 volunteers around the nation – including at least 20 sites around the Metro area – will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places – and to celebrate National Public Lands Day.
Search by zip code for complete list of local events and to find registration details: http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites
Nearby events include:
Benjamin Banneker Park, 10 a.m.
6620 N 18th St Please meet the site leader by trail near the bridge over the stream, Arlington
Join community volunteers in protecting the local environment from invasive plants. This is a continuing project on the fourth Saturday of each month to reclaim the natural area in Benjamin Banneker Park from invasive plants.
http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/benjamin-banneker-park
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 8 a.m.
1550 Anacostia Ave., NE, Washington, D.C.
250 volunteers of all ages are expected for a fun day of environmental stewardship. Projects include removal of cut lotus from the park’s ponds as well as a variety of other park improvement projects including transplanting perennials, removing invasive species and picking up litter.
http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/kenilworth-aquatic-gardens-npld-featured-site
National Mall and Memorial Parks, 10 a.m.
Washington, D.C.
Celebrating NPLD with fun and games, including a wildlife scavenger hunt on the National Mall and an activity tent near the Lincoln Memorial.
http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/national-mall-and-memorial-parks
Great Falls Park, 8 a.m.
9200 Old Dominion Dr., McLean
Filling potholes on hiking trails, fence repair, mulching, trash pick-up and much more.
http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/great-falls-park
Huntley Meadows Park, 9 a.m.
3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria
One group will be pulling invasive, non-native vines near the Visitor Center and Outdoor Classroom. Native plant experts will be on-hand to point out which plants must go and which plants stay, so experience in identifying non-native plants is not required. A second group will be picking up trash from the edges of the wetland and watershed area.
http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/huntley-meadows-park
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 11 a.m.
1551 Trap Rd., Vienna
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is proud to welcome you to the 4th annual “Let’s Move with Music at Wolf Trap” event. Encouraging kids and families to get out and exercise, the park wants to show everyone how music can help you get your heart rate up and how dance and movement can be a great workout. This fun, free event features the kids percussion group “The Vienna Jammers,” a Fit Kids recreational area, Sumo Wrestling for all ages and the U.S Army Blues Band “Swamp Romp.”
http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/wolf-trap-national-park-performing-arts
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is a celebration of the work, play and learning that takes place on public lands every day. This year marks the 21st annual National Public Lands Day, an event that brings together thousands of volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and relaxation. NPLD has provided more than $15 million in contributed services by volunteers annually to public lands.
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is the event’s national corporate sponsor for the 16th consecutive year. Northrop Grumman has joined as a contributing sponsor again for the 6th year. The National Environmental Education Foundation (www.neefusa.org) coordinates National Public Lands Day.
Seven federal agencies will participate along with more than 250 state, county, and city partners and a host of nonprofit groups, including the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Student Conservation Association and The Corps Network.
More information can be found at publiclandsday.org.
CONTACT: Amber Taylor, 703-201-4893, [email protected]
Contact information for each event posted with event details: http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites
