By Leslie Lee
This Sept 26th, please join Douglas Land Conservancy in celebrating National Public Lands Day, held yearly to celebrate an enduring national commitment to conservation.
Our parks, trails, forests, and waterways serve as common ground where we share experiences, build memories, and work side by side. This year’s theme is Caring for Our Shared America and emphasizes that what we share, we must also care for together.
National Public Lands Day is a collective act of care that strengthens our connection to the landscape and to each other. Through service and celebration, we acknowledge the original stewards of our public lands for time immemorial in the Indigenous peoples who know what’s now Colorado as home, as well as our commitment to these shared treasures, ensuring the American tradition of public lands endures for future generations.
National Public Lands Day is primarily a day of service and awareness, focusing on volunteerism. Organizations like the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), the primary coordinator, partners with agencies such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service to host cleanup and restoration events nationwide.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM): The BLM, an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers over 247 million acres of public lands, primarily in Western states. They host numerous NPLD events focused on land stewardship.
- U.S. Forest Service: Part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. They are a vital partner in NPLD, organizing volunteer activities in these vast natural areas.
- National Park Service: Established in 1916, the NPS manages all U.S. national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties. They are a key partner in hosting NPLD events.
Our parks, trails, forests, and waterways serve as common ground where we share experiences, build memories, and work side by side. Caring for Our Shared America emphasizes that what we share, we must also care for together.
As we observe the nation’s 250th anniversary, we recognize that caring for these spaces strengthens not only the landscape itself, but also the bonds between us as stewards of a shared story, passed down through countless generations and carried forward into the future.
Local Events
Look for NPLD events planned locally by cities and counties on this day for opportunities. The Town of Castle Rock has an event planned for volunteers to help remove old barbed-wire fencing near the Cattleman’s Trailhead at Lost Canyon Ranch, improving wildlife habitat and making it easier for local species to move throughout the Lost Canyon Ranch. Additionally, Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources is hosting their annual Fall Festival at Sandstone Ranch Open Space, complete with food trucks, games, and guide hikes.