Saturday, September 24 is National Public Lands Day. The day is dedicated to enjoying the outdoors as well as taking care of it. In Virginia, more than 13% of land across the state is public. . . public parks, forests, and local parks. That's 3.7 million acres.
Two state parks on the NNK―Westmoreland and Belle Isle―are participating:
- National Public Lands Day Beach Cleanup at Westmoreland State Park, 9:00 am-1:00 pm (145 Cliff Road, Montross): Meet a Ranger and Park Volunteers at the Westmoreland State Park Boat House to help restore the beach's natural beauty after a long, busy summer. Park volunteers will available to talk with cleanup vols about how we can all work together to keep our Park and waterways clean! Meet at the Boathouse.
- National/Virginia Public Lands Day - Eagle Hike at Belle Isle State Park, 10:00-11:00 am (1632 Belle Isle Rd., Lancaster): Belle Isle State Park has over nine miles of trails to be explored. Get outdoors and celebrate National/Virginia Public Lands Day on a hike with a ranger as you look for Bald Eagles. Meet at the Equestrian Parking Lot.
- Leave No Trace - Recycling at Belle Isle State Park, 2:00-3:00 pm (1632 Belle Isle Rd., Lancaster): Take only memories, leave only footprints. Virginia State Parks follows the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace to minimize the impact we have upon the natural world and at Belle Isle State Park, they also recycle. Learn about recycling and the LNT principles so you, too, can be a good steward of natural resources. Meet at the Picnic Area.
The history of National Public Lands Day:
NEEF’s National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, this celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. NPLD is also a “Fee-Free Day”—one of only five days a year when entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands.
This year, the theme for NPLD is Giving Back Together. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s public lands acted as a safe haven for recreation, conversation, and the simple enjoyment of being outside the confines of our homes. In a time of disconnectedness and uncertainty, the outdoors brought people together and deepened our appreciation for the important role these spaces play in our lives. Now it’s time for us to return the favor.
Join us on Saturday, September 24, 2022, as we celebrate the 29th annual National Public Lands Day and renew our commitment to securing a safer and healthier world for ourselves, our children, and generations to come.