This September, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) will celebrate the 30th anniversary of National Public Lands Day, and EENC is joining in the fun.
Since 1994, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) has mobilized volunteers on the fourth Saturday in September to celebrate and care for something we all share – our nation’s public lands. What started with one federal agency, two public land sites, and 700 volunteers has grown into a national event with volunteers in all 50 states and US territories – from trail maintenance to planting, trash pick-up, and more, volunteers of all ages and abilities roll up their sleeves and work side-by-side. Celebrating NPLD cultivates civic engagement, ecological literacy, and social connections through the stewardship of local natural resources, and this year, more than 70,000 participants are expected to join in at events and volunteer workdays across the nation.
In honor of this year’s anniversary theme, “30 years of care and community,” EENC is mobilizing our members to volunteer on public lands across the state on National Public Lands Day, to help care for and protect the natural resources that drive our work’s purpose as environmental educators. In collaboration with the NC State Parks system and nonprofit partners, EENC is excited to be hosting several volunteer workdays for our members – and community at large – on Saturday, September 23rd, and we warmly invite you to participate.
Available Workdays:
Each event requires RSVP; view individual event listings for site-specific details and logistics.
Asheville-Area: Copper Ridge Trail Workday [Old Fort]
Led by our friends at the Foothills Conservancy. Trail maintenance projects followed by lunch at Hillman Beer!
CHANGED TO 10/15: Fayetteville-Area: Carvers Creek State Park [Spring Lake]
Enjoy a morning of trail beautification and maintenance led by the Park Rangers at Carvers Creek! Rescheduled to October 15th due to weather.
CHANGED TO 10/14: Triangle-Area: Eno River State Park [Durham]
Help Eno River State Park celebrate their 50th anniversary by volunteering alongside EENC friends new and old! Rescheduled to October 14th due to weather.
CANCELLED: Cashiers-Area: Panthertown Valley [Glenville]
Volunteer on the trail alongside our partners at the Friends of Panthertown removing the invasive Autumn Olive, then enjoy a scenic hike! Pack a lunch.
Other Upcoming Events at State Parks Across the State:
Can't make it to one of EENC's workdays? Consider celebrating our public lands by joining in on the many educational and recreational events scheduled at North Carolina State Parks in the weeks surrounding National Public Lands Day! Listed in chronological order. Note: these events are not EENC-affiliated or endorsed, and instead serve to promote and spread awareness of the programming available in our state.
9/18, 9-10am: Bird Hike. Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach.
9/18, 5:30-7:30pm: Sunset Hike. Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough.
9/19, 9-10am: The Last Mile Hike. Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head.
9/19, 1-2pm: Tree ID Hike. Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle.
9/22, 8:30-9:30am: Birds of the Eno. Eno River State Park, Durham.
9/22, 10-11am: Beach Scavenger Hunt. Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach.
9/22, 7-9pm: Mysteries of Mecum in the Dark Night Hike. Hanging Rock State Park, Westfield.
9/22, 7:30-pm: Star Party. Lake Norman State Park, Troutman.
9/23, 8:30am-12pm: NPLD Volunteer Workday. Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain.
9/23, 9-10am: Bird Walk. Morrow Mountain State Park, Albemarle.
9/23, 9-11am: Wilderness Survival Skills. Hanging Rock State Park, Westfield.
9/23, 9am-12pm: NPLD Volunteer Workday. Lake Norman State Park, Troutman.
9/23, 10-11am: Carnivorous Plant Hike. Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach.
9/23, 10am-12pm: 10 Essentials and Trail Etiquette. Hanging Rock State Park, Westfield.
9/23, 10am-1pm: Nature Day. South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs.
9/23, 11am-12pm: Balsam Nature Trail Hike. Mount Mitchell State Park, Burnsville.
9/23, 11am-3pm: Mountain Monarch Festival, Gorges State Park, Sapphire.
9/23, 12-1pm: Nature Hike. Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville.
9/23, 1:30-3:15pm: Marsh Cruise. Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro.
9/23, 7-8pm: Sunset Hike. Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock.
9/23, 7:30-9:45pm: Astronomy Program. Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach.
9/23, 8:30-10:30pm: Astronomy. Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap.
9/24, 10-11am: Paint the Mountain. Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson.
9/24, 2-3pm: Public Lands Day Hike. Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines.
9/24, 5-7pm: Canoe Hike. Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake.
9/25, 5-6:30pm: Lake Tillery Paddle. Morrow Mountain State Park, Albemarle.
9/26, 10-11:30am: Kayak the Sound. Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head.
9/27, 8-10am: Kayak Marsh Tour. Goose Creek State Park, Washington.
9/28, 12:15-1pm: Hike for the Health of It! Mayo River State Park, Mayodan.
9/29, 5-7pm: The Overmountain Men and their Trail. Lake James State Park, Nebo.
9/30, 11am-2pm: 15th Anniversary Celebration. Grandfather Mountain State Park, Banner Elk.
10/1, 9-10am: First Day Hike. Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake.
10/2, 2-3pm: Mushroom Hike. Mount Mitchell State Park. Burnsville.
10/7, 8:30am-12pm: Volunteer Workday. Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain.
10/7, 8-10pm: Astronomy Night. Haw River State Park, Greensboro.
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