National Public Lands Day

NPLD 2025 Theme: Our Home Outdoors
Our public lands are more than just places to visit—they are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. From the trails we hike to the parks where we gather with family and friends, these spaces are our collective backyard, our shared front porch, our natural playground.
“Our Home Outdoors” is a reminder that these lands are not just physical spaces—they are where we come together, feel rooted, and develop a sense of place.
Whether it’s your neighborhood park, a nearby state park, or one of our country’s iconic public lands, stewardship is our shared responsibility.
By joining us this National Public Lands Day 2025, you’ll help care for and protect the lands that keep us grounded, inspire us, and shape our sense of community. From picking up litter to planting trees, restoring trails, or joining an event that celebrates the history or culture of the place, your participation keeps these spaces welcoming, vibrant, and full of life.
Our home extends beyond our doors— on September 27, 2025, join us in celebrating and caring for the public lands we share.
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands, held each year on the fourth Saturday in September. It’s also a  “Fee-Free Day”, when entrance fees are waived at national parks and many other public lands across the country.
Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), NPLD brings together thousands volunteers—individuals, families, organizations, and agencies—to care for and celebrate America’s public lands through service and community events.
Public lands include national parks, forests, monuments, wildlife refuges, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and state, county, and city parks—spaces managed by public agencies or nonprofits and open to all.
As the national coordinator of NPLD, NEEF supports land managers and community organizers by offering:

* Training and tools for volunteer coordination
* Event planning resources
* Grant opportunities
* An online platform to register and promote events
* Distribution of Fee-Free Day coupons for participating federal agency sites
* National impact reporting to highlight collective achievements

NPLD is more than a day of service—it’s a chance to give back, build community, and enjoy the public lands that support our health, environment, and well-being.