This Saturday, Sept. 26, is the 16th annual National Public Lands Day, a day to celebrate our nation's parks and join the effort to make them even better. To celebrate this historic day, entrance to all 391 national parks around the country is free for the day!

 

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands that we all enjoy (and so often take for granted.) In 2008, about 120,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, removed trash and invasive plants, and planted over 1.6 million trees in parks around the country. More efforts are underway this year. Check out the National Park Service listings to find out what programs will be going on at your local national park. Most are offering volunteer opportunities as well as a sneak peek of the new PBS film by Ken Burns, "The National Parks - America`s Best Idea" premeriering Sunday on PBS.  

 

You don't have to volunteer to enjoy the free fees. So if volunteering is not an option, don't worry, just grab the kids and head out to your favorite national park this weekend. It's a free, fun and green activity you can all enjoy as a family. But remember, volunteering is not just good for you and for the park, it's good for your health, too.  So there's never been a better time to get out there!