It seems fitting that Woodsy Owl’s birthday and National Public Lands Day share the month of September. Woodsy Owl’s message to “Lend a Hand, Care for the Land” is the perfect slogan for a day dedicated to service on our public lands.
National Public Lands Day was started over thirty years ago and is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. On September 26, 2026, volunteers will gather across national forests, parks, grasslands, wildlife refuges, monuments, marine sanctuaries, and more to give back to the lands that give us so much. State, county, and city parks get in on the action, too!
The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) organizes the event in partnership with many federal agencies. Visit their website to learn more about National Public Lands Day and to find events near you.
Public Lands and You
At Natural Inquirer, we believe that children who learn about public lands and their importance grow up to be adults who help protect and care for those lands. While all our materials are rooted in our public lands, covering research from our national forests and the people who work in them, here are a few highlights that focus on the benefits of those lands and how we can care for them.
