250 Hours of Service for America's 250th

Volunteers on a dock. Image from the National Park Service's page.

In 2026 the National Park Service joins the nation in marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of the commemoration, it is inviting volunteers to give 250 hours of service on public lands — and to earn a free pass to national parks and federal recreation lands in return.

A tradition of service

The National Park Service places the effort in a long American tradition of service, from Benjamin Franklin's first volunteer fire brigade in the 1700s and the founding of the American Red Cross in 1881 to the creation of the National Park Service's Volunteers-In-Parks program in 1970.

America Gives

The National Park Service and America250 are inviting people to take part in America Gives — giving back through charitable giving, volunteering or public service. Its goal is the largest year of service ever recorded by any country, in 2026, and a lasting legacy of service.

How the 250-hour pass works

• Who qualifies: anyone who volunteers a total of 250 hours with one or more of six participating agencies — the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers.
• No deadline: hours can be built up over one calendar year or several.
• Keep track: record your hours and keep copies. Volunteer.gov can track hours across agencies and activities, and emails you when you reach 250.
• Claim it: share your records with your volunteer coordinator, who confirms your 250 hours and requests your Volunteer Pass.
• Start again: once a pass is issued, your pass hours reset to zero.

The National Park Service will join the nation in commemorating and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. National Park Service volunteers and staff proudly serve the American people by e.

Ways to reach 250 hours

• Search Volunteer.gov for opportunities near you.
• Volunteer remotely through a virtual opportunity.
• Only have a day? Look for one-off event opportunities at a nearby park.
• Combine service and exercise: many parks need volunteers to patrol trails, pick up trash or remove invasive species.
• Plan a volunteer vacation — some opportunities include housing.

Sources

• National Park Service: "Commemorate 250 Years of America with 250 Hours of Service." Pictures an earlier version of this page left out were restored on 2026-09-26.