Volunteering for National Public Lands Day

As summer comes to a close and we start the transition into the next season of school, football, and a long-awaited break from the heat—it can help to mark that rejuvenation through a change of scenery. What better place to get refreshed than a national forest or grassland.

Look for that renewal this year, on National Public Lands Day, this Saturday, September 26, a day dedicated to volunteering on public lands. Renewal comes easily—not just by getting off the beaten path, but by finding purpose in stewarding the lands we love. Volunteer and join thousands of others doing the same thing across the country. You will be part of a community, a shared effort. You won’t just feel rejuvenated— you’ll feel connected.

Why Volunteering Matters

Volunteering on National Public Lands Day is not just about picking up trash at a campground or clearing a hiking trail. It’s about seeing the beauty of the land that belongs to us all and finding ways to conserve that beauty. So, when we visit a forest and see worn trails, litter strewn about, and damage from storms or heavy use, it affects how we connect to it. That’s why to clean up, to rebuild, and to repair sites that are part of America’s big backyard feels so refreshing. It’s a simple act that strengthens our relationship with nature.

The benefit of volunteering also serves a broader purpose. Many projects focus on restoring damaged areas or improving habitat for wildlife. Projects like removing invasive plants, collecting pinecones, planting seedlings, beaver dam restoration, cleaning streams, building footbridges, or repairing erosion help keep our public lands healthy. These spaces serve as the foundation for clean water, stable soil, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking scenery.

You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t have to set aside an entire day. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to show up. Let nature surprise you and let the quiet remind you of something you forgot you needed.

Here are some examples of 2026 National Public Lands Day events you can participate in:

• In Georgia’s Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, after a short trip from cities like Atlanta, volunteers can help clean up riverbanks, rebuild small bridges, tidy up camp areas, or clean up sections of the famous Appalachian Trail, which starts here. A few hours of work make a lasting difference.
• On Oregon’s Mt. Hood National Forest, right outside Portland, on the impressive 11,249-foot Mt. Hood, volunteers can help with restoring and cleaning heavily used trails, scenic picnic spots, and spruce up areas near lakes where families love to spend warm summer days. It’s one of those places people do not often realize is so close until they get there and think, why don’t I come here more often?
• In Florida’s Ocala National Forest in Florida, volunteers can help clean a natural springs recreation area, sometimes with the bonus of a manatee sighting. They can also collect trash along sandy trails and keep vacation spots welcoming for swimmers, hikers and birdwatchers. It’s one of the oldest national forests in the country, and it needs people who care enough to help keep it clean.
• California’s San Bernardino National Forest sits between busy cities but gives millions of people a place to escape the rush. Volunteers can help fix signs, remove dead tree limbs, or restore wildlife recovery areas, which are vital for the 71 threatened or endangered species and over 85 sensitive plants that inhabit the forest. With the vast number of visitors on this forest, volunteers make the forest go ’round!

In simple terms, volunteering for National Public Lands Day is important because it keeps these special places healthy, safe and accessible. It benefits the land, the community, and each person who participates. And it shows that everyone can play a part in caring for lands, which we all depend on and enjoy.

“The volunteers who joined us in 2025 helped us to accomplish work that may not otherwise have been possible,” Arthur Phalo, National Volunteer Program manager for the Forest Service, said. “Their service expanded our capacity, improved visitor experience and helped us ensure that national forests and grasslands remain healthy, resilient and accessible for future generations to come.”

Last year, across all organizations—including the Forest Service—over 900 events and 55,000 volunteers from all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico participated in National Public Lands Day events.

Volunteer opportunities and how to volunteer

“On Sept. 26, 2026, across our nation the National Public Lands Day will demonstrate what is possible when communities, partners, volunteers and Forest Service employees come together with a shared purpose for caring for the land and serving the people,” Phalo said.

The good thing is that getting involved is simple. Volunteering comes in many forms, from short one-day projects to ones that can last several weeks or even months. There are plenty of opportunities to match different interests and skills. Afterward, share your story and your photos.

Truly Rewarding

Volunteering is truly rewarding; just ask Gene Horning. He has been a volunteer with the Russian & Kenai River Stream Watch on the Chugach National Forest since 2013.

“Well, when I first started here, there was a lot of clean-up to do,” said Gene.

He is a key volunteer leader who assists with the annual efforts to install protective fencing to protect critical vegetation and cleanup along trails to keep a popular salmon fishing site on the Chugach National forest in Alaska healthy for both visitors and wildlife.

Gene Horning, a volunteer with the Russian & Kenai River Stream Watch on the Chugach National Forest, designed fishing line receptacles for anglers to place their refuse fishing line. (right) Horning holds a tangle of fishing lines collected from the receptacles. Ever since the receptacles were made available for anglers to use, people rarely find fishing line and refuse along the trails or shoreline. (Forest Service photos by Savannah Halleaux)

Gene’s patrol route, a two-mile journey along the boardwalk, involves him checking the walkway, sharing a hello with visitors he encounters, and diligently emptying the fishing line from the receptacles.

“Look at the walkway. We’ve got all the vegetation. It’s amazing. Yeah. Pretty amazing,” Gene said.

Gene is one of the many volunteers whose deep passion helps to keep our national forests healthy.

Why Should You Care?

Why should you care like Gene? Every forest has its own unique history. Every forest has its own needs. And every forest depends on volunteers to help care for the public land that is cherished by so many visitors. Volunteers are the heartbeat of the Forest Service because of their passion and devotion to public lands.

Nature’s prescription is simple

Go find your forest and get involved. Join us for National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, to care for our shared America. Look for events near you. They are happening all over the country, from the East Coast to the West Coast and everywhere in between. National Public Lands Day is also a fee-free day for national forests. Visit your local national forest for more information.

Learn more on how to volunteer with the Forest Service, and look for volunteer opportunities on the National Public Lands Day 2026 website.

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