For most Americans, Labor Day is the go-to day in September to spend time outside with friends and family. However, there is another September day dedicated to embracing nature with wonder and purpose: National Public Lands Day.
Every year since 1994, the country has celebrated National Public Lands Day on the fourth Saturday of September. This year, Saturday, September 23rd is the big day. People are encouraged to visit national, state, regional, and local parks to connect with the natural world while participating in service and conservation efforts. Here are some easy ways to celebrate this special day:
- Get in for free! National Parks and Virginia State Parks waive entrance and parking fees on National Public Lands Day.
- Explore that trail you’ve been meaning to try. There are so many great trails out there – why not celebrate National Public Lands Day by hiking one that’s new to you?
- Participate in an organized service project or interpretive program (see ideas below).
- Bring a garbage bag and gloves to your favorite park and collect litter.
- Earn a Junior Ranger Badge! Here are lists of National Parks and Virginia State Parks that offer Junior Ranger Programs.
- Get creative: Last year, I held my Girl Scout Troop’s bridging ceremony on National Public Lands Day. We met at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, held a brief ceremony, and then the girls bridged from Juniors to Cadettes while crossing the Goodloe E. Byron Memorial Footbridge Bridge (which is also part of the Appalachian Trail!).
Are you looking to celebrate National Public Lands Day at a nearby park? Here is a roundup of activities and programs that are accessible to Northern Virginia (note that some of these may require preregistration):
Parks With Special Programming for National Public Lands Day
- Shenandoah National Park has a whole schedule of events.
- Fairfax County put together a list of cleanups and other projects in parklands all over the county.
- Leesylvania State Park has organized a shoreline cleanup of their beach area.
- The following parks are hosting events that involve clearing native species: Theodore Roosevelt Island, Sky Meadows State Park, Mason Neck State Park, Lake Anna State Park, and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (HFNHP is mostly in WV, but it straddles the MD and VA state lines).
- In DC, Dumbarten Oaks is hosting a volunteer day on their beautiful parkland.
Parks with Other Interpretive/Natural Programming on National Public Lands Day:
- Manassas Battlefield – Henry Hill Walking Tour; Second Manassas Begins: The Fighting at Brawner Farm
- Harper’s Ferry National Park – The Story Behind the Scenery; Harpers Ferry Interpretive Program
- Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Dragonflies with Judy Gallagher
- Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park – Battlefield Tour
- Sky Meadows State Park – Words of the Wild (accessible guided walk and read-aloud of nature-themed texts)
- Mason Neck State Park – Evening Paddle Adventures (extra fee and registration required)
- Leesylvania State Park – Pond Discovery; Furs, Feathers, Skulls…Oh My!; Roving Ranger; Guided Sunset Paddle (see links for details about each program)
Make your own fun on National Public Lands Day:
- Enjoy free admission to these National Parks that usually charge a fee: Shenandoah National Park, Great Falls Park, Prince William Forest Park, or Harpers Ferry National Historic Park — Click here to read about our adventures in these parks, and to learn more about how your 4th grader can get in for free EVERY DAY!
- Enjoy free admission to all Virginia State Parks on the 23rd! Here are some blog posts I wrote about a few of these amazing places: Sky Meadows post, Leesylvania post, Mason Neck post (posts about Lake Anna and Widewater coming soon!).
- Visit these National Park sites that are always free: Manassas National Battlefield Park (read about our visit here), Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (read about our exploration of their TRACK trail here), and National Mall and Memorial Parks in DC.
- Find a new playground, trail, or playing field at a regional, county, or city park. Search these websites for ideas: NOVA Regional Parks, Fairfax County Parks, Fauquier County Parks, Loudoun County Parks, Prince William County Parks, Alexandria City Parks, Arlington City Parks, Fairax City Parks, Falls Church City Parks, and Manassas City Parks.
Do you have any special plans to celebrate National Public Lands day? Feel free to share them in the comments!
Old Dominion for Young Virginians 