Personal Finance Advice

September 29, 2012 is National Public Lands Day which celebrates the many unique and beautiful public lands across the US. There is a huge effort for volunteers to help improve the public lands around them through clean-up and improvement, and this volunteerism comes with a host of benefits. From getting outdoors and improving the environment to getting free access to national parks, there are some great reasons to get outside and participate in National Public Lands Day.

It Promotes the Conservation of Land

National Public Lands Day is an annual event that celebrates and promotes the conversation of public land. Participating in a Public Lands Day event helps promote the conservation of your favorite public parks, forests, or areas. Many of these areas are slowly being overtaken by housing developments or businesses, and it’s important to conserve them for future generations. These events will help spread the word to your friends, family, and community that the public land is still somewhere that people enjoy and want to appreciate for years to come.

Planting Trees

Many activities on Public Lands Day include planting trees. Considering a lot of greenery is being demolished with each new year, planting new trees is an important step to take. Volunteers on Public Lands Day help enhance our environment by planting thousands of trees across the country.

It’s Fee-Free

There are a number of national parks which charge an entrance fee, including many of the most popular national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone. As part of their commitment to public lands, entrance to national parks is free on National Public Lands Day. And what’s not to like about that? Spend some time volunteering, and then spend the rest of the day enjoying the natural landscape around you!

Free Future Entrance Coupon

In addition to National Public Lands Day being fee-free, any volunteers who show up will also be given a free coupon for a future visit. The coupon provides any volunteer with free entrance to any public land that has participated in Public Lands Day. This means that you can use your free admittance coupon almost anywhere across the country. So, if you live and volunteer in California, but decide to take a vacation in the Midwest or Northeast, you might be able to use your coupon to view a completely different public land. Just make sure to use it within the calendar year and at a place that has participated in Public Lands Day.

Volunteer

Have you ever berated yourself for not getting out of the house to volunteer for a charity or local good cause? Well, this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Public Lands Day only happens once a year and it’s something you should definitely check out. Whether you need to fill up some volunteer hours or you want to just commit to a good cause for a day, check out the events at your local public lands and see how you can participate.

It Will Help Keep Your Public Lands Beautiful

If you’re someone who enjoys nature and the great outdoors, you know how upsetting it can be to see a public park, lake, or mountain covered in trash and overgrown weeds and brush. Everyone can appreciate a place that’s beautiful and clean. If you appreciate public parks and lakes that are kept clean and up to date, now if the time to give back to those places. Participating in cleaning up trash or clearing out fallen trees or old brush will help keep those public lands you enjoy nice and beautiful.

Access to Free Educational Materials

If you host an event for National Public Lands Day, you can access free online education materials, webinars, and podcasts. This is a great resource for someone who is really interested in the environment or their local community. It’s also a great resource for schools and children, and will get them more involved in the event and learning about the environment.

Free Events

The website for the National Public Lands Day states that the public lands that don’t have the resources to host volunteer groups often offer events on Public Lands Day. These events can include educational lectures on public lands issues and histories, hikes, classes on geography and the environment, festivals, fishing derbies, and more. It’s worth checking out the events occurring at your local public land to see if something interests you.

Connect With Nature

We live in such a busy society where most of us rush from place to place without stopping to think about or enjoy the nature around us. This is especially true for people who live in cities that don’t have a lot of greenery or public spaces. This coming Public Lands Day would be the best time to take a break and go out to enjoy and connect with nature. Not only will you be helping out, but you’ll be getting to enjoy the beauty of this earth as well.

You’re Creating a Healthier Community

In the past, some of the National Public Lands Day events have been installing water lines, developing gardens and trees, creating homes for wildlife, and getting rid of toxic chemicals or areas. This works toward creating a healthier community and environment, and is definitely a big reason for why you should participate in an event.

(Photo courtesy of NationalParksBlog.com)