Partners: Boy Scouts

National Public Lands Day, September 25, 2010

Background

• What is NPLD?
• When is NPLD?
• What are public lands?

Get Involved

• What did Boy Scouts do for NPLD 2009?
• What can Boy Scouts do on NPLD?
• What materials do Boy Scouts receive by participating?

Plan an NPLD event

Contact Us

Background

What is NPLD?

National Public Lands Day, NPLD, is the largest volunteer event that benefits America's public lands. NPLD is held on a Saturday in late September when thousands of Americans volunteer to improve and enhance our nation's parks and other public lands.

The first NPLD took place in 1994 with three work sites and 400 volunteers. The event has grown every year so that in 2009, 150,000 volunteers worked to improve over 2,000 sites in every state of the nation. 

National Public Lands Day 2010 will take place on September 25, 2010.

What are public lands?

Usually when we think of public lands, we thing BIG. We think of the millions of acres owned by all Americans through our federal government such as Yellowstone National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Canyon.

But public lands are also the open spaces, large and small, that are available for our pleasure and our use. Public lands include our school yards, city and county parks, neighborhood playgrounds, bike paths and walking trails. These lands are usually the responsibility of the city, county, state or federal governments. Boy Scouts can participate in NPLD by working to improve any of these public spaces. 

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How Can Boy Scouts Get Involved?

What did Boy Scouts do for NPLD 2009?

• In 2009, about  2,500 Boy Scouts from 127 troops volunteered on 46 public land sites across the country during NPLD.
• Boy Scouts participated in service events in 28 states and Puerto Rico.  In addition, many other NPLD sites reported that Boy Scouts volunteered on that day.

Click here to view a complete list of 2009 Boy Scout service projects.

What can Boy Scouts do on NPLD?

Install bird boxes. Plant trees and native vegetation. Improve wildlife habitat. Clean up trash. Collect native seeds. Repair stream banks. Clean or build trails. Remove invasive plants. Paint picnic tables and renew campgrounds. Weed plant nurseries. Take photographs. And much more!

Whether the Boy Scouts work for two hours or all day long, they –

• Develop a sense of conservation stewardship and nature appreciation
• Experience the pleasure of serving the community
• Have fun outdoors
• Learn about the natural world

What materials do Boy Scouts receive by participating?

Boy Scout troops that register for NPLD by September 9, 2010 will receive FREE NPLD brochures and promotional posters to advertise their event and attract more volunteers, as well as volunteer certificates for each Scout. Each registered troop will have their event listed on the NPLD website. Note that it is required to register in order to receive the materials.

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How to Plan an NPLD Event

Decide whether you want to --

• Plan your own event with your troop or
• Join an NPLD scheduled activity that is already planned by a public land manager.

Plan your own event:

• Search out a local public land site such as a state, county or city park; a forest preserve, public beach; playground; schoolyard; walking trail; or bike path. You may want to choose a local park or public space where you have noticed that work needs to be done.
• Contact the public land manager or other person in charge of that space (i.e. the principal of a school, or a volunteer manager for the park) to determine what age-appropriate work activities your troop might perform on NPLD to help improve or enhance that site.
• As soon as you have planned a work activity, register to participate in National Public Lands Day.  Register by September 9, 2010 and you will receive FREE NPLD materials and your event will be listed on our website.
• Decide what kinds of tools, materials personal protection (i.e. gloves), and clean up items (i.e. plastic trash bags) that you will need.
• Determine how to provide water, snacks, lunch, and access to a toilet at the site.
• Consider asking a hardware store to donate the materials that you will need, and a restaurant to donate your food and drinks.
• Consider organizing an environmental education component for your event to teach the Boy Scouts about some natural resource or environmental issue. Download A Manual for Site Managers for information about environmental education resources. Also check out our Educational Resources Page with information about activities and curricula related to water resources, tree planting, and invasive plant removal.  
• Participate in National Public Lands Day on September 25, 2010 and have fun!
• Take photos and/or have the Boy Scouts take photos to enter into the annual NPLD photo contest. Make sure that each participant fills out the Photo Release Form.
• When you have finished your NPLD event, complete and send in an evaluation. Help us to share your Scouts’ experiences through NPLD!

OR--

Join an NPLD Scheduled Activity:

• Click on the NPLD Interactive Site Map to find NPLD events organized by land managers. Click on your state and find a list of the events that are already organized and registered in your area.
• Call the contact person. Be sure to find out if you need to provide your own tools, materials, food and drinks, and if the planned activities are age-appropriate for your Boy Scouts.
• When you have decided to join one of the scheduled events, register to participate in National Public Lands Day. Register by September 9, 2010 and you will receive FREE NPLD materials and your event will be listed on our website.
• Consider organizing an environmental education component for your event to teach the Boy Scouts about some natural resource or environmental issue. Download A Manual for Site Managers for information about environmental education resources. Also check out our Educational Resources page with information about activities and curricula related to water resources, tree planting, and invasive plant removal.
• Participate in National Public Lands Day on September 25, 2010 and have fun!
• Take photos and/or have the Boy Scouts take photos to enter into the annual NPLD photo contest. Make sure that each participant fills out the Photo Release Form.
• When you have finished your NPLD event, complete and send in an evaluation. Help us to share your Scouts’ experiences through NPLD!

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Contact Us

The National Public Lands Day staff thanks you for your interest and your participation in NPLD. We want to help you in any way possible. We welcome your suggestions and questions. Please contact us!

National Public Lands Day Program
National Environmental Education Foundation
4301 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 160
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202/261-6479
FAX: 202/261-6464
mailto: npld@neefusa.org