National Public Lands Day is one of the nation’s largest single-day volunteer efforts to promote environmental stewardship, and it’s tomorrow, Sept. 27.
Want to spend the day helping to beautify Virginia’s state parks? You have quite a few options. There are over 40 events planned for this Saturday, across Virginia’s 43 state parks and 80,000+ acres of public lands.
Connect with community members who share an appreciation of our local green spaces at these events.
Within 90 minutes:
- Leesylvania State Park: Trash Cleanup | 9-11 a.m. | Help preserve the beauty of this state park by picking up garbage that’s been left behind with a bucket and grabber from the visitor center.
- Widewater State Park: Volunteer Day | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Children and pets are welcome to this volunteer event, where patrons will pick up trash and sticks to help keep trails clear. If you have your own gloves or trash pickers, bring them as there’s a limited amount for people to borrow.
- Sky Meadows State Park: Service Project | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Help remove invasive plants that are growing along the Rolling Meadows Trail. Make sure to bring water to stay hydrated.
- Shenandoah River State Park: River Clean Up | 12-3 p.m. | Volunteers, who must be 10 years or older, will kayak or canoe two miles of the river while removing trash.
If you’re up for a road trip, there are plenty more events worth the drive, including clean-ups at parks like Shenandoah, Hungry Mother, Natural Tunnel, and Fairy Stone. Browse the full event list.
Note: Most state parks are waiving parking and admission fees for the day, but be sure to check individual event details for confirmation.