What is National Public Lands Day and why does it matter?
Hey Momma, this Saturday is National Public Lands Day. Join us in celebrating by giving back to our local, state, and national parks.
One of the few perks of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been the mass migration of people all over the world outside. After being shackled to Zoom meetings, FaceTime gatherings, and email overload, we are all seeking solace outside as a way to re-center and find peace.Even better, we aren’t simply hanging out in our backyards or taking a stroll around the block, we are exploring the vast array of parks at our fingertips. Whether you are an experienced park enthusiast, or a recent convert, chances are you’ve laced up some hiking shoes and gotten out on the trails this year. Park attendance across the country is booming. Campsites at our Indiana State Parks have been booked nearly every weekend throughout the summer. It's safe to say, we are having a renaissance with Mother Nature.
The benefit to our parks departments, whether city, county, state, or national, is more funding to support better conservation efforts.
But, with novice park visitors comes an increase in litter, trail damage, and general misuse of grounds and facilities. Marie Laudeman - Interpretative Naturalist at Indiana Dunes State Park - shared how exciting it has been to welcome new people to the parks this year, but with so many new hikers, they’ve had to go back to basics to educate visitors on basic park rules. “People will go off trail and what they don’t realize is that they are trampling endangered plants, that you won’t find anywhere else,” she said. “The most important thing for visitors is to stay on the trails and carry out what you carry on.”This year, our parks have provided the greatest service to our citizens, giving us a place to go and feel normal for a while. And on Saturday, September 26th, we are giving back. National Public Lands Day, established in 1994, is the nation’s single-largest volunteer effort, focused on celebrating the relationships between communities and their green spaces. Parks across the country are holding volunteer programs to freshen up National, state, and even local parks.
How can you celebrate National Public Lands Day?
Visit a National Park for free {Dunes National Park is right in our backyard}.
Or, visit one of our 25 Indiana State Parks on Sunday, Sept. 27. All State Parks, Forests, and Recreation areas are offering free admission.
Take part in a volunteer work project at an area park. There are programs going on at our State Parks this weekend {check their calendar for more details}, volunteer with Indy Parks - the dynamite parks department of the City of Indianapolis - or just take clean up the trails during your hike this weekend.
Get your kids involved and teach them the importance of caring for our parks.
Research shows children between the age of 9-11 are beginning to learn about the world around them, and this is the ideal time to expose them to our natural resources.
That’s why the Every Kid Outdoors program created the 4th Grade Pass, so every child in the United States has the opportunity to experience their federal public lands in person throughout the school year. 4th graders throughout the US have the opportunity to visit more than 2,000 Federal recreation sites for free. Studies show that kids between 8-18 spend up to 6.5 hours looking at screens per day, so logging off and reconnecting with the Earth is an important and transformative experience.Melissa Greenling signed her son up for the pass this year, and they are currently doing virtual school from Yellowstone National Park. “What better classroom for my kids than our campsite in a National Park? All of our school work can be augmented by nature,” she said. "And I've got to say, math seems a lot better when we are doing it overlooking the mountains!" In September the Greenlings visited the Grand Tetons and the Badlands, and plan to visit several more parks before winter weather moves in. “The greatest gift we can give them [our kids] is time as a family. The parks help us to refocus on one another in memorable ways.”
LOOKING FOR MORE THINGS TO DO THIS FALL? : Check out our 2020 Fall Bucket List
Whether you are able to enjoy one of the more than 400 National Park sites for National Public Lands Day, or are going for a hike at Holliday Park, take the time to do a little service while you're there. Pick up some trash, chat with an interpretive naturalist, learn about the volunteer programs. Our parks have given us so much this year, its time we give a little back.
If you can't enjoy one of our stunning National Parks this Saturday, there are several free entrance days throughout the year.
