Toyota Life Articles

It’s our guess that a considerable number of Americans probably are unaware that something special happens late in September every year, usually on the last Saturday of the month – this year, it was September 29.

It’s National Public Lands Day, a day when thousands of volunteers fan out across the country to help refurbish and restore the country’s public lands. These are the places Americans use for outdoor recreation, education and just plain enjoyment. They encompass national parks, national monuments, wildlife refuges, forests, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes and reservoirs. These are resources that are managed by government agencies, but belong to, and are enjoyed by, all of us.

The event began 14 years ago, and it started small, with approximately 700 volunteers working at just three sites. This year, close to 110,000 volunteers of all ages showed up at more than 1,200 sites across the U.S. They built and refurbished trails, repaired bridges, restored historic structures, picked up trash, relocated fish, cleaned up after hurricanes, monitored endangered species and restored habitats.

For the ninth consecutive year, Toyota served as the title sponsor of National Public Lands Day. We’re very proud of our association with this important event because it is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to preserve America’s public lands.

As part of our participation, Toyota volunteers, family members and friends built trails and participated in numerous other projects. This year, special emphasis was given to help reverse the flood of invasive weeds and pests that are wiping out native plants and animals with huge impacts on local ecosystems and economies. It is estimated that volunteers contributed more than $12 million in improvements to federal, state and local lands.

There’s even a little bit of payback for those who come out to help. Many volunteers received a free entry day during the next year at any public land site managed by the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. More important, though, is the satisfaction that comes from preserving and protecting favorite and treasured public places.

To learn more about National Public Lands Day events in your area, please visit: www.publiclandsday.com