September 26 is National Public Lands Day

On September 26 national parks across the country will host visitors and volunteers for a
special day of service and celebration. On this day, entrance fees at all National Parks
will be waived. Plus, as part of the festivities, parks will offer a sneak preview of Ken
Burns’s new documentary, The National Parks – America’s Best Idea, premiering on
PBS September 27. Various park events include: National Mall and Memorial Parks
(Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia): The 13 national parks of the National
Capital Region will each host their own volunteer and special interpretive activities for
the community throughout the day. Service projects will vary by site and include trail
projects, river clean-ups and exotic plant removal. The service day will conclude with a
celebration on the Ellipse from 5-8:30 pm featuring fun activities, music, giveaways and a
special preview screening of the The National Parks – America’s Best Idea. The
program will include remarks by Ken Burns and other special guests. Minute Man
National Historical Park (Massachusetts): Minute Man will be celebrating its 50th
anniversary as a national park on September 26. Volunteers will staff the day-long
celebration from 10 am-4 pm, and will host demonstrations of 18th-century activities
including leatherworking, music and agriculture. Recently rehabilitated structures along
Battle Road will be open to the public – many for the first time. Rocky Mountain
National Park (Colorado): Volunteers will build a new trail along the Continental
Divide in the western side of the park. Throughout the day and across the park, a special
sneak peak of The National Parks – America’s Best Idea will be viewed. Beginning
at 6pm, Rocky Mountain PBS and Etown.org will celebrate Ken Burns and his new documentary
at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder. Local musicians will play music from the film and a
special preview screening will be offered. Valley Forge National Historical Park
(Pennsylvania): More than 200 volunteers will spend the day building trails,
painting cannon, removing crayfish – an invasive species – from the river. The park will
also host an environmental expo engaging people in green community activities and
businesses. A full list of park events is available at www.nps.gov/september26.