SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
As summer comes to a close and we start the transition into the next season of school, football, and a long-awaited break from the heat—it can help to mark that rejuvenation through a change of scenery. What better place to get refreshed than a national forest or grassland.
Look for that renewal this year, on National Public Lands Day, this Saturday, September 26, a day dedicated to volunteering on public lands. Renewal comes easily—not just by getting off the beaten path, but by finding purpose in stewarding the lands we love. Volunteer and join thousands of others doing the same thing across the country. You will be part of a community, a shared effort. You won’t just feel rejuvenated— you’ll feel connected.
Why volunteering matters
Volunteering on National Public Lands Day is not just about picking up trash at a campground or clearing a hiking trail. It’s about seeing the beauty of the land that belongs to us all and finding ways to conserve that beauty. So, when we visit a forest and see worn trails, litter strewn about, and damage from storms or heavy use, it affects how we connect to it. That’s why to clean up, to rebuild, and to repair sites that are part of America’s big backyard feels so refreshing. It’s a simple act that strengthens our relationship with nature.
