Our public lands are part of what makes Idaho, Idaho. From moonscape deserts to craggy mountain peaks, the special places we enjoy here deserve celebration. Public lands provide us places to connect with nature and recharge, countless opportunities for outdoor recreation, free and fun ways to spend time with family and friends, and an essential component of our local and state economies.
This Saturday, September 25, is National Public Lands Day, which is a national day of celebrating and taking care of our public lands. Caring for our collective land and water resources is incredibly rewarding and important. You can learn more about Public Lands Day here.
Here’s a few volunteer events happening throughout Idaho:
Choose a cleanup project in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Expand the pollinator gardens in Boise’s Mariposa Park
Attend a public lands event at Lolo Pass Visitor Center in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
Choose another volunteer event at the Bureau of Land Management’s website.
You can also check with your local conservation groups for other volunteer opportunities!
In addition, did you know National Public Lands Day is a fee-free day? Entrance fees are waived for all public lands throughout the country – including right here in Idaho!
Another BIG way to give back to your public lands is by voting on behalf of your public land values. Register to vote and show up at the polls! Idaho’s next election will take place on November 2, 2021. Local city council and mayoral candidates will be running for office throughout the state. These municipal elections make a big impact on local land use and management decisions, which can affect public land access and management. Open space preservation efforts like the Boise Foothills Levy were voter approved (twice!). How a candidate approaches an issue like zoning, advancing conservation initiatives, or whether or not a municipality votes to support or oppose our public lands, matters.
Find out how to check your voter registration and more here.
Let’s support the special places we love — celebrate National Public Lands Day!