You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: National Public Lands Day.

It’s no secret green space is vanishing. Enjoying nature for nature’s sake is lost on most people these days. For some of us it’s because we’re creatures of habit, for other’s it’s how the hamster wheel of capitalism sucks up almost all of our time.

This week, use National Public Lands Day as an excuse to take a breath and do something that’s as good for you as it is for nature. Saturday, September 26 is set aside as the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. It’s hosted by the National Environmental Education Foundation and signing up to volunteer at PublicLandsDay.org earns you a “fee-free” coupon to visit any federal site. For some public lands that even includes accompanying passengers in a car.

What started as three events and 700 volunteers 17 years ago has grown to over 2000 events and more than 175,000 volunteers. Last year alone, NPLD volunteers removed 500 tons of trash, built and maintained 1,500 miles of trail, and contributed an estimated $18 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the country. This year’s events include planting trees and shrubs; educational and recreational activities like kayaking, birding and camping; and locale-specific events like the live, interactive pre-historic cooking demonstrating featuring the "earth oven" method of cooking at Poverty Point World Heritage Site in Louisiana.

So grab friends and get to a National Public Lands Day event in your area. The best way to make sure people are personally invested in maintaining public green spaces is to take them out to those spaces for relaxing and fun activities. Make it an annual thing and challenge others to do the same.

TAKE ACTION:

Register to volunteer for National Public Lands Day!

Be sure to get your Fee-Free Coupon as a thank you for volunteering!

Sources/further reading:

"More than 175,000 Volunteers Expected on National Public Lands Day, September 26, 2015” via National Public Lands Day

"Let's Move Outside: Public lands make the best playgrounds!” via National Public Lands Day

"Our Land, Up for Grabs” via The New York Times

"This Land Was Your Land” via The American Prospect

"Volunteer on trail crews for National Public Lands Day, Sept. 26” via The Seattle Times

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #955 "In search of the good life (Culture)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich