Celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Public Lands Day in Panthertown Valley on Saturday, September 28.
Join Friends of Panthertown in “the Yosemite of the East” for a fun day of hiking and trail pruning. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join us on the trails, and tools will be provided for those who would like to borrow one. If you would like to participate, meet us at 9:30AM at Salt Rock Gap trailhead (the western entrance to Panthertown Valley), located at the end of Breedlove Road in Cashiers, North Carolina. Our friends at REI Asheville have provided some cool giveaways for those who show up, plus each volunteer will get entered into a drawing to win from an assortment of goodies. Plus, it’s a celebration of National Public Lands Day!
Invite your friends on Facebook.
Invite your friends! Everyone is welcome.
Trail volunteers are asked to pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, wear good shoes, and bring a pair of work gloves and pruners if you have them (we’ll also have some to loan out). We expect to hike less than 5 miles on easy to moderate trails and be finished by 3 p.m. We hope you will join us!
From the National Public Lands Day website:
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. In 2013, the 20th Anniversary of National Public Lands Day will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Join volunteers of all ages for NPLD’s 20th Anniversary. Celebrate with volunteers in your community at parks and other public lands. Visit our special #NPLD20 webpages for more details. Also, make sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds or sign up for our newsletter to stay posted!
NPLD began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September. Since the first NPLD, the event has grown by leaps and bounds.
In 2012, about 175,000 volunteers worked at 2,206 sites in every state, the District of Columbia and in many U.S. territories. 2012 was the biggest NPLD in the history of the event.
NPLD volunteers:
Collected an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants
Built and maintained an estimated 1,500 miles of trails
Planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants
Removed an estimated 500 tons of trash from trails and other places
Contributed an estimated $18 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the countrySeven federal agencies as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional and local governments participate in the annual day of caring for public lands.
CCC Member at Camp Roos in 1933.National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the “tree army” that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America’s natural heritage.
NPLD educates Americans about the environment and natural resources, and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands;
NPLD builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America’s public lands; and
NPLD improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.
Our volunteers come from throughout the region to enjoy a day in the backcountry working with other hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, scouts, equestrians, and nature lovers. We always welcome new volunteers. Tools are provided and our trail days are a great way to give back to Panthertown.
Visit our Calendar of Events for up to date information about special events and volunteer opportunities in Panthertown Valley. Learn more about giving back to Panthertown by becoming a member or by volunteering at one of our trail work days. Visit the Friends of Panthertown volunteer information page for more information about what to expect, what to bring and how you can help.