National Public Lands Day (NPLD) began in 1994 with only three federal agencies and 700 volunteers.  This year, more than 150,000 volunteers are expected to take part, making it America’s largest volunteer effort helping to restore and improve the nation’s public lands.

Please join thousands of other Americans this year on National Public Lands Day, September 25, 2010, and volunteer to help maintain and improve the nation’s public lands and natural resources. Make a commitment to volunteer on this 17^th annual National Public Lands Day and give back a little to BLM in appreciation of the career it provided you.

BLM has more than 120 NPLD sites approved this year with activities including trash cleanup, trail construction, river restoration, weed removal, fence construction, graffiti removal, and planting, to name just a few.  Just call the nearest BLM office for details, directions and transportation, if needed.

Thanks to funding provided by the National Environmental Education Foundation and BLM, PLF will be distributing small grants for BLM NPLD projects again this year.  These grants will be used to purchase services, supplies and materials which are difficult for BLM to obtain through normal procurement processes.  For more information about this program, please contact Beau McClure, PLF Vice President for Operations.

2009 National Public Lands Day Small Grant Program
End-of-Year Summary

This year, as in the past, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contributed $2,500 each to the Public Lands Foundation (PLF) for distribution in small grants to BLM National Public Lands Day (NPLD) projects.  These funds can be used for supplies, materials and services that BLM often finds difficult to obtain through normal government procurement processes, such as meals, snacks, soft drinks, gloves and entertainment for volunteers.

In 2009, BLM approved more than 106 NPLD projects.  From these, PLF received 23 requests for small grants; the same number as 2008.  PLF is pleased with the continued interest in the small grant program, and the appreciation expressed by BLM NPLD Site Coordinators each year.  We continue to hear that many of the NPLD projects would not be possible if it were not for these small grants.  In many instances, it provides a means for letting volunteers know just how much they are appreciated.

As a general rule, PLF limits the grant for each project to $400 so that the money can be distributed to as many projects as possible.  In 2009, one request was made and approved for more than this amount.  NPLD projects are occasionally cancelled or the funds not needed after the grant is approved.  This year, approved small grants for four projects were not used.

Carry-over funds from previous years helped again in 2009.   This year, a total of $8,820 was requested for the 23 approved projects.  Of this, a total of $6,508 was distributed. Following is a brief description of how the grants were used:

Grant No. 1—Craig, Colorado; Duffy Mountain Campground Expansion.  A small band to entertain volunteers after the workday was completed was hired and food and ice for a barbeque for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 2—Grand Junction, Colorado; McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area.  Thank-you gifts for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 3—Las Vegas, Nevada; Great Unconformity Interpretive Site.  No grant funds were used.

Grant No. 4—Idaho Falls, Idaho; Stinking Springs Trail Development. Leave No Trace patches for Boy Scout volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 5—Bishop, California; Alabama Hills Cleanup.  Refreshments for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 6—Spokane, Washington; Escure Ranch/Rock Creek Recreation Area, Towell Falls Trailhead.  Food and water for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 7—Cedarville, California; Bitner ACEC Cleanup.  Food for a breakfast and barbeque for volunteers was purchased.

Grant No. 8—Buffalo, Wyoming; Outlaw Cave Campground.  No grant funds were used.

Grant No. 9—Phoenix, Arizona; City of Phoenix Mountain Preserves.  Food and beverages for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 10—Bakersfield, California; Carrizo Plain National Monument.  No grant funds were used.

Grant No. 11—Anchorage, Alaska; Campbell Tract.  Pizza and refreshments for volunteers were purchased along with help in providing live musical entertainment from a local high school group.

Grant No. 12—Winnemucca, Nevada; Cain Springs.  Snacks and supplies for a Youth Eco Camp were purchased.

Grant No. 13—Durango, Colorado; Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.  Food, water and supplies for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 14—Dickenson, North Dakota; Schnell Recreation Area.  Catered lunches for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 15—Monticello, Utah; Kane Gulch/Cedar Mesa Wilderness Study Area.  Tools and food, water and supplies for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 16—Monticello, Utah; Indian Creek Recreation Area.  Tools and food, water and supplies for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 17—Ely, Nevada; Sacramento Pass Recreation Site. No grant funds were used.

Grant No. 18—Kanab, Utah; Hog Canyon Multiple-use Trail System and Johnson Canyon Scenic Byway.  Two ATV signs and food for volunteers were purchased.

Grant No. 19—Safford, Arizona; Dos Cabezas Wilderness Area.  Food, water, eye protection, gloves and other supplies were purchased.

Grant No. 20—Kremmling, Colorado; Wolford Mountain Bike Trail.  Food, beverages and gloves were purchased for volunteers.

Grant No. 21—Grants Pass, Oregon; Lake Selmac.  Coolers with embroidery work were purchased as appreciation gifts for volunteers.

Grant No. 22—Palm Springs, California; Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.  Tools, refreshments and volunteer appreciation certificates were purchased.

Grant No. 23—Boise, Idaho; Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.  A tree and food and beverages for volunteers were purchased.