National Public Lands Day Coming up

The National Park Service will waive entrance fees on Saturday, September 27, in conjunction with the celebration of National Public Lands Day.

As part of this annual event, Yellowstone National Park is looking for volunteers for two work projects that will take place in Lamar Valley, which is located in the rugged northeast portion of the park.

Volunteers will participate in either trailhead restoration work at the Lamar River Trailhead or fence construction work at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch. Work will take place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and includes obliterating social trails, delineating an actual trail, planting native vegetation, building a fence, and/or moving a fence. The work in either project is strenuous, requiring the use of hand tools including shovels, posthole diggers, and picks, lifting heavy timbers and bags of rock, and working at high altitudes and in variable weather conditions.

Space is limited to 30 participants. Volunteers are asked to register by September 20 and to state a choice of project if you wish. Please email your name and phone numbers to YELL_Volunteer_Office@nps.gov or call 307-344-2729 and leave a voice mail with your name and phone number.

Drinks and snacks will be provided. All volunteers should bring lunch, water, sunscreen, insect repellant, and sturdy footwear. Weather is unpredictable and can be cold and blustery in late September, so bring clothing suitable for a range of conditions.

Those who participate in a National Public Lands Day volunteer activity will receive a coupon good for a one-time free entrance to the federal public lands day area of their choice.

To learn more about all of the volunteer opportunities on public lands throughout the region, visit the National Public Lands Day website at http://www.publiclandsday.org.