BLM is thankful for public lands volunteers

This Thanksgiving season, we are grateful for the many ways volunteers give back to our public lands. This year’s National Public Lands Day (NPLD), celebrated on Sept. 27, was a prime example of the valuable role volunteerism plays in land management. We owe a debt of gratitude to our dedicated volunteers, who truly are the unsung heroes of public land stewardship.  

Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation, NPLD is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Early estimates show that this year’s NPLD included more than 900 events across all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, with 56,000 participants.  

As the nation’s largest land manager, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a key participant in National Public Lands Day. Early estimates show, this year, BLM hosted about 30% of the National Public Lands Day events on federally managed land, with a turnout of more than 8,000 participants.  

From traditional stewardship projects to community celebrations, here are a few highlights from National Public Lands Day 2025 on BLM-managed lands.  

In Idaho, the Cottonwood Field Office held a NPLD event to remove trash and debris along a scenic stretch of the Clearwater River. Project volunteers included the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy, members of the Clearwater Management Council, and others. The BLM’s collaboration with youth allows them to foster a connection to the natural resources in their communities.  

“The [youth] Cadets have gained hands-on experience in stewardship and citizenship,” said Rebecca Urbanczyk, outdoor recreation planner for the Cottonwood Field Office. “These moments often spark lifelong values of service, responsibility, and environmental awareness.” 

Urbanczyk added: “Volunteers give their time, energy, and heart—not for recognition, but because they care. Their dedication often fills gaps that limited budgets and staffing can’t cover, making them an essential part of public land management.” 

“With over 560 condors now in the world and over 80 soaring free in northern Arizona and southern Utah, this year’s release is a powerful reminder of what collaboration can achieve!” added Ailport.  

In Utah, the Cedar City Field Office hosted a group of 10 volunteers who removed 4,900 pounds of trash in just a few hours, restoring the natural beauty of an area with numerous recreational opportunities near the Enoch and Cedar City communities. The volunteers’ efforts will ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable recreational experience.  

“[Volunteers] have become our eyes and ears, helping us protect recreation spaces in ways we couldn't accomplish on our own,” said Hannah Merrick, a Cedar City Field Office park ranger. “Volunteers multiply our impact and strengthen us as a community.” 

In Colorado, the Gunnison Field Office held an NPLD event at Dry Gulch in the Gunnison Basin, one of the last remaining intact sagebrush ecosystems in the state of Colorado and a critical area for big game winter range, particularly mule deer and elk. A group of thirteen Western Colorado University students and faculty planted one hundred mountain mahogany seedlings, an important browse species for big game, in just a few hours. BLM Southwest District Fuels Program staff were the key to making this project successful.  

“When volunteers help restore public lands, they develop a deep sense of pride and shared ownership in the places they steward,” said Wildlife Biologist Kathy Brodhead. 

Overall, this year’s National Public Lands Day was a resounding success. Thank you again to all of our volunteers, and happy Thanksgiving!