Join BLM Bakersfield for Kern Valley Pride Day and National Public Lands Day

Organization

Bureau of Land Management, California

BLM Office:

Central California District Office

Media Contact:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty helping the Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office beautify two popular sites as part of Kern Valley Pride Day, Sept. 16, and National Public Lands Day, Sept. 30.

“Public land visitors who give back by pitching in during Kern Valley Pride and Public Lands Days are a huge help in keeping our campgrounds, visitor centers and recreation areas looking good and functioning year after year,” says Bakersfield Field Manager Gabriel Garcia. “Volunteers makes a big difference in helping BLM offer the best recreation opportunity possible.”

Keysville Special Recreation Area is a favorite Kern River location for camping, fishing, biking, hiking or viewing historical mining sites. Volunteers are needed to help pick up trash as part of Kern Valley Pride Day, a communitywide cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 16. If interested, join Keepers of the Kern and BLM staff at Keysville South between 8-11 a.m. Trash grabbers, bags, gloves and water will be provided. After the cleanup, volunteers are welcome to join the community barbecue lunch at the U.S. Forest Service French Gulch Campground.

Public lands keep America beautiful and strong. Another service opportunity is available at the Goodwin Education Center, which is the hub for information and the first stop for wildflower followers at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, located about halfway between Bakersfield and Santa Maria, California. Volunteers are needed to help prune shrubs, clear weeds, sand and varnish the wood door and benches, clean inside and replace vehicle barriers.

If interested, please RSVP to John Kelley at 661-391-6107 to help get an accurate count as the Friends of the Carrizo will provide lunch for volunteers. Then, meet at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Goodwin Education Center, 17495 Soda Lake Road, California Valley, CA 93453.

Temperatures have been unseasonably warm. Please remember to bring plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes, long sleeved shirt and a hat. Please contact the Bakersfield Field Office at 661-391-6000 to arrange for reasonable accommodations to participate in either event.


The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.