- U.S. Surgeon General and Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality Join Hundreds of Volunteers in Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – Washington, DC – More than 180,000 volunteers are expected at more than 2,000 sites across the country on Saturday, September 24, to take part in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States.

Volunteers in every state will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places that belong to all Americans. They will improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and just plain enjoyment.

As part of this annual celebration of public lands, NPLD is supporting the first lady's Let’s Move Outside initiative as it engages families and youth to get outdoors and be active through hands-on fun activities. Research shows that being active outdoors is one step to reducing childhood obesity, diabetes and other health conditions, as well as reducing blood pressure and stress in adults.

Two signature events help mark NPLD this year. In Washington, DC, volunteers can help Rock Creek Park and hear remarks by the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin and Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. There will also be an afternoon health fair and outdoor recreation activities with REI.

In Atlanta, the Greening Youth Foundation will host a Youth Campout for 30 students on Friday night at the Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic Site in advance of volunteer activities on Saturday which include restoring historic houses adjacent to MLK, Jr.’s first home.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is the event’s national corporate sponsor for the 13th consecutive year. Northrop Grumman has joined as a contributing sponsor again for the 3rd year. The National Environmental Education Foundation (www.neefusa.org) coordinates National Public Lands Day, now in its 18th year. NPLD has provided more than $15 million in contributed services by volunteers annually to public lands.

Eight federal agencies will participate along with more than 250 state, county, and city partners and a host of nonprofit groups, including the Boy Scouts of America, The Girl Scouts of the USA, Student Conservation Association and The Corps Network.

Events in every state can be found online: www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites (search by state or zip code). NPLD events will be held in all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Nationwide, volunteers are expected to visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places.

WHAT: National Public Lands Day Events – Nationwide

WHEN: Saturday, September 24, 2011, times vary by site

WHERE: Events Nationwide, including Signature Events in Washington and Atlanta

Washington, DC:
Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road, NW Washington, DC
Event – 8:30am – 4:00pm (Speakers at 12:30pm)
Dr. Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General
Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works),
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
JL Armstrong of NEEF’s Board of Trustees and National Manager, External Affairs, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park, National Park Service
Diane W. Wood, President, National Environmental Education Foundation

Atlanta:
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, 450 Auburn Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA
Event – 9:00am – 2:00pm (Speakers at 9:00am)
Judy Forte, Superintendent, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
Ken Strassner of NEEF’s Board of Trustees
Kwanza Hall, Atlanta City Councilmember (District 2)
George Dusenbury, Commissioner of Atlanta Dept. of Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Affairs

NPLD Nationwide Events including New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Los Angeles:
All NPLD events can be found online: www.publiclandsday.org

CONTACT: Amber Taylor, 703-201-4893

More information can be found on the National Public Lands Day website, www.publiclandsday.org.