Celebrate National Public Lands Day in the Smokies

Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites the public to join park staff on Saturday, September 26, 2015 for the 22nd annual celebration of National Public Lands Day. The park is offering service opportunities at Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC and along the Foothills Parkway West near Walland, TN. Service projects at both locations will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.

All Public Lands Day activities will be guided by park rangers and experienced support staff. At the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, participants will rebuild damaged sections of locust fence at the Mountain Farm Museum or repair and reroute sections of the Oconaluftee River Trail. Participants should meet on the visitor center porch at 10:00 a.m. At the Foothills Parkway West site, participants will remove exotic plant species that negatively affect woodland ecosystems in the park. Volunteers should meet near the Walland Post Office and BP Gas Station at 5317 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy Walland, TN.

Volunteers are advised to wear long pants and close toed shoes. Gloves and work gear will be provided. All participants should bring lunch, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Participants are requested to RSVP. To RSVP for fencing and trail work at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, please contact Trails Volunteer Coordinator Alan Chapman by email at Alan_Chapman@nps.gov or by phone at (828)-497-1949. To RSVP for exotic species removal, please contact Parkwide Volunteer Coordinator Sheridan Roberts by email at Sheridan_Roberts@nps.gov or by phone at (865)-436-1265.

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single day of service for public lands. Over 2,000 city, state, and federal sites provide opportunities to support public lands annually. For more information on National Public Lands visit http://ift.tt/UwMFK6.



Jeff
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