On Saturday September 27, 2008, Valley Forge National Historical Park hosted a stewardship event as part of the 16th annual National Public Lands Day. With primary partners REI and Unilever-Lipton® Tea, the park continued its tradition of recognizing this important public hand on volunteer event which is the largest in the nation of its kind. Though early morning light rain occurred during the festivities, it did not dampen the spirits of the more than 300 volunteers who came out to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to support the park.

The celebration featured a breakfast donated by REI, Starbucks and Lipton® Tea, and a Environmental Expo complete with displays and exhibits from local and national organizations including the Montgomery County Department of Parks and Heritage Services Area, the Montgomery County Planning Commission, Delaware Valley Appalachian Mountain Club, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Agency, Friends of Valley Forge Park, Valley National Historical Park, Department of the Interior Federal Credit Union and National Park Conservation Association. Tee-shirts where also provided to volunteers courtesy of REI.

REI has recruited youth volunteers and donated funds in support of National Public Lands Day over the last three years as well as reached out to other corporate groups in the community such as such as Starbucks, Trader Joes and Whole foods to assist the park through the promotion of environmental awareness and stewardship efforts.

Unilever’s Healthy Parks- Healthy Living program has been one of the greatest supporters of the park through financial contributions to support public stewardship events and in its effort to educate the public of the park resources and how people can get involved to preserve them. Unilever is the longest-standing corporate partner of the National Park Foundation and a Proud Partner of America’s National Parks, a commitment manifest in its global commitment to sustainability and its vitality mission to help people look good, feel good and get more out of life while acting responsibly towards communities and environment. Visitors received information about daily physical fitness and the benefits of recreation along with free samples of Lipton® tea.

On National Public Lands Day volunteers donated more than 1200 hours helping with the following projects:

• Invasive Crayfish removal from Valley Creek
• Riparian buffer maintenance
• Plant native trees
• Repair fencing on Schuylkill River Trail
• Remove weeds from Arch Circle
• Remove overgrown vegetation from Pawling's Mansion area
• Prep interior walls for painting
• Plant bulbs, grasses and shrubs at Welcome Center
• Re-seed and repair area in front of Huntington's,
• Chapel Trail Rehab/Erosion control,
• Power washed picnic tables and waysides
• Litter clean-up

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Last year 110,000 volunteers worked in 1,300 locations and in every state. Now, 8 federal agencies and many state and local lands participate in this annual day of caring for shared lands.

National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-42 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage.

This annual event educates Americans about critical environmental and natural resources issues and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands; Builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands; Improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who give up their time to share their energy and talent to get involved on National Public lands Day.

• Lockheed Martin
• Appalachian Mountain Club
• Verizon Telephone Pioneers
• Southeastern Payroll Association
• Boyscouts of America
• IES Engineering
• The North Face
• Pennridge High School
• Christopher Dock Mennonite High School
• The Valley Forge Striders Running Club
• Members of NPCA
• John Hopkins University Alumni
• St. Matthews’s United Methodist Church
• Boyertown High School
• And the individual volunteers

Thank you!