National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day gives people all across the country the opportunity to put their hands to work on projects to benefit public lands. Participants also learn more about natural resource management and the need for shared stewardship of these lands.

On September 27, 2008 a record 284 volunteers celebrated National Public Lands Day on the Campbell Tract. These volunteers helped reroute a dog sled trail, thinned brush along several trails to increase visibility and safety, spread gravel along Coyote and Moose Track Trails, revegetated an abandoned trail corridor, beautified the Science Center grounds, prepared an area for a butterfly garden, painted airstrip gates and walkway posts, raked gravel back onto Old Rondy Trail, and cut and stack firewood for a Biomass Demonstration Unit (an outdoor wood-burning stove that uses spruce bark beetle-killed trees to heat the Science Center).

After the work projects were completed we treated volunteers to a recognition lunch and a drawing for door prizes. Pizza and beverages were provided by the Friends of the Campbell Creek Science Center and all of the door prizes were provided by area businesses and organizations. "The Asteroids," a local group of young musicians, provided musical entertainment before and after the luncheon.

In the afternoon, about 250 members of the public attended our Annual Open House and learned to “Take It Outside: Connect with Your Public Lands.” Visitors received “Take It Outside” passports and participated in hands-on activities at eight different stations designed to promote benefits of spending time in nature.

Thank you to all the volunteers and contributors who helped make this such a fantastic event!