Partners: Civilian Conservation Corps
On September 29th, 2001, The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) passed their legacy to National Public Lands Day. From 1933 to 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt recruited a civilian army to conserve our nation's natural resources. The Civilian Conservation Corps would engender strong national pride in America's rich legacy of land stewardship and would prove to be of moral and spiritual value to our great nation.
Known as "Roosevelt's Tree Army" more than two million Americans -- mostly men --planted over three billion trees and spent countless hours fighting forest and coal fires. They also surveyed and mapped lands and lakes, wired whole towns, and built fences, lodges, museums, lookout towers, wells and pump houses. The numbers are impressive:
- Built 46,854 bridges
- Restored 3,980 historic structures
- Developed 800 state parks (many states had no parks before the CCC)
- Installed 5,000 miles of water supply line
On National Public Lands Day 2001, the Corp's magnificent heritage of stewardship was handed down to volunteers across the country. The conservation promise long held in the able hands and trusted hearts of the Corps will pass to a younger generation. On September 29, 2001, in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, CCC alumni recognized National Public Lands Day and its partners as keepers of their legacy. The Shenandoah has hosted CCC reunions since 1934. Other National Public Lands Day events around the country also will celebrate the work of the CCC with alumni joining volunteers of all ages for this annual day to benefit our public lands.
Click here to see photos of the CCC reunion.
National Public Lands Day volunteers are keeping the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that exemplified land stewardship from 1933-1942, to preserve and protect America's natural heritage
In the year 2000, National Public Lands Day teamed up with its federal agency partners for a premier event in Anacostia, Washington, D.C. Several federal and local land management organizations teamed up with several non-profit organizations at four locations on the Anacostia River on National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day is a unique public-private partnership involving many federal, state, and local land agencies. These agencies work closely with business partners such as Toyota, and numerous non-profit organizations. The National Environmental Education Foundation manages, coordinates, and generates financial support for the program.
National Public Lands Day is being sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales USA for the 11th consecutive year.