If you live nearby or are visiting, lend a hand to cleanup Cape Lookout National Seashore on Public Lands Day/NPS

With National Public Lands Day arriving on September 26 this year, now is your chance to pick a park and help clean it up on that date.

National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Last year more than 175,000 volunteers and park visitors celebrated at more than 2,100 public land sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

At Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, several local organizations are coordinating a community-wide cleanup of the lands and waters in and around Beaufort, North Carolina.

Event partners include the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Tourism Development Authority, and Foundation for Shackleford Horses. The groups are seeking volunteers for the following activities:

* 10 a.m. - Beaufort cleanup on foot. Downtown Beaufort and a nearby marsh. Cleanup supplies provided. No reservations required.

Island cleanup; transport by boat. Choose your location. Registration required:

* 10 a.m. - Rachel Carson Reserve (complex of islands just across from the Beaufort waterfront). Participants will return to Beaufort by 1 p.m.

* 9:30 a.m. - Cape Lookout National Seashore (Shackleford Banks). Participants will return to Beaufort by 1:30 p.m. All volunteers should meet at the downtown Beaufort waterfront gazebo at Grayden Paul Park, on the corner of Front and Pollock Streets. Nearby parking is available; the local parking meters will not be in use at that time. Trash bags, gloves and pick-up sticks will be provided. Participants should wear weather appropriate clothing that may get wet and dirty. For safety purposes, volunteers are required to wear closed-toe shoes such as wading boots or old sneakers.

Space is limited for the island-based events, so volunteers are encouraged to register early.

In addition to picking up trash, volunteers will help collect data for N.C. Big Sweep and International Coastal Cleanup on the types and quantities of debris collected. This information will be used to better manage debris and focus educational efforts.

These events need a strong volunteer showing to be successful, so the general public is encouraged to attend. All activities are appropriate for children. Information and registration are available online at this site.

For additional questions, please contact Wade Keeler with the Town of Beaufort at 252-728-3175, extension 225 or [email protected]. 

To find other locations around the country where you can volunteer, visit this site.