Volunteers Needed for National Public Lands Day at Charlemagne Park
On Saturday, September 22, volunteers across the country, including 30 or more volunteers at Charlemagne Park in Hoffman Estates through a project coordinated by the Hoffman Estates Park District (HE Parks), will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves and forests to give back to the treasured lands where we play, learn, and relax in celebration of the 25th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD) - the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands.
Coordinated each year by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), National Public Lands Day brings together volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that people across America use and enjoy every day. Each year, NPLD volunteers provide tens of millions of dollars' worth of services in one day that would otherwise take limited park staff months to accomplish. Last year, more than 200,000 people participated in events at more than 2,500 sites in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.
Locally, HE Parks is seeking volunteers of all ages to collect wildflower and native plant seeds to assist in this national effort. The event takes place at Charlemagne Park, 3799 Bordeaux Street in Hoffman Estates from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers should RSVP to Communications and Marketing Superintendent Sandy Manisco at marketing@heparks.org or 847-781-3672. Groups and individuals of all ages are welcome.
"This is a really fun event," said Manisco. "It's easy to participate, and everyone learns so much about native and non-native plants and how important native plants like milkweed are to our monarch butterflies, for example. It also gives people a chance to discover a new beautiful park. Many people aren't aware of Charlemagne Park and how lovely it is."
Volunteers should dress comfortably, bring water to drink and a pair of garden gloves, if they have them, added Manisco. Local residents, plus Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops have helped out in the past at Charlemagne Park, where more than 30 pounds of seeds have been collected in years past at the events, which have taken place since 2013.
Seven federal agencies will participate in NPLD along with hundreds of state, county, and city partners and a host of nonprofit groups. For the 20th consecutive year, Toyota is the event's national corporate sponsor.
For more information about the event at Charlemagne Park, please visit heparks.org or call 847-885-7500. For more information, check out NEEFusa.org/NPLD. Everyone is encouraged to follow and participate in the conversation on social media using the hashtags #NPLD and #NEEF25thNPLD.
ABOUT HE PARKS
Providing first-class parks, facilities, programs and services for a community of more than 50,000, HE Parks operates Triphahn Community Center & Ice Arena, Willow Recreation Center, Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club, Prairie StoneTM Sports & Wellness Center, Seascape Family Aquatic Center and Vogelei Park & Barn.
HE Parks has earned the highest state and local awards and accreditations including the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA); Illinois Distinguished Park and Recreation Agency by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and is the National Gold Medal Award from National Recreation & Parks Association; the highest national honor.
For more information visit heparks.org or call 847-885-7500.
ABOUT NEEF & NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY
NEEF's vision is that by 2022, 300 million people living in the U.S. actively use environmental knowledge to ensure the wellbeing of the earth and its people. To achieve its vision, NEEF offers science-based, unbiased information through its own communications platforms, as well as a network of trusted professionals and affinity communities that, with their relationships and credibility, amplify environmental messages to national audiences. Learn more at NEEFusa.org- or follow NEEF on Facebook (Facebook.com/NEEFusa) and on Twitter at @NEEFusa.