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(BUTTE, Mont.) –  Join the Bureau of Land Management in celebrating public lands at several events taking place throughout September in western Montana.

The volunteer-driven cleanup activities center around National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands, but the fun is not limited to just one grid-square on the calendar: several opportunities on multiple days are available to those who want to pitch in and give back to their public lands.

The BLM’s Western Montana District invites the public to join them at the following events celebrating public lands and people’s connection to the landscape throughout history:

Sept. 15-16 at Devil’s Elbow Campground: Native American Pow-wow. This National Public Lands Day event is in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the National Historic Trails System and features a pow-wow with a drum group and exhibition dancers. There will also be traditional games and short talks throughout the two days. For a complete schedule, call (406) 533-7600, or email kscarbrough@blm.gov

Sept. 22 at the Copper City trail system: 9 a.m. to noon, trail maintenance. Volunteer to help clean up and maintain one of the BLM’s newest mountain-biking networks in the west. Meet at the trailhead 5 miles north of the Wheat Montana deli on Highway 287. Turn right onto Copper City Road and travel another mile to the meeting place. “We will provide the tools, but are encouraging people to bring a gravel rake if they have one,” said Tim Hawke, with the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association. “The work will take place all over the trail system. We’ll also be dropping tools off at strategic locations so that people can hike or bike to those spots. There will also be a crew collecting garbage with a dump truck.” A barbecue lunch will be provided after the work is done, followed by several group rides leaving from the trailhead at 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 at Log Gulch Campground: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.:, tree planting. Meet at the campground on the shores of Holter Lake, north of Helena, for a day of planting trees around the recreation area. “We’d love to see the parking lot full of people ready to get their hands dirty while spending a day at one of our many great campgrounds,” said Kelly Scarbrough, Supervisory Outdoor Recreation Planner with the BLM’s Butte Field Office. Volunteers should bring a lunch, water, and weather-appropriate clothing. For more information on the cleanup day, call (406) 533-7600.

Sept. 29 at Revenue Flats: 9 a.m. to noon, campsite and trail cleanup. Volunteers should follow the signs along Highway 287 at Norris to meet at the first left-hand turn after entering public lands when approaching Revenue Flats area from the north (on the Norris side). “This year will be the third annual cleanup at Revenue Flats in Madison County,” said Chris McGrath, Outdoor Recreation Planner with the BLM’s Dillon Field Office. “We would love to have as many volunteers as possible to help with cleaning up around the campsites and rock crags in the area.” Please bring weather-appropriate clothing, food and water; the BLM will provide work gloves and trash bags. For more information, contact McGrath at (406) 682-4082, or by email at cmcgrath@blm.gov  

Coordinated each year by the National Environmental Education Foundation, National Public Lands Day brings together volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that people across America use each year and enjoy every day. Each year, National Public Lands Day volunteers provide 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.

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.