A Lopez Island celebration of National Public Lands Day will take place at Watmough Bay on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Kayak rides, kids’ nature activities, hikes, trail projects, beach clean-up, and interpretive talks are planned.

National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands in the nation.  NPLD began in 1994 and has become a yearly tradition throughout the nation after much success in preserving and protecting America’s natural heritage.

Event organizer Sara Waugh says, “National Public Lands Day is a great opportunity to enjoy your public lands with friends and family.  This year, we are excited to offer participants the opportunity to kayak at Watmough Bay through the generosity of Cascadia Kayaks.  A traveling Leave No Trace team will also be on the beach, sharing information.  There are events planned at multiple sites this year, including a walk at Iceberg Point hosted by Kwiaht.  We will provide snacks and drinks to attendees at Watmough. This celebration has grown each year, and we are looking forward to another exceptional community event.”

As NPLD on Lopez has grown over the past four years, so too has the scope and the number of sponsors. This year, in addition to events on Lopez, there are NPLD events on San Juan Island.  A beach clean-up at South Beach and a “Know Your Islands” walk at Finlayson Trail from 1-4 p.m. are both planned on San Juan Island in partnership with the National Park Service and the San Juan Island Conservation Corps. NPLD event sponsors are the Bureau of Land Management – San Juan Islands National Monument, Cascadia Kayaks, Kwiaht, Leave No Trace, Lopez Community Trails Network, Lopez Island Conservation Corps, National Park Service, San Juan County Land Bank, San Juan Island Conservation Corps, San Juan Preservation Trust, and Whispers of Nature Herbs. Contact Victoria at 970-739-1993 with any questions about the day.