CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 15, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources reminds residents and visitors that volunteer opportunities are taking place across Wyoming this September in celebration of National Public Lands Day and Wyoming Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 26. 

“National Public Lands Day is an opportunity for people across Wyoming to get outside, give back, and help care for the public lands and recreation areas that are important to their communities,” said Jamie Hansen, outreach coordinator for the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. “Whether you have a few hours to help with a cleanup, trail project, habitat improvement, or preservation effort, there are opportunities across the state for everyone to get involved.”

Wyoming State Parks Volunteer Opportunities 

Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites will host volunteer projects throughout September, including cleanup efforts, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, habitat improvements, and preservation projects. In recognition of National Public Lands Day, day-use and entrance fees will also be waived at all Wyoming state parks and historic sites on Sept. 26.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Bear River State Park – Sept. 1–30, Noxious Weed Identification
• Boysen State Park – Sept. 26, Puncturevine Weed Pull
• Buffalo Bill State Park – Sept. 26, Tree Planting
• Curt Gowdy State Park – Sept. 26, Bird Box Cleaning and Winterization
• Edness K.Wilkins State Park – Sept. 26, Russian Olive Removal
• Fort Bridger State Historic Site – Sept. 26, Historic Building Whitewash
• Hawk Springs State Recreation Area – Sept. 26, Beach & Campground Cleanup
• Hot Springs State Park – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Seminoe State Park – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Sinks Canyon State Park – Sept. 26, Trail Maintenance & Weed Pull
• Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site – Sept. 26, Sunflower Garden Winterization & More

Outdoor Recreation Collaborative Volunteer Opportunities 

Across Wyoming, community-led Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives, facilitated by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, are also bringing together volunteers, local organizations, and land managers to support stewardship projects on public lands. Projects range from trail construction and maintenance to fence repair, habitat restoration, and cleanup efforts.

Collaborative-supported opportunities include:

• Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) | Lovell – Sept. 19, Rainbow Canyon Trail Build
• Cloud Peak Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (CPORC) | Sheridan – Sept. 26, Black Mountain Nordic Trail Work Day (RegistrationRequired)
• High Plains Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (HPORC) | Esterbrook – Sept. 26, Esterbrook Campground Cleanup
• Lincoln Uinta Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (LUORC) | Mountain View – Sept. 26, Leavitt Creek Beaver Dam Restoration
• Mountain Man Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (MMORC) | Pinedale – Sept. 26, NPLD Celebration (Registration Encouraged)
• Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (PCORC) | Cody – Sept. 26, Absaroka Fence Initiative (Registration Required)
• Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC) | Laramie – Sept. 26, Roger Canyon Trash Cleanup (Registration Required)
• Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC) | Laramie – Sept. 26, Upper UW Trail Maintenance (Registration Required)
• Teton County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (TCORC) | Jackson - Sept. 26, Salt River Cleanup 
• Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC) | Atlantic City – Sept. 19, Strawberry Meadow Zeedyk Build Day (RSVP Encouraged)

Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is a nationwide initiative led by the National Environmental Education Foundation. Each year, volunteers across the country come together to care for public lands, improve recreation areas, and celebrate the places that connect communities to the outdoors. NPLD is also a fee-free day at participating federally managed public lands.

Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation are both part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR), which provides recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities and experiences across the state. 

RSVP for a National Public Lands Day event near you by visiting the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation Facebook page at @WyoRec. Event details, including volunteer times, meeting locations, and project information, are available on all social media accounts of participating Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives. Additional information can also be found at wyooutdoorrecreation.wyo.gov. 

Learn more about the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources at wyospcr.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: 2025 National Public Lands Day at Edness K. Wilkins State Park in Casper, WY. Figure 2: 2025 National Public Lands Day at Keyhole State Park in Moorcroft, WY. Figure 3: 2025 National Public Lands Day at Roger Canyon near Laramie, WY.