Giving back to the public lands we use and love

National Public Lands Days is Sept. 27, 2025. Think we often take our public lands for granted. Many of us use them for recreation. Some use them for their businesses. Some use them for hunting. Nearly half of Wyoming is public land.

Have you ever thought about giving something back? If you are a business that makes money using the public lands for free, are you using some of the profit to do something good like help clean up or practice conservation, etc.?  If you go to site, do you make sure you leave no trace? Do you do little extra and pick up trash someone else may have left? 

Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources is hosting volunteer opportunities locally on the Public Lands Day. 

Buffalo Bill State Park – Saturday, Sept. 27 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Plant various trees throughout the park and learn about their history. Meet at the Buffalo Bill State Park headquarters at 8 a.m. The park’s address is 4192 N Fork Hwy, Cody, Wyo. For more information, call (307) 587-9227.

Hot Springs State Park – Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Meet at the Big Spring parking area and hike about 1.5 miles, cleaning up trash along the roads in the bison pasture. The park’s address is 51 US-20, Thermopolis, WY 82443. For more information, call (307) 864-2176.

Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site – Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Clean up litter throughout the park and pull weeds in the gardens. Bring your own gloves and meet at the Red Barn. The park’s address is 4800 Rd 52, Hyattville, WY 82428. For more information, call (307) 469-2234.

Boysen State Park – Sept. 1-28

Pick up trash within Boysen State Park throughout the entire month of September. Promote stewardship and responsible recreation by sharing your efforts on Facebook. All participants will be entered to win a local gift card by following these easy steps: One - pick up litter in the park and take a photo of yourself in action. Two - add the photo to the comment section on Boysen State Park’s National Public Lands Day Facebook post. Three - help spread the word by liking & sharing the post! The winner will be announced the week following NPLD. The park’s address is 120 Boysen Dr., Shoshoni, WY 82649. For more information, call (307) 876-2796.

“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” 

–Theodore Roosevelt