Celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering or visiting

Saturday is a day to celebrate our public lands by volunteering your time, with the bonus of being able to visit a state or national park for free.

National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer effort to aid the nation’s public lands. The event typically draws about 175,000 volunteers.

There are a number of local projects where South Sound residents can volunteer, including a work party with the Olympia-Thurston County Stream Team and Olympia Parks, Art and Recreation at Priest Point Park.

Volunteers will work from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. to help restore the mouth of Mission Creek. Participants will pull ivy, remove laurel and holly, and mulch trees planted in the spring. Tools, gloves, snacks and water will be provided. Sign up at streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar.

In Gig Harbor, a work party will be held at McCormick Forest and Rotary Bark Park. Volunteers will work with PenMet Parks on the trails from 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers will receive discount tickets to the Cider Festival at Sehmel Homestead Park. To sign up, contact Eric Guenther at 253-858-3400, Ext. 1222.

To find more volunteer opportunities, go to publiclandsday.org.

If you can’t volunteer, you can still enjoy some amazing public places a short drive away. Washington State Parks and federal agencies including the National Park Service. U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be offering free admission Saturday.

A Discover Pass will not be needed to enter any of the state parks, and destinations such as Mount Rainier National Park and Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge will not charge an entrance fee.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering or visiting."