Photos: Leon Worden

[ANF/SGMNM] – In honor of National Public Lands Day, encouraging people to improve public recreation areas, the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument will have a fee-free day and will participate in three public events.

The Angeles and monument will have activities at the Los Angeles County Fair in honor of this special day.

And in partnership with El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument, the Forest Service and nearly 30 other groups have scheduled a family-friendly, environmental education event in downtown Los Angeles.

The forest and monument, with the National Forest Foundation and other groups, will also hold an annual forest cleanup—a family friendly, half-day volunteer activity. Work will include litter pick up, graffiti removal, trail repair and removal of invasive weeds.

WHERE & WHEN:

All events will be held Saturday (Sept. 26) from:

•  10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. El Pueblo De Los Angeles, 125 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles.

This event will feature info booths offering brochures and interactive environmental activities. The goal is to celebrate and educate the public about the environment and natural resources. Numerous organization including the Los Angeles County Open Space District, The Wilderness Society, Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, and City Plants, will share their roles and partnerships with the community to enhance and restore public lands and forests. Smokey Bear will also make an appearance.

• 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wildwood Picnic Area on Doske Road, off Big Tujunga Canyon Road, northeast of Tujunga. Children under age 16 must have adult supervision. Please wear sturdy, non-skid closed-toe shoes, long-sleeve shirt and pants, and bring gloves if possible. Please also bring a hat, sunscreen and water bottle. Lunch will be provided.

Those attending must register at http://www.nff.wildapricot.org/event-2046059.

• 10 a.m. to midnight at the “America’s  Great Outdoors” exhibit, Los Angeles County Fair, in the Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. Volunteers will hand out National Get Outdoors Day tee shirts and have other to-be-announced activities.

WHY: National Public Lands Day is an annual event in which volunteers organize and work to improve the nation’s forests, parks and other public areas. The normally required National Adventure Pass for daytime activities such as hiking and fishing will be waived. “Fee free” days are observed by the Forest Service five times this year. The remaining day is Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles Celebrates National Public Lands Day

LOS ANGELES— Please come and help us celebrate National Public Lands Day at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The goal of the event is to educate the public about the environment and natural resources.  National Public Lands Day builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America’s public lands and forests both in rural and urban areas.

This free event will feature fun and educational activities for the entire family.  Come and meet Smokey Bear, learn about your local watershed and wildlife, and receive a free tree.

WHAT: National Public Lands Day at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.  A free family event to celebrate and educate the public about the environment and natural resources.

WHO: Amigos de Los Rios, Arroyo Seco Foundation, Children & Nature Network, City Plants, Council for Watershed Health, EcoVoices Program, Equestrian Joint Council, Heart of Los Angeles, LA City Council, LA Conservation Corps, LA County Parks & Recreation – Whittier Narrows Nature Center, LA County Regional Open Space District, LA Neighborhood Land Trust, Las Anitas Restaurant, Latino Outdoors, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, National Park Service, Natural Resources Defense Council, Rivers & Mountains Conservancy, San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority , San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, The Wilderness Society, Trails4All, Trust For Public Land, U.S. Forest Service, & Wilson High School (LA) Environmental Science Academy.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–4  p.m.

WHERE: El Pueblo De Los Angeles: 125 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles

CONTACT:  Hugo Garcia, (323) 718-1223

WEB: http://publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/el-pueblo-de-los-angeles-historical-monument