This webinar focused on equipping volunteer coordinators and nonprofit organizations with the tools to host impactful youth-oriented events on National Public Lands Day.
Hosted by the National Environmental Education Foundation, this webinar featured panelists from the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and Mississippi Park Connection who have experience hosting youth-oriented events, family-friendly service opportunities, and events with strong connections to environmental education. Whether you're planning your first National Public Lands Day event or looking to enhance previous efforts, this session will provide invaluable insights and practical advice.
Webinar Recording
Key Takeaways From This Webinar
- Expert guidance on designing National Public Lands Day activities that appeal to all ages, ensuring that your events are inclusive and engaging for families.
- A variety of ideas and success stories illustrate how to create meaningful service opportunities that foster long-term environmental stewardship among young participants.
- Crafting events that provide immediate impact and instill a lasting connection to nature and conservation is an important element for motivating youth.
- Effective youth recruitment strategies for reaching youth and families.
- Best practices for working with youth, including handling liability waivers, implementing safety protocols, and obtaining photo permissions.
Panelists
Kelly Burnett
Program Director, Conservation, National Environmental Education Foundation
Kelly coordinates events like National Public Lands Day and supports initiatives that motivate people to connect to nature through environmental stewardship in their communities.
Kyle Yarusso
Volunteer & Youth Programs Coordinator at Rock Creek Park, National Park Service, Washington, DC
Kyle (he/him) oversees a volunteer program that engages with many partner organizations and over 5,000 volunteers annually. Additionally, he works with youth organizations to provide internships and trail crew opportunities within the park. Kyle has worked for NPS for 9 years at C&O Canal National Historical Park and President’s Park (White House).
Sereena J. King
Support Services Specialist for Public Affairs and Administration at Six Rivers National Forest, USDA Forest Service, Orleans, CA
Ayukîi, nanithvuy uum Sereena. Sereena started her career with the USFS in 2008, and spent five years working seasonally on the Six Rivers National Forest. In 2013, She got an opportunity to work on one of her “bucket list forests”, so she packed up and went to work for the Olympic National Forest, only doing one season there. She was offered the “winter ranger” position in the Hell Hole area of the Eldorado National Forest (another bucket list forest). After that winter season she transferred to the Pacific Ranger district of the ENF, and spent the next 10 years of her career there, earning her permanent employment status along the way, she was hired in 2019 as the Visitor Services Manager for the Pacific District. In 2023, she was offered a chance to move “home” to the Six Rivers National Forest, where she works in Public Affairs and Administration.
Adam Kay
Crystal Information Manager at the Eldorado National Forest, USDA Forest Service, Sierra Nevada, CA
Adam Kay started his career in public lands with CA State Parks in 2019, working seasonally in visitor services and on a trail crew. In 2021, he was hired by the Pacific Ranger District of the Eldorado NF as the assistant interpretive ranger and was promoted to lead interpretive ranger in 2022. He is now detailed as the visitor services manager for my district, where my primary focus is interpretation and managing the Crystal Basin Information Station.
Emma Vanhdy
Volunteer Coordinator, Mississippi Park Connection, Saint Paul, MN
Emma Vanhdy graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation biology and Forest and Natural Resource Sciences. She co-coordinates Volunteers-In-Parks programming with the National Park Service for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, including habitat restoration events and the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) volunteers.