Blogs

Join the Walk for the Wild: Support National Wildlife Refuges and Protect America's Wildlife  Washington D.C. — October 9, 2024 —   “ Wherever you meet [the National Wildlife Refuge] sign, respect it. It means that the land behind the sign has been dedicated by the American people to preserving, for themselves and their children, as much of our native wildlife as can be retained along with our modern civilization.” – Conservationist Rachel Carson    Walk, roll or paddle to your nearest wildlife refuge during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 12-19, 2024 and join the 3rd annual Walk for the Wild 5K Challenge . ...
National Public Lands Day (NPLD), held annually on the fourth Saturday of September, is the largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States. While some of the events listed below are official NPLD events registered through the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) , others are unique celebrations or service opportunities happening on public lands around the same time! Whether you’re looking to join an official NPLD event or simply spend a day giving back to your favorite public lands, there are various ways to participate and show your love for these incredible spaces this week. Colorado National Monument ...
We are excited to announce that Keynola Russell has joined the Public Lands Alliance as our Development and Events Manager. Keynola will help grow our fundraising efforts as an essential member of our  development operatio n.  We hope you will join us in welcoming Keynola to the team. You can learn more about her by reading her bio below.  Born in Brooklyn, NY, I moved to Albany for college and have since made it my home. I'm now just a short drive from the Adirondack Park, where I discovered my passion for the outdoors, including hiking and canoeing.  I'm excited to join the Public Lands Alliance team as the Development and Event Manager, ...
We are excited to announce that Dan Fineberg has joined the Public Lands Alliance as our new Director of Philanthropy. Dan will lead our marketing and development efforts with a growth-oriented vision to support our mission and advance our fundraising goals. He brings over 20 years of hands-on experience in both private and not-for-profit organizations, most recently leading development for a global humanitarian nonprofit. "My life has been shaped through the experiences and adventures I have enjoyed on America's public lands. I am excited to now work alongside the very people and organizations who steward these breathtaking and valuable natural resources, ...
The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to the Board of Directors and the promotion of PLA staff member Amy Matthews. New Board Directors Richard Cohen Richard is a longtime leader in corporate finance who today invests his time to support the environment and his local community. His commitment to conservation and wildlife is exemplified in his service as President of the Friends of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, a nonprofit partner organization he founded in 2020. He also holds the role of Treasurer of the Lafayette Rotary Club.  Richard had a long career in the Global ...
National Trails Day is just around the corner and Public Lands Alliance members have lined up a fantastic array of events to get everyone out and enjoying our beautiful trails. From guided hikes to community volunteer days, there's something for everyone to enjoy while giving back to our public lands.  Here’s a roundup of some of the PLA member events happening on June 1st and June 2nd, 2024! Black Hills Parks & Forests Association x SheJumps | National Trails Day Hike | South Dakota Event Date and Time: June 2, 2024, 9:00 am - 11:00 am (MDT) Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, in collaboration with SheJumps, will host a nature hike at ...
As Earth Day swept across the nation, nonprofit members of the Public Lands Alliance banded together to host a myriad of events aimed at celebrating and preserving our planet. From California to Alaska, these organizations showcased their commitment to environmental stewardship through a diverse array of activities. Let's take a closer look at some of the highlights from these Earth Day festivities! The Southern California Mountains Foundation took part in multiple Earth Day events, including a collaborative effort with the Urban Conservation Corps to recycle used tires and electronic waste in Muscoy and Bloomington. Additionally, they joined forces with ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) has announced the recipients of its 2024 Partnership Awards that celebrate the best in public lands partnerships. These awards honor individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody leading edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment the visitor experience. The 2024 award winners were announced on Thursday, April 18th in a   virtual celebration . The awards program is sponsored by Impact Photographics. A total of 14 awards were presented to individuals, organizations and companies in six categories: Public ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PLA 2024 Convention and Trade Show Highlights Groundbreaking Innovations in Public Lands Partnerships and Outdoor Recreation     March 2024 – The 2024 Public Lands Alliance (PLA) Convention and Trade Show showcased groundbreaking advancements in public lands management and outdoor recreation during its highly anticipated annual gathering. Hosted in San Francisco, CA, this year's convention brought together nearly 700 industry leaders, public land nonprofits, land management agencies, and business and outdoor enthusiasts to explore new strategies for enhancing the stewardship ...
Meet Emily Tanner, the new Education Program Manager at Public Lands Alliance! With a background deeply rooted in outdoor education and recreation, Emily is an avid hiker, camper, and backpacker. She's spent much of her career as an outdoor educator and guide, shaping her understanding of the intersection between public lands, education, and community engagement. Based in Colorado, Emily, along with her husband and children, continues to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Excited to contribute her expertise, she looks forward to collaborating with the dedicated community at Public Lands Alliance to enhance the collective impact on the preservation and promotion ...
Gaby Rojas has joined the Public Lands Alliance team as the Digital Communications Manager  of our new America’s Wildlife Refuge initiative. Gaby has been involved in communications since she was in elementary school and created a newsletter for her family to know what was going on within the household. Some of her biggest writing influences were Anthony Bourdain, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Louisa May Alcott. She worked as a freelance communications specialist while getting her degree from the University of Central Florida, where she graduated with a degree in Human Communications with a focus on Social Activism and Innovation. Since then, she was worked ...
The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to the Board of Directors.  Joining the Board of Directors Aileen Utterdyke is the President & Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Historic Parks Aileen Utterdyke joined the Arizona Memorial Museum Association in 2007 as a member of the all-volunteer board of directors. During this time, her focus was to help build a stronger organization and help with the growth and stability of Arizona Memorial Museum Association. She began her career in Public Accounting where she spent 25 years building her specialization in Not For Profit tax and accounting. ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) has announced the recipients of its 2023 Partnership Awards that celebrate the best in public lands partnerships. These awards honor individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody leading edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment the visitor experience. The 2023 award winners were announced on Wednesday, April 27 in a   virtual celebration . The awards program is sponsored by Impact Photographics. A total of 18 awards were presented to individuals, organizations and companies in six categories: Public ...
The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Board of Directors and a staff member.  Joining the Board of Directors: Jeff Gabriel is the executive director of the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA). He joined the PLA Board of Directors in July 2022 and has served on the PLA Government Relations Committee since 2018. Gabriel worked previously as the executive director of Kansas STARBASE. Before Kansas STARBASE, he worked for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) as the vice president of member services. Prior to ARA, Gabriel was the director of environmental services for the National Pork ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, DC -- The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) announced today that the 2nd annual fundraiser to support America's national wildlife refuges, Walk for the Wild, will take place this fall, and will include in-person and virtual nature walks during National Wildlife Refuge Week on October 8-15, 2022. For this year's Walk for the Wild, PLA has joined forces with 32 nonprofit wildlife refuge friends organizations to get people active in nature and to increase support for 56 diverse national wildlife refuges. "For this year's Walk for the Wild, our participating friends group partners are dedicated to conserving incredible biodiversity, ...
As part of PLA 2021, our virtual convention and trade show, we featured some of the ways our members virtually adapted their education, fundraising and conservation initiatives to continue reaching their communities and supporting public lands during the pandemic. Black Hills Parks & Forests Association Black Hills Parks & Forests Association partnered with author and illustrator Pat Schultz to record a video of her reading her new children's book "Baxter Saves the Day" about a very special bat that used to live at Jewel Cave National Monument. The Association then was able to share out this video through their social media channels. ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) has announced the recipients of its 2022 Partnership Awards that celebrate the best in public lands partnerships. These awards honor individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody leading edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment the visitor experience. The 2022 award winners were announced on Wednesday, April 20 in a virtual celebration . The awards program is sponsored by Impact Photographics. A total of 17 awards were presented to individuals, organizations and companies in six categories: Public Lands ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, DC -- The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) congratulates Charles "Chuck" Sams on his confirmation as the 19th Director of the National Park Service. Below is a statement by PLA President and CEO Dan Puskar: "Chuck Sams is the leader that the National Park Service needs right now. America's national parks face incredible challenges from climate change to historic visitation. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to leave park facilities and programs closed to the public. PLA is confident that Director Sams will bring fresh perspective and insights to the NPS. "PLA and our community's nonprofit park partners enthusiastically welcome ...
The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new member to our Board of Directors.  Joining the Board of Directors: Arvind Manocha has served as president and CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts since January 2013. From major pop acts to children’s shows to opera and more, Manocha directs Wolf Trap’s year-round performing arts programming – among the most wide-ranging and diverse in the music business. Additionally, he oversees the full scope of the Foundation’s educational activities, including its nationally recognized arts education programs, which are implemented at 18 affiliate sites and in 30 states ...
View the 2019 Awards Bulletin --> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) has announced the recipients of its 2021 Partnership Awards that celebrate the best in public lands partnerships. These awards honor individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody leading edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment the visitor experience. The 2021 award winners were announced on Monday, May 24 in a virtual celebration . The awards program is sponsored by Impact Photographics. While awards are typically given in six categories, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PLA ...