National Public Lands Day: Volunteer with FOPOS // 9.27.25

Join thousands of volunteers nationwide on September 27 for National Public Lands Day. Help protect, preserve, and celebrate “Our Home Outdoors.” From local parks to national forests, our public lands are where memories are made and communities come together.

Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) is hosting land stewardship volunteer sessions on Saturday, September 27th, in celebration of National Public Lands Day. There will be two volunteer sessions: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Come to one or both!

Join our stewardship team for hands-on ecological restoration work at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve and the Greater Mountain Lakes Recreation Area. Volunteers will work alongside FOPOS stewardship team to help restore native habitats and support biodiversity.

Volunteer activities may include:

• Removing invasive plant species
• Installing protective cages around native plants to prevent damage from deer and beavers
• Planting native species during the fall season

Volunteer activities will take place at one of our active restoration sites:

• The 25-acre riparian restoration project is located along the shores of Mountain Lake and its feeder streams. This area plays an important role in stabilizing streambanks, filtering pollutants, and providing vital habitat for wildlife.
• The 45-acre forest restoration project at Community Park North is designed to improve forest health and increase carbon sequestration as part of broader climate resilience efforts.

Meetup Location: Mountain Lakes House Parking Lot

Directions & Parking: We will meet at the Mountain Lake House parking lot, located within the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Here is a link to the parking lot location on Google Maps & Apple Maps. The address of the Preserve is 57 Mountain Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540; this will bring you to the entrance of the Preserve, not our meet-up location. To get to the Mountain Lakes House parking lot, look for the white gate along Mountain Avenue, marked by a series of black mailboxes along the road. Drive slowly down the long paved driveway. The gravel parking lot will be on your left, approximately 1/2 mile down the driveway.

Event waiver: Please complete this event waiver - fopos.org/waiver. This needs to be completed once per calendar year.

About FOPOS: Founded in 1969, FOPOS has been working to preserve and protect natural spaces in the greater Princeton area for more than 50 years. As a part of our work, we rely on volunteers to help make progress when it comes to restoration work, such as our current forest and riparian restoration projects in the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve.

Can't make this session? Consider making a donation to show your love for our local environment! All donations support our year-round stewardship work.

Looking to register for multiple volunteer sessions this fall? Register HERE.

Also check out other Meetups in Princeton, Nonprofit events in Princeton, Health & Wellness events in Princeton.