Volunteers to Clean Up Pike National Forest Near Hayman Fire Area in Denver As Part of National Public Lands Day

DENVER, Sept. 15 -- Volunteers will descend on Pike National Forest in Colorado on Thursday, Sept. 18, as part of the 10th annual National Public Lands Day "Helping Hands for America's Lands" program designed to clean up and preserve America's public lands.

Pike National Forest is one of more than 500 locations in all 50 states expected to attract about 80,000 volunteers. Sponsored nationwide by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc., National Public Lands Day is a unique public/private partnership involving many federal, state and local agencies. These agencies work closely with business partners such as Toyota and numerous non-profit organizations to achieve one goal, preserving our public lands.

Volunteers at Pike National Forest will partner with the U.S. Forest Service and the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP), to rehabilitate an area damaged by the Hayman fire. CUSP is the lead organization working with private landowners in the Hayman fire burn area. The volunteers will remove a campground that has been closed, in part, as a result of the floods following the fire and will begin to convert the site to a trailhead accessing Cheesman Canyon. They will stabilize a section of the trail leading to the Canyon, re-vegetate the land with native plants that provide habitat for wildlife and prepare the campground for construction of trailhead facilities. The surrounding area is an important natural resource, serving as a watershed to provide 75 percent of the Front Range with drinking water.

To assist in the local work, Toyota is donating a new 4x4 Tundra Truck.

"The new truck will be an invaluable tool in our ongoing restoration efforts," said Carol Ekarius, executive director, CUSP.

"This is the fifth year Toyota's Denver-based associates are volunteering for a local environmental clean-up project in support of National Public Lands Day," said Bruce Papich, NPLD coordinator. "Giving back to the community where we work and live is very important to us. We're committed to supporting Colorado's natural resources and rich environmental heritage."

More than 2,200 associates nationwide will be involved. Toyota, which has been the national sponsor for five years running, recently signed a new three- year commitment to sponsor National Public Lands Day.

"Toyota associates across the country have shown tremendous interest and support for helping to clean up our nation's public lands," said Michael Rouse, Toyota's corporate manager for community relations. "They have been the driving force behind our corporate support for this effort."

National Public Lands Day is the largest volunteer hands-on activity of its kind in the country. Held in September each year, the event brings together thousands of individual and organizational volunteers to refurbish and restore the country's public places. For more information, including a list of National Public Lands Day sites, activities, contacts and downloadable photos, go to www.npld.com , or call 800-VOL-TEER (800-865-8337).

About National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF)

The NEETF, chartered by Congress in 1990, focuses on environmental learning as a solution to critical challenges in natural resources management, education, health care and business. In its mission to support environmental education, NEETF initiates programs and public/private partnerships that will result in an environmentally knowledgeable public, environmentally competent professionals and environmentally capable leaders and policy-makers. For more information on NEETF contact Patti Pride at (202) 833-2933 or go to www.neetf.org .