Join the Friends of Gold Butte as we partner with the Bureau of Land Management to celebrate National Public Lands Day in Gold Butte National Monument. We have chosen to hold “our” NPLD a few weeks later than most places, to escape the heat that has been brutal for the past several months.

This Public Lands Day will offer a variety of activities and projects that should appeal to just about everyone!

First, we will offer a couple of very short (1 mile or less) guided hikes starting from Whitney Pocket, so if it’s your first time visiting the area or you’d just like to take an easy stroll, register for one of these hikes. These will be listed on separate Meetups, so just check the date/time when you register.

Our very own “Mr. Gold Butte,” Jim Boone, will give an educational talk about native plants in the area, and we will help out the environment by making “native seed balls” and distribute them around Whitney Pocket in an effort to restore some of the native vegetation.

The BLM will provide everything necessary for this project, but you may want to wear clothing that can get a bit dirty, as there is some mud involved. There will also be a BLM “booth” where you can meet their staff, and pick up some cool swag and get information.

Finally, as we go about our hikes and other projects, attendees may participate in a scavenger hunt! There will be a list of things to find and take photos of (with your phone, no need to bring a camera unless you want to) and the first people back with their list completed will win a prize.

We will also pick up any trash we find, so come out and enjoy the day! FoGB will provide buckets and trash bags as always, but please bring your own gloves, a sack lunch and plenty of water. Please wear closed-toed shoes, long pants, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen and a hat.

We will gather at the Whitney Pocket Campground at 9:00 AM, so allow sufficient time to get there! As per BLM policies, there will be forms to fill out, but by registering via Meetup you will be ensured a commemorative T-Shirt and one-time complimentary park pass, that can be used at any national park.

We will not be travelling off-road, so most carefully driven vehicles will be just fine, although high clearance is always a plus.

Gold Butte National Monument is primitive and has no services of any kind. Event participants must bring and carry their own water, food, sunscreen, basic first-aid items, any medications (e.g., EpiPen or asthma inhalers, etc.) a participant may need, and any other supplies they may want or need while participating in the event. Participants must wear appropriate footwear for the event (for example, for trash-clean-up events, sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots would be appropriate). Participants are strongly encouraged to wear broad-brimmed hats and dress in weather-appropriate clothing when participating outdoors. Participants are reminded to be plant and animal aware at all times. Finally, if the event necessitates, participants are strongly encouraged to provide their medical information (pre-existing conditions, medications, etc.) and their Emergency Contact information (name and phone number) on a card or piece of paper in a sealed envelope with their name on the outside. The volunteer organizer will collect and hold the envelopes during the event and return them, unopened, at the conclusion of the event if they are not needed; and the assumption of risk statement found at [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SQVb6XurWLRfxJ6PN2NVxEP2ym9pv5U2/edit](In-person Assumption of Risk)