Respect the Land, Respect the Hands: National Public Lands Day 2025
The Dirt We Stand On
Public lands aren’t just places, they’re promises.
They’re the switchback that makes you pause mid-climb to catch your breath and stare into forever. They’re the riverbank where your kid caught their first fish. They’re the log bench at mile five, shaped by someone you’ll never meet but who knew you’d need a break.
They’re shared, they’re sacred, and they’re stewarded, by people with hands in the dirt, not just boots on the ground.
Every year, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) reminds us of the importance of stewardship. It's the largest single-day volunteer event for America’s public lands. But more than that, it’s a chance to honor the work, the literal shovel-swinging, rock-rolling, rake-dragging work, that keeps these places accessible, sustainable, and wild.
At Backslope Tools, we don’t just sell tools. We build the gear for the people who build public lands. This day matters to us, because it’s not about a sale or a social post, it’s about remembering why we started this in the first place.
What Is National Public Lands Day?
Started in 1994 and powered by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), NPLD brings together hundreds of thousands of volunteers to restore and improve public lands across the country. That includes:
- Trail maintenance and building
- River and lake cleanups
- Native plant restoration
- Invasive species removal
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Park beautification and infrastructure improvements
It’s a big, beautiful day of collective action,often with events hosted by nonprofits, park rangers, youth corps, and community leaders. And every person who shows up moves the needle.
A Day for the Builders
You know who gets the least credit in outdoor recreation?
Not the athletes, not the brands, not the influencers. The builders.
The people who haul logs, bench cut singletrack, and cut tread through granite with a Pulaski. The people who volunteer on Saturdays and the ones who clock 10-hour days in the backcountry with nothing but a hand tool, a satellite phone, and a soggy lunch.
If you're reading this, you might be one of them. If you're not, you're probably standing on something they built.
Builders are the backbone of public lands. They don’t often get the spotlight, but they shape every outdoor experience. And they deserve tools that respect their skill, effort, and obsession with doing it right.
Why We Build the Way We Do
At Backslope Tools, our gear isn’t flashy. You won’t find gimmicks. You won’t find neon paint. You’ll find well-balanced, pro-grade, heirloom-quality tools built for durability, efficiency, and ease of use in the toughest conditions.
We make our gear because most of us have been that underpaid trail crew worker. We've bent the cheap tools. We've put in a lot of effort with poorly balanced gear. We’ve spent the last 30 minutes of our workday discussing what should exist.
And then we made it.
Take the Clyde, for example. Born from years of complaints and test builds on real jobsites. It’s stackable, easily replaced, and designed to move dirt without wasting energy.
Or the Bucket Handle, a simple and affordable innovation that turns a 5-gallon bucket into a more comfortable hauling tool for restoration crews, gardeners, and volunteers alike.
We're not in this just to sell tools. We're here to elevate the craft, and give trail builders, youth corps members, and weekend volunteers the gear they deserve.
The Three Builders We Celebrate on NPLD
As we reflect on National Public Lands Day, we want to spotlight three types of builders we see and serve every day:
1. Kevin the Engineer
Kevin's the guy who leads your Saturday crew. He's got spreadsheets, a tool checklist, and a titanium multi-tool clipped to his belt. Trail work is his weekend outlet — a way to decompress, contribute, and control something tangible.
He doesn’t just want tools. He wants gear that’s dialed. Specific. Measurable. He wants tools so good they disappear into the job, like a Clyde that works.
NPLD is Kevin’s time to lead from the front. If you’re on his crew, you’re in good hands.
2. Summer, the Youth Corps Leader
Summer doesn’t just swing tools. She builds community. She manages a dozen teenagers and young adults on limited sleep, a tighter budget, and a bottomless supply of optimism. She believes in changing the world one switchback at a time.
To Summer, tools aren’t just functional; they’re a teaching moment. They represent respect for the land and the people on it. Her crews use Backslope Tools because she believes in putting the right tools in the right hands.
NPLD is Summer’s day to let her crews shine.
3. Derek the Next-Gen Pro
Derek’s the contractor on the rise. He’s building bike parks, hiking trails, and restoring fire-damaged paths. His company’s small, his truck’s always packed, and his work is damn good.
He cares about craftsmanship, and his name’s on every trail he touches. He chooses Backslope Tools because it helps him do clean work quickly. And because we get it.
NPLD is Derek’s day to remember why he does it in the first place.
How to Get Involved This NPLD
You don’t need to be part of a crew to take part in National Public Lands Day. Here are five simple ways to get your hands dirty, or support those who do.
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Join a Local Event
Check in to find volunteer opportunities near you. -
Clean Up a Trailhead
Bring a trash bag and gloves. Even 30 minutes makes a difference. -
Support a Nonprofit
Donate to your local trail group. Better yet, send them tools. -
Tell a Builder Thank You
Tag them. Text them. Buy them a beer. This work often goes unnoticed. Today, don’t let it.
Tools Are Just the Beginning
Let’s be real, a tool is just a hunk of metal without the hand behind it. But the right tool? In the right hand?
It changes the game.
That’s what we believe at Backslope Tools. That’s why we’re obsessed with every weld, every handle curve, every ounce of balance. We’ve heard the same gripes, grunts, and gear rants you have, and we’ve built a company to solve them.
But our mission is bigger than gear.
We’re here to make builders feel respected. To give youth corps leaders tools that don’t snap halfway through a season. To help pros feel seen. To build the seat at the table the trail industry deserves.
And National Public Lands Day? It’s a chance to say all of that, out loud, in public, and with pride.
Final Word: This Work Matters
In a world where so much feels temporary, trail work is the opposite. It’s enduring. It’s hands-on. It’s hard, beautiful, and transformative.
Every swing of the mattock, every rock moved, every foot of new tread, it’s a vote of confidence in the future.
So this National Public Lands Day, whether you’re digging, donating, or just saying thanks, remember this:
Public lands don’t take care of themselves.
They’re built. Maintained. Loved.
And behind every ridge, every mile, every footstep… there’s a builder.
Let’s give them the tools,and the recognition,they deserve.