To kick off this year’s free Ecologik Workshops, Cabrillo National Monument will hold Junior Scientist Day on Sept. 24, and celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 24 with special drop-in volunteer events.

National Public Lands Day was established in 1994 and is held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. The event brings together hundreds of thousands of individuals and groups to help restore the country’s public lands. It is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort on public lands. National Public Lands Day is a fee-free day, meaning the entrance fee to enter the park is waived.

You can connect to your public lands by participating in one of the many activities that Cabrillo National Monument has planned for Sept. 24. Join invasive plant removal efforts by participating in the Weed Warrior program from 9 a.m.-noon at the Whale and Kelp Forest Overlook. Join one of the many guided walks being offered throughout the day. Tour a WWII bunker from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. All programming and activities are free to the public. To learn more about these events, call the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center at 619-523-4285 or visit www.nps.gov/cabr.

JUNIOR SCIENTIST DAY

Calling all Junior Scientists, Young Explorers, and Nature Enthusiasts of all ages to join science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals for a day exploring all things nature and STEM. This kickoff event for the year’s free EcoLogik Workshops is two full days of science experiments, STEM activities, and nature exploration in San Diego’s only unit of the National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument.

During the event, Junior Scientists can attend a STEM fair from 10 a.m.-noon and STEM-related talks and walks from noon- 3 p.m. Activities will take place at Cabrillo National Monument’s visitor center, auditorium, and walking paths.

This event will kick off the next 12 months of EcoLogik Workshops being hosted by Cabrillo National Monument partners throughout San Diego. STEM professionals will lead 1.5-3 hours of workshops that explore the real science being conducted at Cabrillo National Monument and throughout the National Park Service. Participants will use technology to investigate real-world problems and learn ways to solve them, empowering them to preserve and protect our natural world, and sparking interest in STEM.  These workshops are free to the public and will be located at Cabrillo National Monument, libraries, and other community spaces around the county.

More information about Junior Scientist Days and the upcoming series of EcoLogik Workshops can be found by visiting https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/kidsyouth/ecologik.htm.