During National Volunteer Month, we honor the riders, neighbors, and partners who show up, week after week, to take care of America’s Public Lands. Volunteers like Friends of Moon Rocks who care for Northern Nevada’s Moon Rock OHV Recreation Area. This year, Polaris and the Foundation for America’s Public Lands are joining forces to support these community champions as they uplift access, safety, and stewardship for public lands across the country – starting at Moon Rocks on May 30th.
Members from Friends of Moon Rocks OHV Area, Polaris, and the Foundation will be at Moon Rocks at 9:00 AM for the annual community cleanup.
Join us on May 30th!
Just outside Reno, Nevada, the pavement ends, and the landscape opens to large granite formations scattered across nearly 19,000 acres of public land known to many simply as “Moon Rocks.” This OHV area is part of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) North Reno Recreation Area and welcomes thousands of visitors each year who come to experience and enjoy the unique lunar landscape.
Moon Rocks bustles with activity every weekend. Rock crawlers test their vehicles on the granite, dirt bikers ride single-track trails, side-by-sides and 4x4s explore the open terrain, and families camp wherever they find a spot. Everyone is welcome.
Moon Rocks has long attracted visitors, but the pandemic brought a surge of newcomers. Many unfamiliar with public land stewardship. As a result, trash accumulated and graffiti increased. The wear became hard to ignore – and increasingly unsafe for visitors.
“It was getting nasty out there. And all of us love Moon Rocks. We didn’t want to see it close. The community came together to say and said this place matters, and we are going to do all we can to ensure it remains clean, so Moon Rocks can be open for our kids and future generations.” – Harry Wagner, head of the volunteer group Friends of Moon Rocks
Harry Wagner and Friends of Moon Rocks
Harry Wagner, an OHV enthusiast, has been coming to Moon Rocks since the early 2000s. When he saw the land straining during the pandemic. With garbage piling up, he decided to help. That’s why he started Friends of Moon Rocks—to keep the area clean, safe, and open to everyone.
About 50 volunteers showed up for the first cleanup. That Memorial Day weekend, having a dumpster on site made it clear how much work was needed. By the end, the dumpster was full and they had to bring in a second one. This only made everyone more determined to keep going. Now hundreds of people come out every year to volunteer at Moon Rocks.
Harry is quick to credit the people around him, from the folks who rally the off-road community to come together on volunteer days, to people like Mike Clark, a Washoe County resident who drives out twice a week to pick up trash and leave the area better than he found it. And members of the local BLM office agree.
“The Stillwater Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is proud to recognize the incredible volunteer dedication Harry Wagner and Friends of Moon Rocks continues to make Moon Rocks a cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable destination for outdoor recreation. These volunteer contributions strengthen public land stewardship and help ensure Moon Rocks remains a place for everyone to enjoy.” — BLM Stillwater Field Office
Stewardship that sticks
Every year, local volunteers set up dumpsters during busy weekends. They also install kiosks and trail signs, and they make sure everyone knows how to use the area responsibly and safely. Friends of Moon Rocks works closely with the BLM and Washoe County. This partnership has led to real improvements, like designated camping pads, seasonal restrooms, safer trails, and great experiences for all visitors.
Polaris and the Foundation are joining forces to celebrate these amazing impacts and lend a hand alongside the BLM and hundreds of local volunteers for the annual community clean-up. Attendees can also expect a surprise from the partners – new amenities will be unveiled on site during the event, so stay tuned.
“In working with the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, we want to help celebrate the off-roading community who love these lands. On May 30, we’re proud to support the hundreds of local volunteers at Moon Rocks who show up time and again to take care of the places so many love to ride.” — Jess Rogers, Polaris
Moon Rocks is accessible because people choose to take care of it. Every weekend, they make that choice, one trash bag at a time.
There are countless groups across the country, just like Friends of Moon Rocks. That’s the beauty of community stewardship. They show up for our public lands because they love them, and we are so excited to be supporting them. We hope you’ll join us on May 30.
About the Foundation
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands serves as a convener, partner, and fundraising catalyst to help ensure the health and stewardship of America’s public lands and waters today, and for the future. The Foundation has deployed more than $11.5 million in impact since it started grantmaking in 2024.
To learn more about the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, visit americaslands.org.
