[ June is National Great Outdoors Month! ]

honor of National Great Outdoors Month, Americans are urged to spend time in the great outdoors and to uphold our nation’s legacy of conserving our lands for future generations.  Friends and families can explore, play, and grow together doing activities like hiking, wildlife watching, canoeing, hunting, fishing and playing in the neighborhood park…all things that can help you stay healthy, active and energized.

You don’t have to travel to get a dose of the great outdoors.  Spending time in your own backyard can have the same effect.  Plan a cookout or picnic, go fishing or camping, hike, ride a bike, plant a garden, go to the beach (or river, lake or park), visit a local wildlife center, or even a zoo.  National Great Outdoors Month highlights the benefits of getting outdoors and enjoying our wonderful shared resources of forests, parks, refuges, and other public lands and waters.

Some fun ways to celebrate the great outdoors include:

• June 1-25 – Go Camping America – Take the family camping in a tent, pop-up trailer, or RV
• June 4-12 is National Fishing and Boating Week.
• June 11-17 – Great Outdoors Week – Everyone is encouraged to enjoy the outdoors, even if briefly, every day this week.
• June 11 – National Get Outdoors Day, Fee Waiver Day in National Forests (sponsored by the US Forest Service which operates 17,000 recreation sites and manages 193 million acres of public land), and National Marina Day (showcases the fun and benefits of boating and the marina lifestyle).
• June 21 – Fee-Free Day in National Parks – Fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.
• June 25 – National Wildlife Federation’s 7^th annual “Great American Backyard Campout” – Spend a night of outdoor family fun under the stars…right in your own backyard.

Communities across the nation celebrate nature and engage in fun outdoor activities during National Great Outdoors Month.  Check with campgrounds in your state, National parks or Forests, or visit your local waterfront.  The National Wildlife Federation’s website offers more inspiration to celebrate the great outdoors.  You can put in your zip code for a list of nature centers, parks, hiking trails, and other outdoor spaces nearby.  Visit www.nwf.org and click “GET OUTSIDE” today.

The National Wildlife Federation …Inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.  NWF has offices across the country, including nine regional centers, and 48 state affiliates .  NWF gives voice to the wildlife conservation values that are part of our country’s heritage.