A mountain, a tent and a picnic table are ideal for Great Outdoors Mont
President Barack Obama has declared June as national Great Outdoors Month and when the commander in chief speaks, then it's time to put on the hiking boots, pack a lunch for a picnic table and get thee out of the house.
"During Great Outdoors Month, let us enjoy our nation's natural bounty, whether in reflective solitude or in the energizing company of friends and family," the president wrote in a declaration. "As we rediscover the beauty of the outdoors - in our own backyards, along distant trails, or in the shadows of towering mountains, let us rededicate ourselves to preserving nature's splendor for future generations."
Not only is the president in on this, but so are most state governors and just about any organization that has anything to do with the outdoors.
And as we all know, America has the best in the world when it comes to interesting and exciting natural attractions. We have fantastic local, state and national parks (Here are the Top 20).
If anything, definitely set aside Saturday, June 11 as a day to avoid the couch - it's national Get Outdoors Day.
Here is a list of a just of few of the special promotions going on this month:
- Fees Waived at National Forests - the US Forest Service, which manages 193 million acres of public land and 17,000 public recreation site, is waiving fees on June 11.
- Free Day at National Parks - on June 21, more than 100 national parks will provide free admittance. Check your local national park and even municipal parks and rec departments to see if they are doing anything special as well.
- Go Camping America - the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds has special promotions for the month.
- National Marina Day - the Association of Marina Industries had declared June 11 as day to celebrate at a marina.
"America's extensive and diverse outdoor spaces are a source of great national pride and we have long strived to protect them for future generations," said Patrick Fitzgerald, National Wildlife Federation Director of Education Advocacy. "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."
Tent and picnic table in front of Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, New Mexico
Last year, reportedly one million people were involved in the outdoors at 16,000 locations. They got the message. Check your local newspaper and parks department for local events.
Outdoor recreation is big business in America. Experts say we spend more than $650 billion on outdoor activities every year. Go to any Dick's Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Outlets or Gander Mountain and you will find a huge assortment of outdoor gear from tents to backpacks.
For those who haven't been outside in a while (especially the wired generations) when you suggest people put down their iPads, their Xbox controls and their smartphone games, the first question they are going to ask you is, "Now what am I supposed to do?"
The Great Outdoors Month checklist
Be ready. Here's a list of some suggestions for getting out of the house and into the woods:
- Go Mountain Biking: there are trails everywhere. Ride slow or pedal hard. Mountain biking is a fun way to get into the woods and cover lots of ground.
- Ride a Bike In a Different Area: even if you need to rent or buy one. Find a new area you would like to explore. You will be amazed how many things you will notice about an area when you ride your bike compared to when you zip by in a car.
- Bike Downtown: leave the car in the driveway. Take a leisurely ride downtown and lock your bike to a bicycle parking rack. (Be sure to use a secure U-lock). You'll find this excursion is so much more relaxing than driving downtown, searching endlessly for a parking spot and then remembering to keep the parking meter full.
- Use a Bikeshare Bicycle: more and more cities are now adding bike share programs where you can rent a bike in one location and leave it off at another. When you pedal on city streets, you really get a feel for the true personality of a city. The little back streets. The tiny cafes. Just be sure to ride carefully, bring a helmet and a bike lock.
- Go fishing!
- Go tubing!
- Hang from a Zip Line: zip lines are a blast and you are starting to see one in nearly every state. If you have never flown through the trees on a cable, you and your family are in for an awesome, one-of-kind outdoor experience.
- Go Hiking!
- Visit a Historic Site: come on, you know there is one nearby that you have never been to. Many people are surprised when they find out some of the historical events which have taken place right near their hometown.
- Go Birding!
- Bike on a Converted Rail Line: rails to trails is another big trend taking place across the nation. These bike trails that cover old railways tracks are always an interesting way to tour an area. Here's a website that shows you where they are.
- Go Kayaking!
- Rent a Paddleboard: this sport is becoming super-popular.
- Go Camping: June is also a time for the Great American Campout. When was the last time you went camping? Cooked a burger on a park grill under a wide open sky?
- Try "Glamping": kay, so maybe you don't want to put up a tent. There are plenty of places now where you can rent a cabin, some of them quite fancy, and still get a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
- Explore a New Park: not the one you always visit, but an unfamiliar one on the other side of town or the county. Hike the trails. Paddle across a pond. Find a picnic table and enjoy outdoor dining in a new location. Go on a photo safari with your iPhone. People love to travel and embrace new surroundings - here's one suggestion that is very inexpensive, close by and good for you.
Desert "glamp" in India with fancy picnic tabl
There are many benefits to hanging out in the outdoors. You've heard them before - walking is beneficial, breathing fresh air is always great and biking can be rewarding without stressing your knees or legs.
But one thing most people don't realize is that research has shown, going outside and immersing yourself in nature is just about guaranteed to lift your spirits.
Humans have an inherent connection with nature. Researchers say this yearning to be alfresco is embedded in our DNA. The Great Outdoors Month is a reminder to reconnect with the sun, sky, plants and wildlife, not just in June, but as much as possible every month of the year. Listen to your president for Great Outdoors Month and get out of the house.