Hundreds of hosting organizations and partners – federal and local agencies, nonprofits, recreation businesses and more – made June 12 a day of outdoor fun for thousands of families – especially underserved and urban families with kids. National Get Outdoors Day (GO-Day) 2010 was the third annual GO-Day and united groups to combat indoor, inactive lifestyles which are fueling the nation’s obesity epidemic and threatening today’s children with shorter life expectancies than their parents. The national effort was again led by the USDA Forest Service and the American Recreation Coalition (ARC), but the 91 official GO-Day sites involved a varied mix of organizations in the natural resources, recreation, healthcare, youth services, and media fields. The partners were united by a shared belief in the mission of National Get Outdoors Day:

Unify public and private-sector interests in efforts to influence American lifestyles, especially among youth, in ways that maximize the physical, mental and other benefits derived from activities in the Great Outdoors through a focused effort to invite Americans to designated sites on a single day, as well as to highlight and assist the efforts of National Get Outdoors Day partners year-round.

The effort to reduce childhood obesity through outdoor activities has gained national attention this year. President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors) seeks to reconnect Americans to the outdoors. In addition, the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative (www.letsmove.gov), which aims to combat childhood obesity and help American families make good nutritional choices, added a “Let’s Move Outside” component on June 1, highlighting outdoor physical activity as essential to children’s health.

GO-Day 2010 provided instruction, equipment and opportunities for families to enjoy both traditional and new outdoor activities, regardless of previous experience. The priority targets for the day were young people, especially urban youth, and Americans who do not currently visit public lands and waters. Organizers of GO-Day understood that they were competing with the lure of shopping malls, cable television, computers and electronic games, and they met the challenge with exceptional results.

GO-Day involved 91 official sites in more than 35 states from Hoonah, Alaska, to Canyon Rim Park in Utah, from Washington D.C.’s Kingman Island to Colorado’s Denver City Park, and from Munford, Alabama, to Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Tens of thousands of people across the country enjoyed the fun and health benefits of time in the great outdoors. GO-Day sites offered traditional outdoor activities like fishing, canoeing and kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, orienteering and even archery. Some sites also included technology, recognizing the lure of digital photography and hand-held GPS units used for geocaching. Partners also offered educational sessions on water safety, conservation, recycling, wildlife safety, and outdoor ethics. Hands-on learning experiences included casting, setting up tents, planting and caring for gardens – even canning. Special guests at many of the sites – including Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl, and the Blue Goose – were hits with kids of all ages. And Shrek and friends appeared at Denver’s GO-Day event, where the USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council joined DreamWorks Animation to launch new PSAs – featuring Shrek – to help get children outside and reconnected with nature. Visit www.discovertheforest.org for more information.

A key focus of GO-Day 2010 was making outdoor recreation a part of healthy lifestyles. Many GO-Day sites offered participants educational sessions on good nutrition, blood pressure checks and information about reducing the risk of diabetes, skin cancer and more. In Denver, HHS Regional Health Administrator Dr. Zachary Taylor even wrote kids prescriptions for good health and encouraged them to complete healthy GO-Day activities and to make personal commitments to getting active outdoors this summer.

While the exciting activities of the GO-Day events gave guests a taste of fun outdoor activities, follow-up EChO events will help them stay engaged in outdoor activities long after they returned home. Participating organizations distributed invitations to EChO events later in the summer, where GO-Day guests will be provided with the equipment and training needed for a more in-depth outdoor experiences. EChO activities will include ranger-guided nature walks, rock climbing, river rafting, golf lessons, fishing and more at nearby local sites, as well as national EChO events such as the Great American Backyard Campout.

GO-Day is a signature event of Great Outdoors Month, which is designated each year in June by a Presidential proclamation. For the first time, all 50 state governors and the Mayor of the District of Columbia also issued Great Outdoors Month proclamations. Many proclamations specifically mention National Get Outdoors Day and promote efforts in their state to get kids and families healthier through fun outdoors. A growing number of governors also toured state parks, held conferences on health and the great outdoors and took other actions to highlight healthy outdoor fun. Great Outdoors Month 2010 proclamations can be viewed and downloaded at www.funoutdoors.com.

National Get Outdoors Day was launched on June 14, 2008 in response to the increasing number of disturbing reports about the daily activities and health of today’s youth. Today’s children spend 7.5 hours per day in front of a screen and are six times more likely to play a computer game than to ride a bike. Kids report that outdoor adventure is fun, but that outdoor activities are nearly invisible and forgotten, lost in a clutter of ads and text messages, television shows and Wii consoles, overshadowed by malls offering food, friends and “perfect” weather. Building on the success of More Kids in the Woods and other important efforts to connect Americans – and especially children – with nature and active lifestyles, the Forest Service and ARC agreed to lead an inclusive, nationwide effort focusing on a single day when people would be inspired and motivated to get outdoors. GO-Day brings federal, state and local agencies, key enthusiast organizations and recreation businesses together to create a healthy, fun day of outdoor adventure aimed at reaching first-time visitors to public lands and reconnecting children to the outdoors – and invites them to keep coming back.

The achievements of GO-Day 2010 are impressive:

• At least 25,000+ American families and children were involved in GO-Day events across the nation
• 91 official sites in 35 states and the District of Columbia celebrated GO-Day, a 50% increase over the number of sites in 2009
• GO-Day events attracted generous support, time and donations from hundreds of partners, many new to the GO-Day effort. Giveaways donated by The Coleman Company, Clif Bar and others allowed GO-Day participants to enjoy the outdoors long after the events
• GO-Day generated widespread media coverage, including numerous print and online articles, radio spots, television and news features, YouTube clips, and pages on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter
• A number of gubernatorial Great Outdoors Month proclamations included a reference to GO-Day and offered a showcase for local actions by governors and mayors
• GO-Day sites attracted not only families and kids but VIPs – including top federal and state officials
• GO-Day 2010 involved National Marina Day for the very first time, and the synergy worked well in many locations including Lake Mead National Recreation Area

• www.katu.com/younews/96660269.html
• www.columbian.com/news/2010/jun/11/get-outdoors-day-vancouver/
• www.kob.com/article/stories/S1594144.shtml?cat=11121&v=1
• http://dailyme.com/story/2010060300002771/albuquerque-journal-nm-tom-travin-column-.html
• www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_15281359
• www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/family/2384472,CST-FTR-family12.article
• http://helenair.com/lifestyles/article_ab1663fa-79da-11df-b3a3-001cc4c03286.html

Along with other parks across the country, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging families to answer the call of the wild and participate in National Get Outdoors Day by offering a variety of free activities statewide on Saturday, June 12.

The DNR will also waive the requirement for a $5 vehicle permit and provide free admission at all 73 Minnesota State parks and recreation areas that day. The goal of National Get Outdoors Day is to introduce first-time visitors to state parks, state trails, fishing piers, and other public lands. In particular, it aims to reconnect youth — whose participation in outdoor recreation has been declining — to the great outdoors.

In addition to getting free admission to parks and programs, families can pick up copies of the Parks Guide and an 80-page spring/summer Programs & Special Events catalog when they arrive on June 12.

This is a great time to enjoy the State Park experience and find out what enjoying the outdoors is all about.

As in the first two years, top Forest Service officials took part in National Get Outdoors Day events across the nation. Hank Kashdan, Associate Chief, braved the cold and rainy weather that held down crowds in Denver. Chuck Myers, Deputy Chief for Business Operations, joined the Phoenix area events led by Salt River Tubing. Jackie Myers, Associate Deputy Chief, and Donna Carmical, Chief Financial Officer, assisted with the Albuquerque event. Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief for the National Forest System, took part in the Detroit event at Greenfield Village while Gloria Manning, Associate Deputy Chief, helped celebrate National Get Outdoors Day in Anchorage, joined by Wyland, ocean artist and USDA partner. Jim Bedwell, Director of Recreation, Volunteers and Heritage Resources, took part in the activities at Kingman Island in Washington, D.C.

GO-Day’s national profile has increased as awareness of the benefits of time outdoors builds. Major increases in the number of participating organizations and media coverage demonstrate the growing enthusiasm and support for the event. The GO-Day National Coordinating Committee is already working on ways to make GO-Day 2011 another major step forward, adopting important “lessons learned,” including:

• Start planning each event at least six months in advance in order for each site to have a reasonable timetable for planning and advertising. This schedule will also allow time to optimize opportunities to invite diverse organizations and groups to participate.
• Form a core planning committee or group for each site. Planning and delegation of responsibilities allow everyone to contribute their skills and resources.
• Invite exhibitors to a planning meeting at the event site before GO-Day. Exhibitors are able to ask logistical questions prior to the event day, which helps the event set-up run more smoothly.
• Distribute maps at the entrance to make the guests feel welcomed and to inform them about all of the activities at the event in a logical manner. Tie prizes and contests to the map.
• Concentrate exhibitors in one area to heighten their visibility and maintain a high level of excitement and energy throughout the event at all of the activities.
• Provide exhibits that emphasize the health and wellness aspects of outdoor recreation to create a stronger connection between outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyles. Invite special participation by the healthcare community.
• Invite exhibitors and participants from many different local cultures, as it is important to make the outdoors relevant to culturally diverse audiences. Materials in many different languages will make these guests feel welcomed.
• Heighten the visibility of volunteers with bright shirts or badges so that guests can have their questions answered immediately.
• Encourage exhibitors to offer hands-on activities, not just informational booths. GO-Day is meant to introduce participants to healthy, ACTIVE outdoor fun.
• Offer guests healthy food to reinforce the link between the outdoors and health.
• Consider live music or performances at the event to keep energy levels high.
• Create a back-up plan in case of poor weather conditions.
• Include event information in Public and Charter School newsletters and email.
• Promote the event through school assemblies prior to the event – hand out coupons with event details that also serve as raffle entries.
• Contact local editorial writers about a GO-Day article.
• Arrange segments for local television stations about the GO-Day event – offer appearances by Smokey and other characters as well as a spokesman.
• Place event reminders in online local free event calendars, such as tourism departments, Craigslist, news stations, and more.
• Have the participating organizations distribute and post flyers on community bulletin boards.
• Emphasize “next steps” with EChO events and easy-to-find websites featuring local outdoor fun opportunities and events.
• Use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to build interest in future outdoor events.
• Broadcast the GO-Day event on radio stations.
• Invite local officials – and in fact ask them to help build attendance at GO-Day.
• Highlight careers in the outdoors – especially entry level jobs through AmeriCorps and the Student Conservation Association.
• Seek out participation by zoos, wildlife rescue organizations and more because kids love animals.
• Look for serendipities: GO-Day 2010 in Washington, D.C., tied into a bluegrass festival, and plans are for the 2011 event to tie into a D.C. government event offering kids the chance to climb on fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and other apparatus. The combined events will attract more media interest.
• Involve youth service organizations like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Campfire USA and church youth organizations.

Any additional feedback from guests and participants of GO-Day 2010 are welcomed by the GO-Day National Coordinating Committee. Arrangements are already being made throughout the nation for GO-Day 2011 in June. If you are interested in hosting a GO-Day event in 2011, please contact the American Recreation Coalition at [ e-mail ] or 202-682-9530.

Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was the special guest at the June 2010 Recreation Exchange, hosted by the American Recreation Coalition (ARC). Top federal agency representatives and recreation enthusiasts gathered on Agriculture’s Whitten Patio to hear the Secretary’s remarks about the Obama Administration’s America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) Initiative and for the presentation of ARC’s 2010 Legends Awards.

Harris Sherman, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the Environment, introduced the Secretary and praised his key role in implementing President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Mr. Sherman recognized the importance of outdoor recreation, particularly its ability to connect people to the environment, its contribution to the health of Americans, and its economic importance. He also noted that the upcoming National Get Outdoors Day (GO-Day) – which introduces children and families, many of them first-time public land users, to fun outdoor activities and outdoor recreation skills – was a prime example of the great work that can be accomplished through partnerships between land management agencies and non-governmental organizations, and he cited GO-Day as a wonderful way to connect people to their local national forests.

Secretary Vilsack amplified Under Secretary Sherman’s praise for National Get Outdoors Day, coordinated by the U.S. Forest Service and ARC, and expressed great pride that GO-Day would be celebrated at the highest-ever number of sites across the nation in 2010 – more than 90. He said that America’s outdoor spaces are truly some of the nation’s greatest treasures, surpassing the architectural gems of other nations. Everyone should be involved in the outdoors, he added, and noted that the President had asked him and other top Administration officials to lead the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to find ways to create opportunities to better connect Americans to these important outdoor spaces we all share and to craft a 21st Century conservation agenda.

The Secretary outlined three key reasons for the launch of the AGO Initiative. First, he said, we need to connect people to the environment in order to preserve and protect the environment, adding that we “cannot just take from Mother Nature – we have to give back.” People must understand the importance of the natural world and its relevance to their lives, he said, no matter where they live.

Another key reason for AGO is economic development tied to the outdoors. Secretary Vilsack noted that outdoor recreation provides jobs for 6.5 million Americans. The outdoor economy is particularly important to rural America, he added, where the United States has more than 650 million acres of public lands and over 1.3 billion acres of private working lands. The Secretary noted that 74% of all retirees live in close proximity to a national forest, and many of these folks take advantage of the outdoor activities like hunting and fishing that these forest offer.

The Secretary also commented on the important role in improving the health of Americans played by time outdoors. He noted that, today, nearly one-third of America’s children are obese and spend exponentially more time in front of screens than they do in the outdoors. He also stressed that weight is strongly tied to students’ self-image and academic success. The Secretary shared his personal story of growing up as an overweight child, and noted that concerns about his body often affected his self-esteem and performance in school. Addressing the obesity crisis in America can also substantially reduce healthcare costs, he added, as overweight children tend to bring their habits into adulthood, which has significant consequences for their healthcare costs.

While these are three keys reasons for the AGO Initiative, said Secretary Vilsack, there are many more reasons to celebrate the outdoors and to get people outside enjoying themselves. And, he noted, you don’t need fancy equipment to enjoy nature! He thanked everyone present for their contributions to the outdoors, and let them know that he is extremely appreciative for what they do everyday.

Secretary Vilsack, who is also playing an important role in First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, noted that while Let’s Move is about helping children and families make good nutritional decisions, it is also about being physically active. For more information, visit www.LetsMove.gov.

The Secretary mentioned two other important initiatives underway in the Administration. The first is a livability initiative undertaken jointly by the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. He also encouraged people with good ideas for improving the quality of life in rural America to submit nominations for the Department of Agriculture’s Community Facility Grant Program.

When asked about how to protect and maintain federal outdoor recreation programs at a time of domestic spending constraints, the Secretary said recreation funds need to be separated from the fire-fighting budget. In the recent past, the U.S. Forest Service’s budget has been overwhelmed by fire-fighting costs. Secretary Vilsack said that Congress is working to fund fire fighting in a way that will protect the Forest Service’s ability to maintain national forest programs, including recreation. He added that the federal deficit is a huge problem, and he supported measures needed to correct it because those measures will ultimately protect the national forests as well as the economy.

Secretary Vilsack also helped present the American Recreation Coalition's Legends Awards. Six exemplary employees of federal agencies were recognized for their actions to significantly enhance recreation opportunities. Recipients ranged from senior national officials to creative and dedicated field-level staffers. For information on the accomplishments of the Legends Award winners, visit Legends Award winners.

Washington, D.C. – The American Recreation Coalition (ARC) presented its 2010 Legends Awards to six federal managers in recognition of their outstanding work to improve outdoor recreation experiences and opportunities for the American people. The awards were presented on June 10, 2010 during Great Outdoors Week – ARC’s celebration of the value and importance of outdoor recreation. Initiated by ARC in 1991, the Legends Award program calls on federal land management agencies to each nominate an individual whose extraordinary personal efforts have made a real difference in enhancing outdoor recreation programs and resources. The 2010 Legends Award recipients will represent the Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

Winners of the 2010 Legends Awards are: William Boggs, Bureau of Land Management; Robert Morris, Federal Highway Administration; Dan B. Kimball, National Park Service; James E. Lynch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Nancy Haugen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Floyd Allen Thompson III, U.S. Forest Service.

William Boggs has served as an Outdoor Recreation Planner with the Bureau of Land Management’s Idaho Falls District since 1992. After starting his career with the U.S. Forest Service in 1967 and serving a tour with the U.S. Navy, he joined the Bureau of Land Management in 1978. There he has demonstrated his commitment to providing outstanding outdoor recreation activities for the general public and, in particular, to providing opportunities for young people to perform service on public lands. One of Bill’s primary responsibilities is the management of the St. Anthony Sand Dunes, where visitation has grown dramatically over the last 25 years. In response to that growth, he has been instrumental in developing the Bureau of Land Management’s primary visitor facility from a dispersed camping area to a developed campsite area with special facilities for ATVs, dune rails, motorcycles, and horses. Bill has developed many other sites on the District’s 1.8 million acres. Their growing popularity is due to his management and foresight, including the creation of partnerships to help promote safe activities and encourage responsible use. For example, he has partnered with a rock-crawling group to organize large cleanups and deliver stay-on-the trails messages and with students at Brigham Young University to clean up several dune locations at the start of each school year. He also helped forge a key compromise with state and local partners that preserved winter recreational access to portions of the Dunes while closing large areas to protect wintering elk, moose and deer. Bill recognizes that wide-open communication is the foundation for successful partnerships and feedback from his partners supports and compliments the efforts of this outstanding steward of the public lands.

Robert Morris is a Special Projects Manager for the Federal Highway Administration’s Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division where he is responsible for delivering many of the most difficult design and construction projects for the federal land management agencies and state partners, usually involving popular areas along heavily traveled routes with highly sensitive environmental considerations and complex levels of coordination. Commonly, the projects he leads significantly enhance access to our national treasures and provide the vital link to the many recreational opportunities available to visitors. A leading example is the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s “Humpback Bridge.” Its reconstruction will improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists and ensure accommodation and safety improvements for current and future needs of the Mount Vernon Trail network that parallels and crosses the Parkway. Another example is the Mulligan Road project, designed to reopen public access to Virginia’s Fort Belvoir by replacing roads closed after the Oklahoma City bombing. The project also included improvements to multi-use trails, trail interpretive signing, recreational access improvements and complex easement negotiations with nearby historic Woodlawn Plantation. He also oversees less complex local projects that make public lands accessible for recreational use, including the construction of an access facility for a “passive” nature park with trails and picnic areas along the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee. Whether working on large or small projects, Robert uses his unique abilities to bring people together, find common-sense solutions and manage projects creatively.

Dan B. Kimball is the Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks in Florida. Since taking this position in 2004, Dan has led the park’s involvement in the very challenging effort to restore the Everglades, the largest-ever ecosystem restoration project. Previously, he spent more than a decade as Chief of the National Park Service’s Water Resources Division. There he consistently led the fight to preserve water resources for the national parks. He played a major role in successful efforts to settle issues related to park water rights in the western United States and to protect parks like Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park from the adverse effects of resource extraction activities. In his 24 years with the agency, Dan has also served as Acting Superintendent of Zion National Park and as Assistant to the Deputy Director. Trained as an expert in water and natural resource management and the evaluation of complex environmental issues, Dan’s public-service career also includes positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining. His leadership and achievements have been recognized by the Department of the Interior with the Superior Service Award, by the National Park Service with the Pacific Northwest Regional Director’s Award for Professional Excellence in Natural Resources, and by the National Parks Conservation Association with the Stephen Tyng Mather Award for resource conservation. Dan is a proven leader whose outstanding record of service is a credit to the National Park Service.

James E. Lynch is the Operations Manager for Rend Lake in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District. For over 25 years, his leadership, selfless service and dedication to mission accomplishment have enhanced recreational opportunities on public lands in the Mississippi Valley Division and have shaped the Corps’ Natural Resources Management program. Throughout his career, he has devoted constant attention to the preservation and improvement of recreation resources in order to enhance environmental, social, health, and economic benefits for people of all ages and backgrounds. The facilities that three million visitors to Rend Lake enjoy annually – including campsites, trails, boat ramps, beaches, and more – are directly attributable to his influence, his focus on customer satisfaction and, most recently, his willingness to take advantage of the funding opportunities offered by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Jim also understands that the future of recreation lies with children and has led an educational charge at Rend Lake, where the Interpretation and Outreach staff now work tirelessly to educate the public about preserving outdoor opportunities for future generations. Over the last five years, his leadership has encouraged thousands of people to nearly triple their volunteer hours and provide almost a million dollars in visitor services. His ceaseless efforts to maintain facility integrity and preserve and enhance recreation resources, while working with partners, stakeholders and customers during times of fiscal restraint, have placed Jim in the forefront of his profession, reflecting great credit upon himself and the Department of the Army.

Nancy Haugen was the Park Ranger at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota from 1995 until her recent retirement in May 2010. There she quietly and effectively promoted recreation, visitor services, and education. She increased the number of free events from two to 12, bringing in thousands of additional visitors. She enhanced and expanded interpretive facilities, building interpretive visitation from 1,000 to 17,000 visits. To encourage visitors to enjoy the sights and sounds of the refuge, she installed 25 benches along its trails. Under her leadership, the five-mile-long Blue Hill Trail, traversing the refuge’s oak savanna, woodlands, prairie and wetlands, earned recognition as a National Recreation Trail. Serving as volunteer coordinator, Nancy worked with youth and school groups, conservation organizations, and families and established a productive relationship with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Last year, more than 840 volunteers donated more than 7,500 hours of service. Nancy was also an integral force in nurturing, mentoring and guiding the development of the Friends of Sherburne. With her help, the group progressed to pursuing a capital campaign, advancing environmental education, and promoting the refuge in neighboring communities and was recognized as the National Wildlife Refuge Association Friends Group of the Year in 2008. During her nearly 15 years on the refuge, Nancy addressed the management challenges associated with the encroachment of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, capitalizing on the increase in population to introduce the general public to the recreational opportunities at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.

Floyd Allen Thompson III leads development of policy and strategic alliances as the U.S. Forest Service’s National Program Manager for Sustainable Recreation and Tourism. He is a principal author of the Framework for Sustainable Recreation, developing innovative collaborative approaches with communities, youth, “friends” networks, and the recreation and tourism industry. He has expanded interagency partnerships through the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks and Public Lands Program, the national Memorandum of Understanding on Geo Tourism with the National Geographic Society, and with the National Scenic Byways Program. His leadership in planning and marketing agency byways led to an award, honoring his 30-year career, from the National Association of Recreation Resource Planners. Floyd is a champion for expanding alternative transportation access to public lands, directly influencing interagency engineering planning, design and development standards. He guides agency land management planning efforts, enhancing integration of recreation and social sciences, sustained integrity of landscapes, economic valuation, and respect for the cultural and social fabric of communities. He is an internationally recognized consultant for park master planning and interpretive site design, including major projects in Chile’s National Parks and the World Heritage Site of Easter Island. Sought out as a mentor, Floyd encourages diverse populations and youth to consider public service careers in natural resources. He champions emerging recreation professionals, encouraging a holistic “all lands” approach that is respectful of local history and culture and spans generational values.

The 2010 recipients of the American Recreation Coalition’s Beacon Awards, which recognize outstanding efforts by federal agencies and partners in harnessing the power of technology to improve public recreation experiences and federal recreation program management, will be honored during Great Outdoors Week on Monday, June 7.

Winners of the 2010 Beacon Awards are:

• Joya Szalwinski, Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, Bureau of Land Management, for creative use of technology in producing kid-friendly Off-Highway Vehicle interpretive products as a way to connect families and the OHV community to the Dunes. Her innovative engagement efforts have substantially contributed to increasing awareness and understanding of OHV safety, dune topography, outdoor ethics, border safety, cultural and resource conservation, and Tread Lightly! principles.
• Craig Glassner, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, National Park Service, for his innovative use of social media tools in outreach and promotion efforts at Alcatraz Island. His creative utilization of social media channels – including Google Goggle, flickr and Twitter – demonstrate how public land managers can use technology to showcase the many benefits of outdoor recreation in ways relevant to a new generation of park visitors.
• Lake Ouachita Focus Committee, Partner to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for their use of technology and partnerships to enhance recreation for visitors to Lake Ouachita.
• Through a partnership with local high school students, the committee utilizes GIS technology to maps trails and has developed a virtual reality environment – where visitors can "walk" the trail and receive interpretive messages – to entice visitor involvement. The partnership also created a database for campground satisfaction surveys, which provides valuable information to improve visitor services.
• Andrea VanBeusichem, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for creative use of technology in developing a self-guided cell phone tour to enhance interpretation for visitors to the refuge. Taking an innovative approach to transmitting interpretive messages – including refuge history, facts, and biological phenomena – the cell phone tour is an effective way to connect technologically savvy visitors with the refuge – and nature.
• San Dimas Technology and Development Center, U.S. Forest Service, for development of the ingenious ATV Washer, which combats the spread of noxious weeds and invasive plants by ATVs and other off-road vehicles. Designed to serve as an efficient, mobile, self-contained wash station, the ATV Washer is a valuable ally in keeping Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest – and more sites soon – safe from the devastation of invasive, non-native plant life.

For more information on Great Outdoors Week, visit: www.funoutdoors.com. The American Recreation Coalition (ARC) initiated the Beacon Awards during Great Outdoors Week 2005. The Beacon Awards implement a recommendation of the Partners Outdoors 2005 session, where participants felt that a new awards program, jointly administered by ARC and federal agencies hosting more than a billion recreation visits annually, would encourage experimentation with and use of new technologies and alternative management. Recreationrelated federal agencies annually nominate candidates for the award.

Award criteria include:

1) Innovation in the use of technology for visitor services or recreation management;
2) Partnerships with for-profit and nonprofit organizations in the private sector;
3) Efforts to share news of creative solutions within the agency; and
4) Community support for the work of this initiative.

President Barack Obama and nearly all of America’s governors have proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month. The proclamations, requested by a coalition of outdoor recreation and conservation organizations, celebrate the many special events held during June, including National Trails Day®, National Fishing and Boating Week, National Get Outdoors Day, National Marina Day and the Great American Backyard Campout, and the benefits of time outdoors to the health of Americans, young and old.

President Obama’s proclamation states, “America’s vast and varied outdoor spaces are a source of great national pride, and we have long strived to protect them for future generations. Our lands provide countless opportunities for exploration, recreation, and reflection, whether in solitude or with family and friends. During Great Outdoors Month, we renew our enduring commitment to protect our natural landscapes, to enjoy them and to promote active lifestyles for ourselves and our children.” Referring to America’s great outdoor spaces, the proclamation goes on to say, “These places are especially important today, as an increasing number of Americans, especially children, fall into unhealthy sedentary lifestyles.”

The proclamation highlights current Administration efforts to get Americans healthier through outdoor activity, like the recently launched America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to protect natural landscapes and reconnect Americans to the outdoors, and the First Lady’s Let’s Move effort to help children eat more nutritious foods, lead healthier lives, and increase their physical activity. More information on these initiatives is available at: www.DOI.gov/AmericasGreatOutdoors and www.LetsMove.gov.

The gubernatorial Great Outdoors Month proclamations began four years ago, although 2010 marks the greatest number of proclamations ever issued. While the state proclamations vary in emphasis and reflect key state features, most praise volunteerism, the power of outdoor recreation to contribute to happier, healthier lifestyles, and the legacy of parks and public lands and waters. Here are a few highlights from the 2010 state proclamations:

• “Our citizens play an important role in protecting our natural areas, and during this month, we honor the men and women who volunteer to help protect our environment.” Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer
• “[Arkansas] provides an abundance of outdoor recreational and educational opportunities, endless adventures, and subsequent quality-of-life rewards and health benefits.” Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe
• “Getting outside can not only be exciting, but good for us as well. Going outdoors to see our state’s majestic scenery can foster a greater appreciation for the environment, be a family activity, improve our physical fitness and generally make us feel happier and rejuvenated.” California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
• “Those who take advantage of the opportunities afforded them in the outdoors generally live longer, healthier, fuller lives than those who do not.” Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.
• “As acknowledged in the No Child Left Inside Initiative in the State of Connecticut, June is the perfect month to spend time outdoors and appreciate the natural beauty in which we are lucky to live.” Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell
• “The District of Columbia strives to be a leader in green initiatives to protect the environment, reduce energy consumption, enhance air quality, clean rivers and streams, nurture thriving urban parks and wildlife habitat.” District of Columbia Mayor Adrian M. Fenty
• “The mission of the Get Outdoors Georgia initiative focuses on highlighting the link between participating in outdoor recreation and improved health for people of all ages and abilities as well as an emphasis on children’s early involvement in nature to establish life-long physical, mental and community benefits.” Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
• “Our residents live amid many wonders of nature from the slopes of Mauna Kea to the cliffs of Moloka’i and countless other parks, forests and beaches. By spending time outdoors, we celebrate the magnificent landscapes that surround us.” Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle
• “Great Outdoors Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich blessings of our nation’s natural beauty, and to renew our commitment to protecting our environment so that we can leave our children and grandchildren a healthy and flourishing land.” Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
• “Getting outdoors promotes good health for both the body and mind, helps create memorable experiences with family and friends, and fosters a deeper appreciation of our natural resources.” Iowa Governor Chester J. Culver
• “The month of June includes many outdoor-themed events, such as National Trails Day, National Boating and Fishing Week and National ‘Get Outdoors’ Day.” Kentucky Governor Steven L. Beshear
• “All Louisianians should renew their commitment to conserve our state’s air, water, and land for the benefit of future generations.” Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
• “In Maine and throughout this country, the number of overweight children is on the rise, and the State of Maine’s ‘Take It Outside’ initiative encourages parents to take their children outside and experience their own backyards and Maine’s many treasures in the great outdoors.” Maine Governor John E. Baldacci
• “Outdoor recreation is an ideal way to exercise and enjoy memorable experiences with family and friends.” Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour
• “Those who volunteer in their communities at environmental education programs, local parks, nature conservancies and other stewardship opportunities make invaluable contributions to the state of Missouri.” Missouri Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
• “As Governor, I am proud of the efforts we have made to protect our clean air and water for future generations. As a father, I am proud to have the opportunity to share my love for hunting, fishing, and camping with my children.” Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
• “I encourage all Americans to demonstrate good stewardship and an appreciation for the outdoors.” Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman
• “By encouraging residents and tourists to go outdoors, we encourage a more active and healthy lifestyle, improve mental and physical health, reduce substance abuse and enhance the economy of the State.” Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons
• “New Mexico is a leader in efforts to protect public lands and fish and wildlife resources, and to promote healthy lifestyles and to reconnect children to nature.” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
• “New York is synonymous with summer fun and adventure, and, each year, people from around the world discover some of our finest assets in an abundance of natural resources that attract outdoor enthusiasts to visit spectacular parks, wildlife preserves, and scenic campgrounds that provide a backdrop for memorable vacations.” New York Governor David A. Paterson
• “The State of North Carolina has proclaimed June 5, 2010 as National Trails Day because of the many health, quality-of-life and economic benefits trails provide North Carolinians as a part of outdoor recreation.” North Carolina Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue
• “Oklahoma has natural beauty which raises the spirit and calls us to experience it.” Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry
• “Recreation is a valuable means for education to reach America’s youth with the message that outdoor recreation is a fun, healthy use of leisure time.” Oregon Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski
• “Great Outdoors Month is a significant opportunity to help reconnect our children to nature and reverse the troubling nationwide trends of children spending half as much time outside as they did 20 years ago and spending six and a half hours each day ‘plugged into’ electronic media.” Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell
• “Great Outdoors Month is held annually to highlight the numerous benefits of active fun outdoors and the magnificent shared resources of our parks, forests, refuges and other public lands and waters.” South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford
• “A connection with nature is an essential component of our physical well-being – time outside combats obesity and diabetes, reduces stress levels, and decreases symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and for the first time in our country’s history, we potentially have an entire generation growing up disconnected from nature, which makes outdoor recreation awareness especially important for our children.” South Dakota Governor M. Michael Rounds
• “State and local partners are convening the first-ever Governor’s Summit on Every Child Outdoors Tennessee (ECO-TN) at Montgomery Bell State Park to promote children’s early involvement in nature to establish life-long physical, mental and community benefits.” Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen
• “The month of June is dedicated to promoting awareness of the great outdoors. We must take time to recognize the majestic beauty of the Lone Star State and teach Texas youth all the benefits of spending time with nature.” Texas Governor Rick Perry
• “June is a particularly active time for recreation and many summertime activities that range from enjoyment of wildlife viewing to adventure sports.” Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert
• “Great Outdoors Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the local community groups, environmental organizations, and state agencies that work diligently to protect and preserve our natural environment.” Vermont Governor James H. Douglas
• “Outdoor recreation is an ideal way to exercise, appreciate nature, and enjoy memorable experiences with family and friends.” Washington Governor Christine O. Gregoire
• “The mission of this month is to promote healthier lifestyles to combat obesity, volunteerism to strengthen our communities and our shared legacy of parks and forests, protection of our environment and enjoyment of the great outdoors.” West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III
• “Wisconsin has a history of natural resource stewardship, exemplified by the legacies of great conservationists like Aldo Leopold and Gaylord Nelson, and our citizens must remain committed to protecting and appreciating these valuable resources.” Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle
• “Great Outdoors Month is an opportunity to honor those who work to keep our natural places beautiful and to celebrate some of our country’s favorite outdoor pastimes, encouraging a healthy lifestyle and giving Americans pride in the great American landscape.” Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal

The Great Outdoors Month initiative is led by the American Recreation Coalition, American Hiking Society, Association of Marina Industries, Children and Nature Network, National Wildlife Federation, National Association of State Park Directors, National Recreation and Park Association, and Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. Proclamations can be read and downloaded at: www.funoutdoors.com/node/view/2486.

ARC President Derrick Crandall praised the actions of President Obama, noting, “We are delighted that the President has demonstrated his support for increasing the positive role the outdoors play in Americans’ lives. From the new America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign to combat childhood obesity, this Administration has shown its dedication to improving Americans’ quality of life through time spent outdoors. We are also pleased that governors across this nation recognize and support the important role that outdoor recreation plays in creating and sustaining a healthier, happier America. We hope that the public responds to the advice contained in virtually all of the proclamations: get outdoors and have fun improving your health!”

The original proclamations will also be highlighted at Great Outdoor Week events (June 7-12) in Washington, D.C.

Excitement is growing across the nation about plans for Great Outdoors Week and Great Outdoors Month 2010. Great Outdoors Month celebrates a variety of important events and actions that occur during June, and highlights the benefits of active fun outdoors and our magnificent shared resources of forests, parks, refuges and other public lands and waters. Great Outdoors Week (June 7-12) showcases efforts enhancing outdoor recreation for all Americans in the 21 century st through awards, briefings and other events in the Nation’s Capital.

An exciting addition to Great Outdoors Week will be the first Washington, D.C. meeting of the physicians group formed at Partners Outdoors 2010 – Physicians for Healthier Americans Through Fun Outdoors (PHATFOs). Dr. Michael Suk (former White House fellow at the Interior Department), Dr. Daphne Miller (Washington Post contributor), Dr. Stephen Lockhart (Chairman of NatureBridge and Second Century Commission member) and others plan to meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and John Berry, Office of Personnel Management Director, to discuss ways to make Americans healthier through active outdoor fun.

Great Outdoors Month will again highlight important initiatives across the country helping Americans pursue healthier, outdoor lives. These initiatives include National Trails Day® (June 5), National Fishing and Boating Week (June 5-13), the Great American Backyard Campout (June 26), National Get Outdoors Day (June 12), and more. The Association of Marina Industries has also moved National Marina Day to the second Saturday in June to partner with National Get Outdoors Day and to take advantage of the strategic partnership offered by becoming part of Great Outdoors Month.

Additionally, a coalition of outdoor recreation leaders has once again asked the President, the state governors and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to proclaim June as Great Outdoors Month. The proclamations are especially appropriate this year as nationwide attention is being given to active time in the Great Outdoors as key to better health, better education and support for conservation causes. Proclamations issued to date are available at www.funoutdoors.com.

Mickey Fearn, The National Park Service’s (NPS) Deputy Director for Communications and Community Assistance, was the guest speaker at the March 2010 Recreation Exchange hosted by the American Recreation Coalition. Mr. Fearn has responsibility for NPS Communications, Public Affairs, Strategic Planning, Tribal Relations, International Affairs, Partnerships, Legislative and Congressional Affairs, Policy, State and Local Assistance Programs and Information Technology. His updated title and expanded role emphasize a new focus at NPS on outreach and communications efforts, especially to groups currently underrepresented among park visitors.

Prior to coming to NPS, Mr. Fearn played key roles in the Seattle city government. His accomplishments included creation of a Seattle Parks and Recreation Summer Youth Program connecting urban youth to the natural world while promoting personal responsibility and healthy lifestyles. In Seattle, he served as Manager of the City of Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative, Director of the City's Innovation Project, and Director of Seattle's Neighborhood Leadership Program. Mr. Fearn also served as a Washington State Parks and Recreation Commissioner for 12 years. Prior to his time in Seattle, he worked for the Governor of California, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Mayor of Oakland, California.

Mr. Fearn is a longtime acquaintance of NPS Director Jon Jarvis, but he admitted he was reluctant when Mr. Jarvis asked him to move to Washington, D.C. to take on the deputy director position. However, he explained, he became motivated to accept the job after reading about Theodore Roosevelt and realizing that President Obama, Secretary Salazar and Director Jarvis hoped to have as great an impact on parks and the outdoors as Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt did. Mr. Fearn said that a major challenge in meeting this goal is to determine how to have such impact without setting aside huge tracts of land for preservation or creating the large civilian conservation corps that the Great Depression necessitated, as the Roosevelts did.

Under Director Jarvis’ leadership, said Mr. Fearn, NPS has outlined several major objectives, including increasing the professionalism of its workforce and making the national parks relevant to all people. The latter objective is part of a greater goal, he stated, to eliminate the separation between the environmental community and the rest of the population, creating an atmosphere where everyone cares for the shared resources of the environment.

Mr. Fearn told the group about a recent debate between himself and his twenty-year-old son about which one of them grew up in a better era. While his son typically thinks that he grew up in the better time, Mr. Fearn thinks that his son missed out on key childhood experiences. For example, he said, his son played organized sports his entire life, but never played a pickup game. And in decades past, he added, playgrounds were the sacred space of children, and now they are areas tightly controlled by adults. Mr. Fearn noted that playing pickup games and using their imaginations on the playground contribute to children’s development, both mentally and physically. Nowadays, he asked, if you’re an obese child who does not play an organized sport, what are your options? In response to this challenge, he noted, Director Jarvis is working on how to get these fundamental childhood experiences back into the daily routines of today’s children.

Mr. Fearn told the group that his wife was the Vice President of Marketing at a major company, and he has borrowed some language from her that he finds helpful in thinking about different user groups we are trying to attract to our public lands. First, there is the “aware user group,” who are the people who are aware of the national parks and also visit them. A second group is non-aware users, who visit the parks, but have no idea what the National Park Service is. He noted that most citizens are not aware of the agency that manages a particular area of public land, but only care that the resource is maintained. A third group is aware non-users, who are familiar with the parks, but do not visit. And the fourth group is the non-aware, non-user population. Mr. Fearn said this last group is the one that corporations target their marketing efforts towards, and the group that we must try to connect to our public lands. To do so, he said, we have to address the challenges that keep some of these groups from coming.

Other challenges facing Mr. Fearn at NPS include determining how to give cultural units in the system the same stature as the more natural (and well-known) parks. He told the group about a recent trip to California, where he had both a wonderful experience enjoying the Point Reyes National Seashore and a moving visit to nearby Port Chicago, where 320 (mostly African American) men were killed in an ammunition explosion in 1944. It is important that both types of sites get the recognition and respect they deserve, Mr. Fearn said, since the units of the National Park System tell the story of America at its best and at its worst.

Mr. Fearn addressed a question concerned with balancing the best interest of the American people with the potential over-involvement of gateway communities in the decision making of NPS. Mr. Fearn noted that this question raised an interesting topic, since gateway communities often fought the hardest against creation of parks, but now strive to be heavily involved in the parks’ planning process. Traditionally, he said, the national parks were based on the European concept of tourism, meaning that parks were a destination vacation where people had to travel far to see them and often stayed in remote locations. The current focus of NPS is to have the national parks perceived as more than tourism destinations, involving other stakeholders in addition to gateway communities.

In answering a question about future funding challenges, Mr. Fearn said his own background makes him particularly suited for such challenges. He never had access to much funding to accomplish his initiatives in his previous roles, he said, so successes had to be built on partnerships. For example, he said, we do not currently take advantage of the great resource we have in the local parks and recreation departments that have year-round access to the same kids we are trying to reach. Mr. Fearn said one readily available partnership opportunity involves transporting kids to public lands. He said the biggest reason why city kids say they don’t visit public lands is the lack of ways to get there. Bus and motorcoach companies are willing to help us out on this, he said, we just have to involve them. In regards to the funding difficulties, he said, “I never pay attention to the budget stuff as a reason not to do something.” However, Mr. Fearn expressed frustration about a view of parks as a non-essential service, saying, “We know it’s a bad idea to have people sitting around with nothing to do and nothing to lose.”

In response to a question about providing park visitors with access to state-of-the-art technology, Mr. Fearn acknowledged that is a complex issue, particularly in regards to attracting kids to the great outdoors. We don’t necessarily want to give people all the comforts of home, he said, as it is part of the park experience not to have access to certain things. However, there are some visitors, like tech-savvy teenagers, who may want and expect these services. “I don’t believe in polarities,” Mr. Fearn said, so we need to be able to determine when it’s appropriate to provide them.

Another question broached the difficulty in overcoming the mind set of some agencies that the only way to connect kids to nature is to bring them somewhere, rather than show them the nature close to home. Mr. Fearn acknowledged this difficulty, stating that you cannot change the attitude of others using your own value system. We also have to recognize the barriers that keep non-park users from coming out, he said, and some of those reasons can be related to fear of the unknown. We must be sympathetic to the mentality of others and understand where they are coming from, he noted. He gave an example of why his own children were denied some outdoor experiences while growing up. He had a fear of rural racial violence from his own youth spent in the South. While his children did not have this fear, his own fear denied them the experience. Mr. Fearn also stated that it is morally wrong to take inner-city kids out and show them the grandeur of nature and then return them to the city without giving them any tools for improving their own neighborhood.

Mr. Fearn welcomed all participants to contact him if they would like to continue any conversations from the Recreation Exchange.

Recreation Exchanges are hosted in Washington, D.C., by the American Recreation Coalition and feature guests who are influencing recreation public policy in America. Information on past and future programs is available at: www.funoutdoors.com.

If you would like to contact Mickey Fearn, he can be reached as follows:
Mickey Fearn
Deputy Director, Communications and Community Assistance
National Park Service
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240
(202) 208-3818

As many energy experts are predicting that gas prices will rise nationally to more than $3 per gallon this spring, a new study shows the heavy toll these spikes would have on Americans' wallets. The economic white paper, "Ranking States Oil Vulnerability: Assessing the Continued Threat of Gas Price Spikes," examines the impact of a gas price spike similar to the summer of 2008 in states across the country.

The data reveals that drivers in all states are dependent on oil for their transportation needs, but some states are more vulnerable to oil price increases than others. Drivers in the most vulnerable states will be particularly hard hit in the event of another spike in the price of gasoline, which is one of the economic risks Americans face due to the country's dependence on oil.

"Our ongoing oil addiction is draining our wallets and our economy, and rising gas prices will only add to this burden," said Deron Lovaas, transportation expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "That's why we need to move forward with clean energy and climate solutions that will not only strengthen our national security and our environment, but will also help revitalize our economy."

Even without an oil price shock, there is a major gulf between the nation's 10 most vulnerable states and the 10 least vulnerable. The 10 most vulnerable states are (from most to least): Mississippi, Montana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Maine, Georgia and Idaho. The 10 least vulnerable states are (from most to least): Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut (least vulnerable). (See the full report with a complete list of states' data: http://docs.nrdc.org/energy/files/ene_10031601a.pdf.)

"The impacts of gasoline prices in the midst of a struggling economy make it clear that our country needs to reduce its dependence on oil," said Elizabeth Hogan, analyst at David Gardiner and Associates and the author of the report. "By promoting more efficient vehicles, clean fuels, smart growth, and public transportation, our government can put an end to our unhealthy addiction that pinches our wallets and threatens our national security and the environment."

In order to cut America's dependence on oil and help reduce the risk of oil and gas price spikes, the report recommends the following policies for the U.S. Congress:

• Pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation that limits carbon dioxide emissions, helps us break our oil addiction, and helps create millions of clean energy jobs here in the United States; and
• Fundamentally reform federal transportation policy to support smart, transit-oriented development; assist states and regions in saving oil; and provide ample funding for energy-efficient transportation alternatives including rail and bus lines, bike paths, sidewalks, and other alternatives to driving.

The American Recreation Coalition is currently accepting site nominations for official sites to host Get Outdoors Day 2010 (GO Day) activities. On Saturday, June 12 GO Day official sites across the nation will introduce American families to healthy, outdoor fun.

In 2009, GO Day introduced thousands of families and children to outdoor activities such as biking, fishing, hiking, geocaching, rock wall climbing and more at over 60 official sites across the nation. Participating partners offered opportunities for American families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities, with a prime goal of reaching first-time visitors to public lands and reconnecting youth to the great outdoors.

To learn more about GO Day, visit www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org.

To nominate a site for GO Day 2010, click here. If you would like to get your organization involved at a GO Day site near you, please contact Mindy Meade at ARC at [ e-mail ].

Many will once again resolve to get organized or lose ten pounds in the new year, but National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is recommending a resolution with profound impacts because it recaptures an essential part of childhood, outdoor play. By making the 2010 Be Out There Resolution to spend more time outside in 2010, Americans will be making a resolution that’s both good for their families and fun to keep. Everyone who makes the 2010 Be Out There Resolution will receive the Know, Go and Grow Be Out There Toolkit with important facts, fun tips and interactive tools to help them keep the resolution.

Outdoor time can be family time

Outdoor time significantly enhances children’s physical and mental well-being, but, sadly, today’s kids don’t get much. In the last two decades, childhood has moved indoors. While previous generations ran around in nature until called in for dinner, modern children spend only four to seven minutes outdoors per day. Research in the fields of public health, psychology, and medicine documents the toll an “indoor childhood” takes on kids. NWF launched the Be Out There movement (www.BeOutThere.org) to return to the nation’s children something they don’t even know they’ve lost, their connection to the natural world.

“To address childhood’s fundamental shift indoors, we are asking parents to make the 2010 Be Out There Resolution to Know, Go and Grow,” says National Wildlife Federation’s Vice President of Education, Kevin Coyle. “We want them to know and understand the importance of outdoor time; to go outside more with their kids and grow the Be Out There movement by spreading the word and inviting friends along.”

Children reap wide-ranging and numerous benefits when encouraged to interact with nature in an outdoor setting including better eyesight, enhanced physical fitness and less obesity, increased classroom preparedness and lower levels of stress and depression.

There’s a reason they call it the great outdoors™. NWF hopes parents will show their children what that reason is by making the 2010 Be Out There resolution at www.beoutthere.org/resolution. This is one Time Out kids will actually enjoy.