Promoting Healthy Family Recreation This Summer

Every NPS staff member can help highlight the great recreational experiences that can be found in our parks year-round.  Numerous special events provide ready opportunities for NPS participation.  Through these and other events in the coming months, we can help America’s families develop healthy habits for outdoor recreation.

The Service has a key role to play in helping children and families re-connect with nature and enjoy the health and good feelings that come from recreation in the outdoors.  This is fundamental to our Centennial goal for “recreation experience” and for the Service to build relevance among our 21^st Century constituency. 

April

18:  YMCA Healthy Kids Day (http://www.ymca.net/about_the_ymca/ymca_healthy_kids_day.html)

18-26:  National Park Week (http://www.nps.gov/npweek/)

22:  Earth Day (http://www.earthday.gov/)

25:  Junior Ranger Day (http://www.nps.gov/npweek/junior.htm)

May

President’s Council on Physical Fitness’s National President’s Challenge: Be Active Your Way in May! (http://www.fitness.gov/)

June

Great Outdoors Month (http://www.funoutdoors.com/taxonomy/view/or/115)

6:  National Trails Day (http://www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx)

6-14:  National Fishing and Boating Week (http://www.rbff.org/page.cfm?pageID=11)

13:  National Get Outdoors Day (http://www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org/)

27:  Great American Backyard Campout (http://www.nwf.org/BackyardCampout/about.cfm)

July

National Park and Recreation Month (http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=2145)