funoutdoors.com - Great Outdoors Month 2008

Great Outdoors Week 2008

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:10:06 -0400

Washington, D.C. – Hundreds of recreation industry leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to participate in meetings, events and celebrations of the significant contributions of the recreation community during Great Outdoors Week (June 9-14). This year’s theme, A Celebration of Partners Working to Keep the Outdoors in America’s Tomorrow, was designed to: increase the visibility of outdoor recreation on the national policy-making level; heighten the understanding and appreciation of recreation’s importance to the nation’s health, economy and quality of life; provide an opportunity to highlight key recreation policy initiatives and programs; and recognize outstanding leadership on behalf of outdoor recreation.

Children and nature, recreation and the 2008 elections, achievements of the Recreational Trails Program, the first National Get Outdoors Day, and more were addressed in productive gatherings throughout the week. Awards honoring the outstanding efforts and contributions of exemplary federal agency employees and recreation community leaders also contributed to the Week’s excitement.

28 State Governors and the President Proclaim June as Great Outdoors Month

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:27:45 -0400

June has been officially designated Great Outdoors Month by President George Bush and more than half of America’s governors. The proclamations were sought by a coalition of dozens of recreation and conservation organizations, many of which coordinate special events held during June, including National Trails Day, National Fishing and Boating Week, National Get Outdoors Day and the Great American Backyard Campout.

President Bush’s proclamation, issued for the fifth year in succession, was released “to honor those who work to keep our natural places beautiful and to celebrate some of our country’s favorite outdoor pastimes.” The President goes on to “call on all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities, and to take time to visit and enjoy the great outdoors.”

Coalition for Recreational Trails Announces 2008 Annual Achievement Awards Winners

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:36:57 -0400

Seven trail projects have been chosen by the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) as recipients of its tenth Annual Achievement Awards in recognition of their outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. These national awards will be presented at a special Capitol Hill ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 12, 2008 as part of the celebration of Great Outdoors Week 2008.

The trail projects honored by the CRT and their award categories are:

Storms’ Crossing -- Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Trail (South Dakota) - Maintenance and Rehabilitation

Wanoga Snopark Shelter (Oregon) - Construction and Design

ORV Maps and Educational Materials (Wyoming) - Education and Communication

Boundary Canal Trail – Phases I and II (Florida) – Multiple-Use Management and Corridor Sharing

Crestone Needle – Humboldt Peak Project (Colorado) – Environment and Wildlife Compatibility

Johnny Henderson Park Trail (Alabama) - Accessibility Enhancement (Project)

Florida Recreational Trails Program - Accessibility Enhancement (Overall Plan)

Great Outdoors Month 2008

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:26:35 -0400

Great Outdoors Week: Washington, D.C., June 9-15, 2008

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:42:00 -0400

Each June since 1996, hundreds of leaders of America’s recreation community have gathered in Washington, D.C., to take part in meetings and events designed to:

Increase the visibility of outdoor recreation on the national policy-making level

Heighten the understanding and appreciation of recreation’s importance to the nation’s health, economy and quality of life

Provide an opportunity to highlight key recreation policy initiatives and programs

Recognize outstanding leadership on behalf of outdoor recreation

Support the efforts of the American Recreation Coalition

Great Outdoors Month Proclamations

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:04:58 -0400

June is designated as Great Outdoors Month each year through a Presidential Proclamation. Great Outdoors Month highlights the numerous benefits of active fun outdoors and the magnificent shared resources of our parks, forests, refuges, and other public lands and waters. The annual proclamations, widely reported in the media, trigger actions by millions of households and prompt public discussion of important issues linked to outdoor recreation, including volunteerism, health, and outdoor ethics.

2008 Presidential Proclamation