HARRISBURG – Outdoor recreation areas across Pennsylvania will be hosting special events and activities during June as part of a statewide Get Outdoors Month observance, according to Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti.
“The Get Outdoors Month celebration gives our bureaus of state parks and forestry, as well as other outdoor recreation facilities, a chance to showcase what they offer to so many across Pennsylvania,” Ferretti said. “Pennsylvanians are urged to get out and enjoy our 120 state parks, 2.2 million acres of state forestland, and thousands of local parks and recreation venues.”
Gov. Tom Corbett gave the effort strong momentum when he proclaimed June as Get Outdoors Month and June 14 as Get Outdoors Day in Pennsylvania.
“Hundreds of events throughout the month are showcasing our special outdoor spaces,” Ferretti said. “We are so fortunate to have plenty of opportunities to explore, and these events allow people to discover places they have never been or participate in new recreations.”
The month-long observance underscores the work of DCNR, other state agencies, and outdoors-oriented groups and businesses to fuel or renew participation in outdoors activities, as noted in Corbett’s proclamation:
“Through the Get Outdoors PA program, citizens across the state can be connected to hundreds of outdoor recreation events to suit their recreational interests. Led by experienced trip leaders, these events provide safe, fun and close-to-home opportunities for healthy outdoor recreation.”
Fishing, wildlife watching, kayaking, hiking, biking and special tips for first-time campers are just a few of the Get Outdoors PA activities planned throughout the state.
Several locations are hosting Get Outdoors PA events on June 14 in celebration of Get Outdoors Day. For those and other Get Outdoors PA events, log on to www.getoutdoorspa.org
Editor’s note: The text of Gov. Tom Corbett’s proclamation follows:
Proclamation:
Pennsylvania Get Outdoors Month
June 2014
WHEREAS, Get Outdoors Month is an opportunity for Pennsylvanians to celebrate and experience our great Commonwealth’s natural splendor and renew our commitment to conserve our air, water, and land; and
WHEREAS, through biking, swimming, skiing, hiking, hunting, fishing and many other activities, we are able to enjoy the healthy benefits of outdoor recreation and enjoy memorable experiences with family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Get 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; and
WHEREAS, conserving our natural resources and enhancing our legacy of environmental stewardship and enjoyment of the great outdoors by protecting open space, restoring wildlife habitats, educating young people about the environment, planting trees and maintaining recreational trails is critical; and
WHEREAS, outdoor recreation is vital to the economy of the Commonwealth, and the health and well-being of its residents; and this worthy pursuit will be showcased in Get Outdoors Day events Saturday, June 14, and
WHEREAS, through the Get Outdoors PA program, citizens across the state can be connected to hundreds of outdoor recreation events to suit their recreational interests. Led by experienced trip leaders, these events provide safe, fun and close-to-home opportunities for healthy outdoor recreation.
THEREFORE, I, Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim June 2014 Get Outdoors Month and June 14 Get Outdoors Day in the Commonwealth. I urge all Pennsylvanians to reaffirm their commitment to enjoying, protecting and conserving the quality of our outdoors.
