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YourHub.com \\ Jupiter \\ Stories \\ Outdoor Sports, Activities \\ Other

Get outdoors Florida!

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Contributed by: Henry Cabbage on 6/16/2009

Commissioner Barreto's Column
June 15, 2009
A photo of Chairman Barreto is available at MyFWC.com/ABOUT/About_commissioners.htm
School's out, and it is time to "Get Outdoors Florida!"
June conjures up visions of active fun and the outdoors, perhaps like no other time of the year. In your mind's eye, you may turn to scenes depicted by Norman Rockwell of a youth and a dog, heading to the pond with a cane pole, or of a Florida tourism post card of families cavorting on a sandy beach, or perhaps you see a backyard picnic with Frisbees flying and children running about, enjoying the sunshine.
Maybe that is why Congress and Gov. Charlie Crist recognize June as "Great Outdoors Month," with June 13 being National Get Outdoors Day (see GetOutdoorsFlorida.com).
However, that is not all the month is known for. It is also designated nationally and in Florida as "Rivers Month," as "Fishing Month" by VISIT FLORIDA, and the first week in June is "National Fishing and Boating Week" (see TakeMeFishing.org for events and tips).
Recreational fishing and boating remain among the most popular outdoor activities in the U.S., and participation in these activities in Florida is part of the lifestyle we enjoy in the Sunshine State year round. In fact, Florida is still the Fishing Capital of the World, providing nearly 3 million anglers with recreational opportunities each year. Those anglers enjoyed more than 46 million days of wetting a line in anticipation of the next strike last year, and slightly more than half of those days were spent on fresh water, which is easily accessible to almost every Floridian.
Father's Day is June 21 and provides another wonderful opportunity to focus on fun recreation with your family outdoors. It is amazing how many kids remember their first fish as one of their fondest childhood memories. Those memories tend to include the parent, grandparent or friend that made it possible. Make a fishing event with your family part of your Father's Day festivities. The photos are worth 1,000 words; the memories last a lifetime.
June 21 is also the longest day of the year -- the summer solstice. It is a day celebrated in many cultures as a turning point when the pendulum of the celestial clock shifts and days start getting shorter. With all that daylight, you can even fit in some time to explore other activities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission promotes a wide variety of lifetime outdoor recreational skills and opportunities around the state (see MyFWC.com/Recreation) including bird-watching, wildlife viewing, paddling sports, fishing and hunting.
The Great American Backyard Campout is June 27, so with the nights getting longer, don't forget outdoor recreation after dark. You can find simple tips for camping, even in your backyard, at the National Wildlife Federation's Web site (see NWF.org/BackyardCampout).
Gov. Crist recently proclaimed June 27 - July 3 as Dive Flag Awareness Week. The intent is to emphasize safety and call attention to the fun of snorkeling and scuba diving. Florida has plenty of opportunities for both, including scallop season, which starts July 1 along Florida's Gulf Coast. Grab your family, a fishing license and dive flag and head to the shallows to collect some tasty natural produce for your next cookout. Remember to keep that red flag with its bright white diagonal stripe flying nearby to warn boaters to stay away or slow to idle speed if they come close (100 feet in rivers and channels, 300 feet in open water).
I hope you get my point. The key isn't an elaborate trip and spending a bunch of money, or even a special day, week or month. It's about making time to reconnect with nature and communicating with people that are near and dear to you without the distractions of TVs and video games. Not surprisingly, doctors, educators, social workers and conservation specialists have all found that getting outdoors and reconnected with nature through active recreation is amazingly fun and relaxing. Oh yeah, by the way, it improves our health, students' grades and professionals' ability to focus and produce more, social skills and networking, and creates more advocates that care for our natural resources (see ChildrenAndNature.org).
Have some fun this summer, Get Outdoors Florida!
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