June 9, 2012 is National Get Outdoors Day and all Virginia State Parks are offering programs!
Bear Creek Lake State Park offers archery programs
As a child I spent hours playing outside. I had a secret spot behind a wall of forsythia bushes that I could have my tea parties or read a book. We had jump rope and kick ball and I can remember hours of fun with just me and a good bouncing ball with the chant "A my name is Annie and my husband's name is Al. We live in Alabama and we all sell apples." Trust me some of the alphabet makes that game challenging. I also climbed my share of trees and ventured to the woods and nearby lake even though my parents had made them off limits.
Unstructured play outdoors is an essential component of healthy living
But many, many, many years ago we had only three TV channels no computers and not much fun to do if it was not outside. Now schools are abandoning recess and even physical education for a variety of reasons and children AND adults have forgotten how exciting nature and the outdoors can be.
Led by the USDA Forest Service and the American Recreation Coalition, National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day) celebrates America’s Great Outdoors and encourages kids and their families to spend time outdoors, exploring the natural world and enjoying various outdoor recreation activities.
June is also Great Outdoors Month so celebrate the outdoors all month
but make it a lifetime habit all year long!
