About Great Outdoors Month 2006
Background and Frequently Asked Questions

Outdoor recreation is a pervasive force in America, enjoyed by nearly every one of us and providing mental, physical, economic and social benefits.  Recreation ranges from enjoyment of wildlife viewing to adventure sports like rockclimbing and OHV driving and is a $250 billion per annum industry.  June is an especially active time for recreation in America, with millions of us commencing summertime activities and hundreds of annual events and meetings ranging from National Trails Day to National Boating and Fishing Week, National Family Recreation Week to National Clean Beaches Week.  Recognition of the value of recreation and the importance of June as a time of recreation activity prompted Presidential designation of June as Great Outdoors Month for the first time in 2004.

Dozens of organizations responded to the Presidential proclamation, organizing the Great Outdoors Month Coalition to coordinate both existing and new celebrations of the diverse and valued recreation opportunities across the nation, and especially those linked to America’s public lands and waters, which cover more than a third of the nation’s surface and attract billions of visits annually.

June 2006 will be the third Great Outdoors Month celebration and will include a special focus during Great Outdoors Week (June 12-15) on the National Park Service’s health and recreation initiative, the implementation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) and the unveiling of the Toolbox for the Great Outdoors, second edition.  We will also celebrate the winners of the 18th Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors, Legends and Beacon awards, the approaching 15th anniversary of the National Scenic Byways program and the Byways 2021 initiative.

Why did President Bush proclaim the initial Great Outdoors Month in 2004?
The proclamation of Great Outdoors Month helped the President highlight a variety of initiatives, events and themes he embraces – more active lifestyles to combat obesity, volunteerism to strengthen our communities and our shared legacy of parks and forests, protection of our environment and enjoyment of the splendor of the great outdoors.  And his Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, delivered this message throughout the month as she keynoted a HealthierUS conference, volunteered at a National Trails Day activity and appeared at National Fishing and Boating Week and Great Outdoors Week events.

What are the goals of the Great Outdoors Month?
We hope to use Great Outdoors Month to highlight the benefits of active time outdoors to people, to families, to communities and to the nation.  We plan to show how recreation is a valuable means for education, and that volunteerism is a great gift – to the nation and to volunteers themselves.  And we hope to reach America’s youth with the message that outdoor recreation is a fun, healthy use of leisure time.

 When will Great Outdoors Month 2006 be celebrated?
Great Outdoors Month 2006 will be June 2006, but many special events will take place during Great Outdoors Week, this year June 12-15.  The Smithsonian Folklife Festival begins on June 30 this year and as a result, our celebration of Great Outdoors Month 2006 will continue into July and then conclude with the closing of the Festival on July 11 (Tuesday).

How does Great Outdoors Month affect events like National Trails Day and National Boating and Fishing Week?
Great Outdoors Month will help showcase these and other events and activities – and stimulate additional ways to highlight the positive role outdoor recreation plays in America. 

Can other organizations – government, non-profits, companies – become involved in Great Outdoors Month?
Absolutely!  Planning for Great Outdoors Month is coordinated through the American Recreation Coalition but involves more than three dozen organizations – and there is room for many more.  Contact the coalition at arc@funoutdoors.com or call 202-682-9530.

What kinds of events, activities and meetings can become official parts of Great Outdoors Month?  How can qualifying events become part of the month?
Opportunities for inclusion are very broad.  The official Great Outdoors Month Calendar will list volunteer events, special demonstrations, award presentations, meetings, training events and more.  Proposed events, activities and meetings should be submitted to the American Recreation Coalition with contact information, so that we can seek any additional information and share information about your event with media and others.  Contact us at arc@funoutdoors.com or call 202-682-9530.

Where can I find out more about Great Outdoors Month?
Go to http://www.funoutdoors.com/taxonomy/view/or/89 to see the Calendar of Events, or call us at 202-682-9530.

Can my Great Outdoors Month events be linked from your website?
Yes.  Submit a request for your link to our webmaster at GreatOutdoorsMonth@funoudoors.com – and we hope you will also put news about Great Outdoors Month on your website and provide a link to our information.   

May 9, 2006