June is Great Outdoors Month, a month-long celebration of the outdoors encouraging everyone to embrace the outdoor spirit of America and head outside into the natural world. Whether you’re embarking on your very first hike or pitching a tent for the hundredth time, National Great Outdoors Month is the perfect excuse to head outside and explore.
The list of ways to celebrate the outdoors is virtually endless. Besides hiking, fishing, mountain biking, or camping there are also lots of volunteer opportunities in the outdoors. Try out a trail cleanup or an outdoor steward program, like the ones mentioned below.
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Ways to Get Outside for Great Outdoors Month
From volunteering at a local National Trails Day event to helping to pick up trash to planning a fun outdoors trip, there are many ways to celebrate National Great Outdoors Month. Check out some specific national events and outdoor holidays to take advantage of this month.
Bike Travel Weekend
June 3 – 5
Grab your wheels (and helmet) and hit the trails, pavement, or bike path in celebration of Bike Travel Weekend, an event that encourages families to ditch the car and head out on a weekend adventure by bike. Whether you’re bike-packing (like backpacking, but on a bike) or just zipping across town for a fun night in a hotel, participating in Bike Travel Weekend ensures a pedal-powered adventure.
National Trails Day
June 4
Volunteers around the country will come together to pick up trash, maintain trails, and spiffy up our green spaces on June 4, improving 2,802 total miles of trail—the distance across our country. National Trail Day events are taking place nationwide. If you don’t have a National Trail Day event near you or are unable to attend, consider planning your own informal volunteer hike by bringing a trash bag and gloves out to pick up trash on your favorite trail.
National Get Outdoors Day
June 11
During the National Great Outdoors Month, there is an extra-special National Get Outdoors Day, a nationwide event featuring a mix of practical information and fun, outdoor activities. Get Outdoors events are kid-friendly and highlight some of the fun things to do outdoors, like fishing and geocaching. Famous mascots Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl will also be in attendance at many of the planned events.
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National Marina Days
Memorial Day – Labor Day
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about sailing or boating, check out events planned around the country during National Marina Days, a nationwide event dedicated to introducing the public to boating. Whether you want to hit the water or learn from land, events such as marina tours and boat demos will help you dip your toe into the joys of boating.
Outdoor Stewardship Week
June 13-17
There’s no better way to give back to the public lands you love than by volunteering your time during Outdoor Stewardship Week. Though most local outdoors organizations are happy to have volunteers, you don’t have to sign up for a stewardship event to get involved. Hitting a local trail and picking up garbage, plucking some trash from a nearby waterway, or planting pollinating flowers in your yard are just a few examples of ways you can be a good steward of the earth. When you do your deed, share your experience on social media with the hashtag #ServeOutdoors.
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Free Fishing Days
Dates vary
Cast your line without paying a dime. Most states offer free fishing days during National Fishing and Boating Week taking place June 1 through June 9. Free fishing dates vary by state, but usually occur sometime in the first half of June.
Are you ready for your adventure? Plan your camping trip!
Check with your Local Government Organization
Many policies have been established to counter and control the coronavirus outbreak. State and local officials have been taking decisive action to stop the spread. The policies vary by state, sometimes to a great degree. When you book a reservation, make sure to review the park and state’s latest rules and regulations prior to your visit.
For COVID-19 updates, please visit our Impacted Park List and Reservation Guide for the latest information.