Tonight is the Great American Backyard Campout

Join thousands of neighbors, friends, and families across the country for NWF’s fourth annual Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday, June 28, 2008!

Be part of this nation-wide event! Visit this website for help making the most of your event with packing lists, recipes, wildlife guides, activities, tips and more.

Great American Backyard Campout

Join thousands of neighbors, friends, and families across the country for NWF’s fourth annual Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday, June 28, 2008!

Be part of this nation-wide event! Visit this website for help making the most of your event with packing lists, recipes, wildlife guides, activities, tips and more.

Free Day in Georgia's State Parks

To kick off the state’s “Get Outdoors Georgia” initiative, every one of Georgia’s 63 state parks and state historic sites will be free for every Georgian on Saturday, June 14 - just in time for Father's Day weekend. All parking fees and admission fees will be waived for a full day to enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking and dozens of other activities in Georgia’s diverse and beautiful outdoors.

Dozens of events, such as fishing rodeos and guided hikes, are planned across the state, details can be found at www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org.

Watch Georgia Outdoors: Held in Trust


Georgia Outdoors: Family Getaways


Sites to Behold: The History of Georgia's State Parks

Free Admission and Parking at Georgia's State Parks This Saturday

To kick off the state’s “Get Outdoors Georgia” initiative, every one of Georgia’s 63 state parks and state historic sites will be free for every Georgian on Saturday, June 14 - just in time for Father's Day weekend. All parking fees and admission fees will be waived for a full day to enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking and dozens of other activities in Georgia’s diverse and beautiful outdoors.

Dozens of events, such as fishing rodeos and guided hikes, are planned across the state, details can be found at www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org.

Watch Georgia Outdoors: Held in Trust


Georgia Outdoors: Family Getaways


Sites to Behold: The History of Georgia's State Parks

Today is National Trails Day

National Trails Day is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report by the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993.

To learn more about National Trails Day events in Georgia visit this website.

Fish Free in Georgia Today

National Fishing and Boating Week, June 1-8, began in 1979 and was created to recognize the tradition of fishing, to broaden the spirit of togetherness and to share the values and knowledge of today’s anglers with tomorrow’s anglers.

In the spirit of introducing new family members or friends to the sport of angling, Georgia offers a free fishing day on Saturday, June 7, 2008. On this day, Georgia residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license in order to fish. Residents can fish on any public waters in the state including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas (PFA).

In addition to the free fishing days, there are more than 50 Kids Fishing Events (KFEs) scheduled across the state during the week to help introduce children to fishing. These events offer a healthy form of entertainment for kids and are an excellent opportunity for beginning anglers to experience the vast rewards of recreational fishing. KFEs are FREE, held statewide and have experienced volunteers on hand to help. Many events offer prizes, free lunches and other fun-filled activities - so make plans to attend a KFE today!

Tonight and this Weekend on Georgia Outdoors

Georgia Outdoors: State Symbols
Friday, June 6, 9:30pm
Saturday, June 7, 12 Noon & 6pm
Tuesday, June 10, 7:30pm

From the majestic right whale to the diminutive honeybee, Georgia has a number of official state symbols from the natural world. On this episode, we'll feature ten natural state symbols and find out why each make good representatives of our state.

WILD Fact: Why did the turtle cross the road?

Why is the turtle crossing the road? To get to the other side, hopefully without a car squashing it! Turtle travel is on the rise this time of year as they search for mates and scope out suitable spots to lay eggs. Eastern Box Turtles also move around more after rain, hoping to gobble up emerging worms. Without risking your life or the lives of others, slow down and drive around turtles when possible. On quiet streets, it may be safe to assist a turtle out of the road, but be sure to put it in the direction it was facing.

WILD Fact is a new regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division based at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia.

World Ocean Day

On June 8^th hundreds of communities around the globe will celebrate the 16^th annual World Ocean Day – an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea, and to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help to protect it.

The Ocean Project – with 750 Partner aquariums, zoos, science museums and other educational organizations in all 50 states and 70 countries – is the largest network ever formed to focus on conservation of the ocean. The Ocean Project, working closely with the World Ocean Network each year, helps to coordinate events and activities to celebrate World Ocean Day with Partners and other organizations around the globe. Click here for events in Georgia.

National Trails Day this Saturday June 7

National Trails Day is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report by the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993.

To learn more about National Trails Day events in Georgia visit this website.

Free Fishing Day is this Saturday June 7

National Fishing and Boating Week, June 1-8, began in 1979 and was created to recognize the tradition of fishing, to broaden the spirit of togetherness and to share the values and knowledge of today’s anglers with tomorrow’s anglers.

In the spirit of introducing new family members or friends to the sport of angling, Georgia offers a free fishing day on Saturday, June 7, 2008. On this day, Georgia residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license in order to fish. Residents can fish on any public waters in the state including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas (PFA).

In addition to the free fishing days, there are more than 50 Kids Fishing Events (KFEs) scheduled across the state during the week to help introduce children to fishing. These events offer a healthy form of entertainment for kids and are an excellent opportunity for beginning anglers to experience the vast rewards of recreational fishing. KFEs are FREE, held statewide and have experienced volunteers on hand to help. Many events offer prizes, free lunches and other fun-filled activities - so make plans to attend a KFE today!

Governor Perdue Announces Get Outdoors Georgia Campaign

Governor also signs proclamation declaring June as Georgia Great Outdoors Month

Today at Skidaway Island State Park Governor Sonny Perdue announced the launch of Get Outdoors Georgia, an initiative of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that encourages Georgians to get outdoors, get fit and enjoy Georgia's State Parks.

“I want to encourage all Georgians, especially those with children, to take some time to visit one of our state parks,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Our state parks are great places to see some of Georgia’s most beautiful sites while spending quality time with your family and getting some good, healthy exercise.”

The campaign launch, developed by the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division (PRHSD) of DNR includes the following: a Free Day in the Parks on June 14 sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company; the introduction of a Library Loan ParkPass Program to make admission to state parks and historic sites accessible through local public libraries; special recreational activities and events at state park and historic site locations throughout the state; a proclamation signed by Governor Sonny Perdue to declare June as Georgia Great Outdoors Month in recognition of this initiative and as part of a National Great Outdoors Month celebration; and the introduction of the Get Outdoors Georgia Gopher .

There are 63 properties that preserve the state's diverse environment and history. Included are 45 state parks, three state historic parks and 15 historic sites, stretching from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Colonial Coast. Together, the sites offer an exceptional variety of resources, including mountains, canyons, forests, fields, marshes, waterfalls, lakes, swamps, rivers, battlefields, historic homes and Native American artifacts.

Watch Sites to Behold: The History of Georgia's State Parks.

WILD Fact: Fawn

Female white-tailed deer (called does) give birth to fawns in late spring and early summer. Each doe may have one fawn, twins, or rarely triplets. At birth, a fawn’s body measures only 1½ feet long and weighs 4-7 pounds. Its eyes are open, but weak legs don’t allow for much standing or walking. Until the fawn is 2-3 weeks old and is strong enough to follow its mother, it stays hidden close to where it was born. Camouflaging spots on the fawn’s coat mimic dabs of sunlight on the forest floor. Although a young deer may appear abandoned, its mother feeds nearby and frequently returns to nurse.

WILD Fact is a new regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division based at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia.