TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-FOREST SERVICE
News Release
Julie Speegle
Asst. Public Affairs Officer
Work: 907-789-6246
Cell: 907-723-3304
For release: June 10, 2010
Tongass has planned activities for National Get Outdoors Day Saturday
Ketchikan, AK—Whether you like hiking, biking, fishing, camping or some other outdoor activity, the Tongass National Forest has lots going on for National Get Outdoors Day Saturday, June 12.
National Get Outdoors Day (“GO Day”) is now in its third year. The purpose is to provide a single day to focus on getting people outdoors and reconnected to nature, especially our nation’s youth.
“GO Day provides a great opportunity for kids from all walks of life to explore and enjoy our national forests,” said USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We especially hope to see a lot of first-time visitors to our forests and grasslands to instill a sense of pride and ownership of our country’s diverse landscapes and resources.”
Here is a list of National Get Outdoors Day events going on across the Tongass National Forest:
Petersburg Ranger District
The Petersburg Ranger District has combined National GO Day with the City of Petersburg Centennial for a full day of healthy, active outdoor fun. Most of the activities take place in the vicinity of the Blind Slough Picnic Area, where a ribbon cutting will be held for the newly constructed recreation site at 3:30 p.m., followed by a picnic and potluck at 4 p.m.. There will be kayaking, biking, hiking, and demonstrations on nature photography and Leave No Trace methods throughout the day beginning of 10 a.m., as well as opportunities to get your photo taken with Smokey Bear. Activities elsewhere include Plein Air painting at Sandy Beach at 9 a.m.; Devil’s Thumb Archery Club demonstrations at the archery range from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and fly-casting demonstrations at Man Made Hole. For more information contact the Petersburg Ranger District at 772-3871.
Juneau Ranger District
It’s Family Fishing Day in Juneau, with fishing, fish printing, refreshements and more from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Twin Lakes. Sammy Salmon and Smokey Bear will make appearances.
Also in Juneau, events will be held in the Dredge Lakes area, including a bird walk at 8 a.m., biking at 1 p.m., and fire safety and survival activities at 3 p.m.. Ongoing throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. are geocaching, a nature photography contest, nature craft stations, and a scavenger hunt. There will be prizes for participation in several events.
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center holds its Forest Explorers Program at 11 a.m. with the theme, "Colors of the Rainbow."
Hoonah Ranger District
The Hoonah Ranger District kicks off an entire week of outdoor activities for Family Fishing Week, June 12-19. Saturday there will be a Fun Run at Keidladee Park, followed up by a beach cleanup Sunday. Wednesday, June 16 is a kids fish day at Keidladee Park with fishing-related activities like fish printing and a stream simulator demonstration. Friday, June 18, children can participate in a casting contest and fly-fishing lessons at Keidladee Park in preparation for the big event Saturday, June 19—the Kids Fishing Derby at Icy Strait Point.
Sitka Ranger District
Registration for the Sitka Ranger District’s Kids Fishing Day begins at 8 a.m. at Swan Lake, with fishing from 9 a.m.-noon.
Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts
Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts have teamed up for an island-wide event on Prince of Wales called “The Ultimate Kids Fishing Day Event.” Fun gets under way at 10 a.m. at the Eagles Nest Campground. There will be fish printing on T-shirts, a fun fish obstacle course, spin-casting contest, wildflower walk, demonstrations and information booths, as well as an appearance by Sammy Salmon and Smokey Bear.
Since 2009, the Forest Service and Ad Council have worked together on the Re-connecting Kids with Nature campaign to encourage children and their parents to foster a connection with urban and national forests. The Forest Service and Ad Council, in cooperation with DreamWorks, will launch a new series of public service advertisements on GO Day.
The campaign directly supports the goals of the President’s Conference on America’s Great Outdoors Initiative by actively supporting and promoting programs, projects and initiatives that encourage use of outdoor spaces by the public.
The PSAs will highlight our country’s forests including 155 National Forests and 20 Grasslands and to instill in them a life-long love of nature and an interest in conserving natural resources. For more information, visit the interactive website: www.discovertheforest.org where children and parents can find ideas for outdoor activities as well as educational and conservation information.
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land and is the largest forestry research organization in the world.
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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