How Will You Celebrate National Great Outdoors Month?
Each year, we observe National Great Outdoors Month during the month of June. Celebrated all over the U.S., the month is dedicated to the country’s diverse landscapes, which boast dense forests, long winding rivers, tranquil lakes, rocky-mountains, and much more. National Great Outdoors Month is also an opportunity to learn about the environment and ways we can contribute to its preservation. As a certified B Corporation, Biochem meets the highest standards of verified environmental performance, and we're proud to have a positive impact on the environment this month and every month.
With summer just around the corner, it’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the abundance of natural resources at our disposal. Whether you like to walk, hike, run, ride horseback, or bicycle, there is a trail for you. Perhaps you prefer activities in or on the water like swimming, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, or surfing; you’ll likely find an ocean, lake, or river nearby. The possibilities are truly endless!
Living fast-paced lives and being surrounded by technology day in and day out, has left many of us stressed out and drained of energy. Over the past decade, much research has been conducted on the beneficial effects of spending time in nature. The magazine, Psychology Today cites a study that links time spent per week in nature with better health and wellbeing. Based on this, and many other studies done, the findings show that when people are out in nature, heart rate decreases as does blood pressure and stress cortisol, and being outdoors improves psychological well-being.
What are some of the ways you can celebrate National Great Outdoors Month? We’ve come up with a few suggestions to get outside, be active, and enjoy the natural beauty all around us!
Plan a nature-centered trip
One of the ways to celebrate this month is to plan and go on a nature trip, either solo or with your loved ones. Start listing things you want to do, prepare a timetable and a budgeting sheet, make accommodation and food arrangements, and you are good to go. You can plan a peaceful fishing trip or a fast-paced whitewater rafting trip. Another option is to hike one of the 11 national scenic trails or visit a wildlife refuge.
Ditch the car and grab your wheels
Parks, wildlife refuges and recreation areas across the country offer excellent opportunities for bikers to ride through gorgeous landscapes, learn about history from behind their handlebars or even share the trail with wildlife. So, strap on your helmet, check your tires, grab your water bottle, and hit one of these amazing trails.
Be a steward of nature
While hiking a local trail make a point to pick up garbage, you can do the same from a nearby waterway or plant pollinating flowers in your yard. These are just a few examples of ways you can be a good steward to the earth. When you do your deed, share your experience on social media with the hashtag #ServeOutdoors.
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. So, grab your sunglasses and hat and kick off summer outdoors! For more great ideas on celebrating this month, check out tips from the U.S. Department of the Interior.