Harrisburg – Three state parks across Pennsylvania have been selected to host a series of special events on Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10, in a nationwide Get Outdoors Day celebration, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan said today.

 

“This fourth annual Get Outdoors Day celebration gives our Bureau of State Parks a chance to showcase what is offered across the state,” Allan said. “Pennsylvanians are urged to enjoy our 120 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forestland.”

 

Governor Tom Corbett again gave the effort strong momentum when he joined other governors, a consortium of federal agencies and nonprofit organizations, and the recreation industry in proclaiming June as Great Outdoors Month. 

 

“These upcoming special days are geared to first-time visitors to our parks,” Allan said. “DCNR encourages everyone to visit their area state parks and state forestlands and see what they have been missing.”

 

Daylong, special Get Outdoors activities are planned at the following state parks:

 

• Saturday, June 9: Parker Dam, Clearfield County, and Moraine, Butler County;
• Sunday, June 10: Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, Cumberland County.

All three state parks are reinforcing the work of the American Recreation Coalition, an extensive network of outdoors-oriented, governmental agencies, conservation groups, and related businesses, committed to bucking a very disturbing trend – and one that was highlighted by Corbett in his proclamation:

 

“Great Outdoors Month is a significant opportunity to help reconnect our children to nature and reverse the troubling nationwide trends of children spending half as much time outside as they did 20 years ago,” Corbett’s proclamation said. “Outdoor recreation is vital to the economy of the Commonwealth, and the health and well-being of its residents.”

 

Kayaking, birds-of-prey exhibits, hiking and biking, and special tips for first-time campers are a few of the “Get Outdoors Day” activities planned at the three state parks. In addition to these three parks, many others across the state will be offering recreation programs this weekend.

 

For event details, or to find nearby park programs, visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Calendar (Select Get Outdoors PA); or www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org.