Great Outdoors Month: Ten Great Activities to Do Outside

June, Great Outdoors Month, is soon approaching. Now's the time to plant the seed in your mind for how to maximize the 30-day long celebration. In fact, going outside to literally plant a seed in the dirt is one fun way to get started. Below, you'll find nine other great activities to do during Great Outdoors Month. But first you might want to go to your local library and check out some books to help enhance your outdoor commemoration experience. If you find books on trees, plant life, stars and planets, birds and other nature topics that interest you, you might find that by the end of June you'll know more about what's outdoors than you ever imagined. Using your existing knowledge and your books as a guide, you can celebrate the month by:

1. Going for a walk in a state park and seeing how many different kinds of trees you can identify during your trek. You can pause to reflect on or learn about why planting or preserving trees is important.
2. While you're out you can also chart the different species of birds you see. If your vision is impaired or even if it's not, you can still enjoy the beauty of the birds by identifying them by their call and tracking them that way. One resource for learning to bird by ear includes Les Beletsky's book, "Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song," which comes with a built-in digital audio player that has indexed electronic birdsongs. Another resource for bird watching and birding by ear can be found by visiting Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology web site. The site, www.birds.cornell.edu/allaboutbirds, allows access to the sounds of over 500 bird species.
3. For some nighttime fun outdoors, you can look at the sky and see how many constellations you can identify and learn about the planets and stars.
4. To enjoy the sky during the daytime, you can learn about cloud formations and the sun, and why it's important to learn about UV issues and how to protect yourself.

Other ways to enjoy the outdoors include:

5. Doing something good for the environment while getting some exercise and fresh air at the same time. You can put on some protective gloves and enjoy a walk while picking up trash and recyclables on your travels and improving the environment.

6. Joining a charity walk or run in your community. It's a way to keep fit and help others while catching some fresh air.

7. Taking your hobbies outdoors. If you like to play cards, read, play a musical instrument, or do other portable pastimes, go solo or call a friend and do your thing outdoors.

8. Enjoying a meal outside. Whether you grill out or pack up a picnic, eating outside can add a relaxing element to your breakfast, lunch or dinner.

9. Exercising outdoors. Picking up a tennis racket, going for a bike ride, rowing a boat, kicking a soccer ball, playing flag football or cricket or hopscotch or another activity is a great way to celebrate Great Outdoors Month.

If accessibility is a concern, there are a number of accessible places to enjoy the outdoors. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has a universal access program which focuses on providing opportunities in Massachusetts State Parks for people of all abilities. Information about this can be found on the department's website at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/universal_access/index.htm. If places in your locale are not accessible, you have the opportunity to advocate with the government for fair accessibility.

For those watching their budgets, free parking passes to state parks can be obtained at many public libraries.

Good luck and enjoy the Great Outdoors in June and year-round.