Have Fun During Great Outdoors Month 2009

Spring is here and it's time to get out of the house to be more active. Getting outdoors on a regular basis (while wearing sunscreen of course) is healthy for your mind, body and soul. I've made a few suggestions below of some great activities you can do outside while having fun and enjoying the beauty of the earth.

Go Camping
Camping is a great way to spend some time outdoors and most of the time you don't have to travel far away from home to get to the wilderness. There are parks everywhere that allow you to pay to rent a space for a night or two and you can still have access to electricity and running water. You can have the experience of sleeping outdoors without losing all of the comforts of home.

Picnic
Go to a local park or recreation area with your friends and family to have a picnic. Picnics can be a lot of fun especially when everyone invited is asked to bring a dish of their own. Don't forget to pack a few games like horseshoes or games for children to keep everyone entertained.

Garden
Gardening is fun for adults and children. Growing your own vegetables, fruits and herbs is rewarding and also saves you some money in the long run when you would normally be buying the veggies that you can grow for free.

Fishing
If you live near a place where you can go fishing, then go! Even if you're not the "outdoors" type, fishing can still be fun - just ask someone else to bait your hook for you.

Walking and Hiking
Find a local recreation area that has trails or walking paths for you to enjoy. Go with at least one other person, bring a lunch and some water then spend the day walking through the forest taking in the beauty of nature.

Cookouts
Invite your friends, family and neighbors over for a barbecue or cookout on the weekend. Just as with the picnic idea, ask everyone to bring a dish which makes it less expensive and you'll have a better variety of food. You can cook the old fashioned hamburgers, hotdogs and steaks or spice it up a bit with a themed cookout such as Hawaiian or Latin.

Tips for Being Outdoors

• Wear Sunscreen
• Bring water with you if you're not sure you'll have access to some
• Keep a mini first aid kit in your car or purse
• If you are hiking or going off into the woods leave a note card in your car that says where your going, what time you left, when you expect to return, who you are with, etc - just in case something happens and you need to be rescued.