Each year, millions of Americans head out to their local campgrounds. Camping in the great outdoors is any camper’s dream; however, not everyone is able to camp at a campground or state park.  If you find it difficult or impossible to go camping, you may want to consider backyard camping.  You may very well find that it is the perfect backyard activity, especially in the evening.

Although camping in your backyard may not seem glamorous, it can be a fun and exciting adventure.  In fact, it is an adventure that thousands of families enjoy each year.  Backyard camping is popular for a wide variety of different reasons. One of those reasons includes the ease of camping. If you are an avid camper, it is likely that you may know alto well how hard to can be to make it to your campsite.  Not only do you have to worry about getting yourself to the campsite, but all of your supplies as well. And, imagine if you forgot anything!  In most cases, backyard camping cuts down on the hassle of most camping trips.

Backyard camping is also popular because it allows campers to camp is a safe area.  Unfortunately most campers, while camping on public grounds, are unfamiliar with their surroundings. Not only may they be unfamiliar with the land, but they may also be unfamiliar with other campers.  Unfortunately, in today’s society it is just too much of a risk for some individuals. If physical safety is a concern of yours, that concern can almost completely be eliminated with backyard camping. Not only will you know the area, but you also know who or what should be in your neighborhood.

As previously mentioned, backyard campouts are popular among those with children, especially young children.  When it comes to camping, there are many children who are not at the right age to go.   Whether it is due to unfamiliar territory, uncomfortable sleeping spaces, or being away from what they know, there are many children that are unable to handle a camping trip.  However, as a parent, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to enjoy camping. With backyard camping, everything should workout for everybody.  Not only will be camping in the outdoors, but you will also be near your home, in case you need anything for your children.

While backyard campouts are ideal for those with small children, campouts are also fun for everyone else.  Many individuals, including adults without children, enjoy backyard camping because it is convenient, safe, and free.  Most public campgrounds, in the United States, charge a fee for campers.  While this fee will vary from location to location, it can get quite expensive. That is why backyard camping is so popular in the United States.

If you are interested in having a backyard campout, you will have to decide which supplies you will need.  Depending on your preference, you may be able to sleep in a tent or underneath the stars.  In addition to sleeping equipment, you may want to think about backyard toys, food, drinks, and snacks.

By preparing for your backyard campout, you should have everything that you need. Proper planning will also prevent you from having to go inside your home. Avoiding your home as much as possible, even though you are in the backyard, is a great way to make the most out of your backyard camping adventure.

If your family is interesting in travelling to go camping, backyard camping is a great way to “try it out” first. Check your local classifieds and camper blue book for information on purchasing a camper for your family to enjoy for years to come.

Contrary to popular belief, bird watching is not just for scientific observation. It has actually become a favorite past time for many families. Bird watching is relaxing and peaceful. Those who take part in this activity say that it is, without a doubt, one the best leisurely activities available for those who love to get up close and personal with nature. If you are considering including bird watching to the list of your families favorite spring time activities, you will first want to purchase a good pair of binoculars.

The better your bird watching binoculars are, the more up close you will be able to get with the birds you are watching. Bird watchers love to see the beautiful, distinguished colors of the birds that they observe. Without binoculars, you will only be able to see a far away view of the beauty of each bird species.

Carson Hawk Kid’s Binoculars

Bushnell Powerview 12×25 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular

Tasco Essentials 10×50 WA, Zip Focus Binocular

Binoculars take bird watching to the next level. Beginners usually do not view binoculars as important, however, seasoned bird watchers attest to the fact that this activity cannot be thoroughly enjoyed without them. Locating the birds through a lens provides a better picture of what life is like for the birds.

If you are considering taking on this new hobby, be sure to purchase a new pair of binoculars for bird watching. They can truly make bird watching an amazing experience. Seek advice from seasoned bird watchers when purchasing the perfect pair.

Posted by Tami

One of my favorite springtime activities is geo caching. It is adventure wrapped in fitness while spending time with your loved ones. I’m not sure how long this phenomenon has been going on around the country but I picked it up off the internet a few years ago. It is essentially a treasure hunt but the emphasis is on the adventure rather than the treasure. Truthfully, there never is really anything too dashing in the little containers. Actually, my family has found it enjoys finding those geocaches with a sign-up sheet enclosed more than those with little trinkets, aka junk.

You’ll need a geocache navigator or GPS device in order to track the coordinates. There are plenty of sites out there with the coordinates of already hidden treasure using geocaching maps. Of course, you are also welcome to hide your own cache in your favorite spot. Pick a spot that is remote, yet so beautiful it begs to be seen by others. Our favorite spots always have a stream and plenty of foliage. In this electronic era, when we are always connected, it is a real pleasure to get away from society, internet, and TV and experience nature like I used to as a child. It is very important to me that my children feel the excitement of exploration even if it is just in our hometown.

Click below to purchase geocaching containers, log books and more.

It’s a Treasure Hunt! Geocaching & Letterboxing Geocaching and letterboxing are pastimes that offer a modern twist to the age-old scavenger hunt by combining a hike in the outdoors with the technology of a GPS unit and the joy of gift-giving and receiving.

Geocaching Log Book A handy logbook, to record info about the caches you have done and plan on finding. A great way to keep all your info in one spot and handy while on the trail in search of caches.

Dr. B’s Geocaching Newbie Kit This Kit has everything a new cacher should need to get started on the trail to finding and hiding caches. (GPS and sense of adventure not included)

We will often make a picnic to take with us as we try to pick long journeys. Of course, it is important to be safe, so take a first aid kit and plenty of water. While the hike is most of the fun, there is almost always a challenge to find the geocache first. Most of the hiders will give you excellent coordinators, yet still find a way to make it very difficult to find the treasure. Really, you have to keep a keen eye out as you do not know what the cache will look like or how small the container will be.

Hidden behind all of this fun, is an excellent work out. You end up staying active for at least half of the day without even realizing it. Best of all, your kids become enthralled with the outdoors and staying active. In a time of obesity across the country, stressing good health and exercise in such a fun way is invaluable. In summation, quality time, exercise, health, and the outdoors combine to make geocaching a wonderful springtime activity for one person or many.

Submitted by Lea:

Spring is one of my son’s favorite times. After a long cold winter, we look forward to spring fun like our long morning walks (weather permitting, of course – those spring storms don’t always make it easy!), time at the playground, and fun in the backyard sandbox. Bath days are his favorite days in the spring, because those are the days that he gets to go outside and get as muddy as he wants without getting yelled at by Mom!

Last year was the first year that he was old enough to really enjoy the time outside. We purchased one of those bubble kits that can create the really big bubbles, and Dad and I drew out some gigantic ones that he could chase across the yard. We even figured out, thanks to the instructions, how to blow little bubbles inside the big bubbles with a little bubble wand and the large bubble circle. A word to anyone thinking about doing this: not all dogs are friendly to bubbles in their yard. You might want to test bubbles on your dog before launching into a full-fledged bubble blowing session. Our son was so disappointed on the first day when we had to pack up after just a few minutes because the dog went bonkers. Luckily, we found leaving her inside with a huge rawhide chew would distract her successfully for enough time to get a lot of bubbles blown!

We also did a lot of hiking last spring. At first, we took him along in the backpack carrier…there were a lot of questions coming from up above about the trees, birds, and other nature that he was seeing from that vantage point! It was a great opportunity to get him in touch with the great outdoors, and we learned a lot too. Any question that we didn’t know the answer to, we would research on the Internet when we returned home. We found an amazing site that would help identify a plant just based on the descriptive characteristics. We started taking home some of the leaves and flowers originally to help us look them up online, but we ended up saving them and making a scrapbook of them throughout the hiking season. It was a great way to look back on the summer months when winter hit.

This spring, we’re looking forward to expanding our outdoor experiences. We’ve already purchased a kiddie fishing pole, and we’re looking forward to test driving that… plus, our son finally has large enough hands for his own ball glove! Swing, batter, swing!

Hiking with your friends or family is a great chance to get outdoors, breathe some fresh air, and get active. It’s easy to get started. Just look for a trail in a national park near you!

For your first day hike (hiking for a day or less without camping overnight), choose a safe, well-marked trail that doesn’t have too many steep climbs. Otherwise, you’ll get tired too early and won’t make it as far as you want to go. Each time you go hiking, try going a little farther and take a slightly steeper trail. Before you know it you’ll be hiking the Appalachian Trail — a 2,167-mile trail that goes all the way from Maine to Georgia!

First, you’ll need a good pair of shoes and thick socks designed for this type of activity. You can start with some sturdy sneakers with thick bottoms. When you begin to take on more difficult trails, try a pair of hiking boots, and make sure they fit! Make sure they fit! Also, get a backpack or fanny pack to carry all of your hiking supplies. Dress in layers and bring along a waterproof jacket with a hood in case you get caught in the rain. And don’t forget a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses because the higher you hike, the more dangerous the sun’s rays become. Want to read more on protecting yourself from the sun?

To keep hiking fun, you always need to be prepared to beat problems that could happen while you’re out, like finding the trail if you get lost or stuck in bad weather. Make sure you bring a map of the area you’ll be hiking in and a sturdy compass. Don’t know how to use a compass? Check this out to learn how. You’ll also need to bring plenty of water and extra food, like sports bars or trail mix, in case you have to stay out late and get hungry. The adults on your hike should bring a box of waterproof matches and an Army-style knife. A flashlight and extra batteries will help you find your way if you end up out after dark. Finally, you’ll need to bring a first aid kit, in case someone gets hurt during your hike.

Prep. Get in shape before you head out on your hike. Try walking around your neighborhood with your pack loaded with five pounds more gear than you’ll actually carry on your hike. If that goes well, plan a short hike to test your abilities on the trail.

Buddies. Take a friend and an adult along on your hike. That way you can look out for each other and you’ll have people to talk to! Also, be sure to let someone who’s not going know where you’ll be hiking and what time you’ll be back.

H2O. Carry lots of water even if you are only planning a short hike. For warm-weather hikes, bring six to eight quarts of water per day. In the cold weather or higher elevations, you can be safe with half that amount. Whenever you are near water, make sure you wet yourself down. Dampen a bandana and wipe your face, neck, and arms or wrap it around your head while you hike. Want to read more about keeping your cool?

Blisters and more. To prevent blisters, try spraying your feet with an anti-perspirant before heading out. Bring extra pairs of socks that you can change into if your feet get wet or sweaty — if they aren’t made of cotton, they’ll keep your feet drier. Once you’re on the trail, stop as soon as you feel a “hot spot” on your feet and apply special type of bandage called “moleskin” to the sore area. Also, try using a hiking stick to keep some pressure off of your legs and knees.

Buzz. Don’t get bugged by bugs. Protect yourself from bites and stings by using a bug repellant that includes DEET. Repellents that contain DEET are the most effective, but make sure you rub them on according to the directions. A good rule of thumb from the experts is that kids should use repellents with less than 10% DEET. Get your parents to help you put it on your face so you don’t get it in your mouth or eyes. And wash your hands after you apply it. Remember that stuff that smells good to you smells good to bugs too, so don’t use scented shampoos or lotions before hiking.

Weather watcher. When it’s hot, pick trails that are shaded and run near streams. If you need to hike uphill in the sun, first soak yourself down to stay cool. You can also try wearing a wet bandana around your head or neck. Also, try to stay out of cotton clothes. Keep yourself out of bad weather by checking forecasts before you hike and watching the skies once you’re out on the trail. During lightening storms, head downhill and away from the direction of the storm, and then squat down and keep your head low.

Keep it yummy. To stay healthy on your hike, you’ll need to know how to keep your food and water safe. Remember the four C’s: contain, clean, cook, and chill.

Fun Facts:

In the year 2000, 67 million people went hiking.

America’s National Parks have more that 12,000 miles of trails.

The Appalachian Trail starts in northern Georgia and continues through South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and ends in Maine at Mt. Katahdin, Baxter Peak, Baxter State Park.

Spring is a great time of the year to use your back yard (or local park) to observe, learn about and enjoy our feathered friends.

As you begin to enjoy the beauty of birdlife around your home, you may wish to improve the “habitat” in your yard so that more birds will visit your property. You can attract birds by placing bird feeders, nest boxes, and bird baths in your yard, and by planting a variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. These can provide good nesting sites, winter shelter, places to hide from predators and natural food supplies that are available year-round.

There are a few different ways to attract varieties of birds to your yard. These can include planting certain flowers, installing a bird feeder, or putting out a bird bath.

You can do backyard birding and attract birds to your yard by providing appropriate food, water, and habitats for wild birds, and limiting use of pesticides. Bushes and dense hedges protect birds from predators, provide perches, and are home to insects, which are great bird food. Colorful flowers also attract hummingbirds

It doesn’t matter where you live – in an apartment, townhouse or single family dwelling, in the city, suburbs or country. Just stand still and you’ll hear them: wild birds. It is hard to imagine life without them

BIRD FEEDERS

There are several factors to consider after you’ve decided to feed birds in your backyard. Where do you want to watch your birds? From a kitchen window … a sliding glass door opening onto a deck … a second-story window? Pick a location that is easy to get to. When the weather is bad and birds are most vulnerable, you may be reluctant to fill a feeder that is not in a convenient spot near a door or an accessible window. Also, pick a site where discarded seed shells and bird droppings won’t be a cleanup problem.

Put your feeder where the squirrels can’t reach. Squirrels become a problem when they take over a bird feeder, scaring the birds away and tossing seed all over. Squirrels have been known to chew right through plastic and wooden feeders. If you’ve seen squirrels in your neighborhood, it is safe to assume they will visit your feeder. Think long and hard before you hang anything from a tree limb. Squirrels are incredibly agile, and any feeder hanging from a tree is likely to become a squirrel feeder. In the long run, a squirrel-proof feeder or any feeder on a pole with a baffle is the least aggravating solution. The most effective squirrel-proof feeder is the pole-mounted metal “house” type.

What kind of bird food should you use? The hands-down favorite bird seed is sunflower. It attracts cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. Get the black sunflower seeds, sometimes called oil seeds. Birds prefer them to the grey-and-white-striped sunflower seeds sold off the candy rack for people, because they’re higher in oil content. They are softer shelled, hence easier to crack open. They’re also cheaper than the grey-and-white ones.

Another essential bird seed is niger. Goldfinches adore niger. Niger is a black seed, so tiny and light you can blow away a handful with a gentle breath. Niger is also expensive, over a dollar a pound, so you won’t want to waste it. Buy a hanging tube with tiny holes, designed especially for niger, and hang it where you can see it from your best viewing window. Up close to the house, even under the eaves, is fine. Goldfinches will become very tame and won’t mind you standing two feet away from them, on the other side of the window, while they eat.

Another favorite seeds for birds is safflower, a white seed, slightly smaller than a black sunflower seed. Squirrels don’t like it. Neither do grackles, blue jays, or starlings. Safflower seeds are extremely bitter. Cardinals, titmice, chickadees, and downy woodpeckers munch it like candy, though, so keep a good supply available on the platform feeder. The squirrels won’t bother to climb up there as well.
White millet is another seed that attracts birds. It is even cheaper than sunflower seed. Scatter it on the ground for sparrows, juncos, and mourning doves.

Don’t bother with bags of mixed birdseed. These mixes usually contain a lot of filler, such as red millet. Most birds won’t eat it. They rummage through the seeds in the feeder and kick the red millet onto the ground, where at best it lies until it rots and turns into pretty decent fertilizer for the grass. Mixed birdseed is not a bargain. Buy the seeds you know your birds want.

When starting up a feeding program, be patient. It may take as long as several weeks before the birds discover your feeders. While you wait, be sure to keep the feeders filled. Eventually, the birds will come. Sometimes conscientious people are concerned about whether feeding the birds will harm the birds. Will the birds become dependent on the handouts? And it’s often advised that one should only start feeding birds if certain that the feeding can continue uninterrupted.
However, the evidence indicates that feeding is not likely to be bad for birds. They don’t settle in and dine at just one place. Goldfinches, for example, follow a circuit each day, visiting a number of feeders and wild food patches, as we know from studies of banded birds that can be identified individually.

With many households feeding birds, it’s unlikely that a bird will starve because one feeder goes empty. All the same, birds that come into your yard at dusk are hungry, and it is bad manners to disappoint guests! Make sure they have enough to dine on at your pleasure! Birds like to feed on hanging suet molds. You can buy these in many different place, but this can be especially fun if you can make them yourself. They’re so easy, even the children can help! Make a simple bird feeder by attaching a short length of string to a pine cone, covering the pine cone with a suet, lard, or vegetable shortening mixture (see below), and rolling it in seeds, and then suspending it from a tree branch.

Fatty mixture: Mix 1/2 cup suet, lard, or vegetable shortening with 2 1/2 cups cornmeal or uncooked oats until well blended. Optional: add dried fruit (chopped up), chopped nuts, and/or 1/4 cup finely chopped leftover meat (only in cold weather).

Hummingbirds drink nectar which is also easy to make yourself. Take ¼ cup sugar and dissolve in boiling water. Place into your hummingbird feeder and watch them come! Be sure to change the nectar often as – especially in warm weather – the mixture can become rancid and dangerous for the birds. Also, hummingbirds tend to enjoy red nectar the best, so add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture!

***Read Part Two***

***Please read part one first.***

Don’t forget water! The best way to provide water to your feathered friends is with a bird bath.

BACKYARD BIRD BATHS

Kindness is a birdbath. Your little circle of clean, cool water under a leafy branch is a kindness to the birds, because fresh clean water can sometimes be the hardest necessity for birds to come by. And it’s a kindness to yourself and your family, too, because watching the birds at the birdbath will bring you great happiness. In fact, a birdbath is one of the easiest ways to bring backyard birds up close, where you can get a really good look at them. You can attract even more species of birds with water than with a feeder.

Bird feeders usually cater to seed-eaters, such as cardinals, blue jays, and sparrows. Birds that eat insects or fruit, such as wrens, catbirds, and waxwings, usually don’t find anything at the feeder to interest them. But the birdbath entices all kinds of birds, from robins to screech owls. It will expand your awareness of the variety of life.

Commercial bird baths are available at many discount stores and gardening or home improvement store, but you can make a birdbath out of almost anything. Just make sure it provides what the birds need most – cool, clean water!

What kind of birdbath is best? It needs to be shallow – no deeper than three inches at the center. It should be even shallower at the edge, so that a bird can ease its way in. Many commercial birdbaths are too deep. If you already own a deep birdbath, you can put rocks in it to raise the bottom, though this will make it a little harder to keep clean. Consider adding a fountain or something to provide a bit of a drip. The plinking sound of falling water is pure invitation to birds. It dramatically increases the number of species that visit a birdbath. For example, hummingbirds would never wade into the bath like other birds, because they bathe only in flight. But many have watched hummers zipping back and forth through the drips of a bird bath, timing their flights so that they catch a water drop on their backs on each pass. There are many ways to arrange for a drip. You can run a hose so that it trickles into the water; or install a small spray fountain designed for birdbaths; or suspend above the bath a bucket that has a 1/2-inch hole in the bottom with a bit of cloth stuffed through the hole as a wick.

Also make sure your bird bath is rough bottomed. Birds don’t want to lose their footing, and they will hesitate to use a bath with a glazed, slippery bottom. Cement is good. If you already possess a slick birdbath, you can apply the non-skid stickers that are sold for people-baths.

Place your bird bath within view from a window. Don’t forget to put yourself in this picture. Place the birdbath where you can see it from indoors, from your desk, dining room, or kitchen sink. Put the basin on a pedestal. It’s easy to see from the house, easy to clean, and safer from predators. Alternatively, you can buy a birdbath designed to hang from a tree.

Make your birdbath easy to clean and refill by placing it close enough to reach with a hose. However, locate your birdbath away from your feeding station, because seeds and droppings would soil the water quickly. Change the water every few days, or even every day in hot weather. Dump it out or squirt it out with the hose. It’s a good idea to keep a scrub brush outside with gardening tools, so that you can brush out any algae that might begin to form.

Place the bird bath where predators cannot get to your visitors. Cats, for example, like to lie in wait beneath shrubbery or behind a concealing object and then pounce on the birds when they’re wet and can’t fly well. So put your birdbath at least five to ten feet from such hiding places. Give the birds a chance to see the cat coming. Also provide the birds with an escape route. The ideal location is under some branches that hang down within two or three feet of the bath. A wet bird can flutter a few feet up to the safety of the leaves.
If you follow these instructions, soon a robin will land on the rim of your birdbath. He’ll dip his bill into the water and then raise his head to let the water run down inside his throat. Then he’ll hop in and splash exuberantly. He’ll dunk his head and let the water rush over his back. He’ll sit and soak.

When he’s finished bathing, he’ll fly onto the nearest branch, where he’ll shake off and begin to preen his feathers, drawing them one by one through his bill. A bird in the bath is the soul of enjoyment. The sight of it, even a chance glimpse through the window, will provide you too with a splash of happiness.

BIRD HOUSES

You might decide you don’t want your birds to just drop by to eat and take a bath. Perhaps you’d like it if they’d stick around while. Try putting up a bird house or two. In the bird house business, there’s no such thing as “one size fits all.” Decide which bird you want to attract, and then get a house for that particular bird. Look through any book or catalog and you’ll see bird houses of all sizes and shapes, with perches and without, made of materials you might not have thought of: recycled paper, gourds, plastic, rubber, pottery, metal and concrete. The proper combination of quality materials and design makes a good birdhouse.

Wood is just about the best building material for any birdhouse. It’s durable, has good insulating qualities and breathes. Three-quarter-inch thick bald cypress and red cedar are recommended. Pine and exterior grade plywood will do, but they are not as durable. It makes no difference whether the wood is slab, rough-cut or finished, as long as the inside has not been treated with stains or preservatives. Fumes from the chemicals could harm the birds.

You can decorate the outside of your birdhouse however you want. Do you want your martins to hang out in a Victorian home or have your cardinals roost in a clubhouse? Anything goes as far as the outside of the house is concerned. Don’t put an aluminum roof on your bird house, however. The glare from the sun will cause birds to shy away. Be sure to provide ventilation, drainage, and easy access for maintenance and monitoring. How elaborate you make your bird house depends on your own tastes. In addition to where you place the box, the most important considerations are: box height, depth, floor dimensions, diameter of entrance hole and height of the hole above the box floor. You should provide air vents in bird boxes. There are two ways to provide ventilation: leave gaps between the roof and sides of the box, or drill 1/4 inch holes just below the roof.
Water becomes a problem when it sits in the bottom of a bird house. A roof with sufficient slope and overhang offers some protection. Drilling the entrance hole on an upward slant may also help keep the water out. Regardless of design, driving rain will get in through the entrance hole. You can assure proper drainage by cutting away the corners of the box floor and drilling 1/4 inch holes. Nest boxes will last longer if the floors are recessed about 1/4 inch.

Look for the entrance hole on the front panel near the top. A rough surface both inside and out makes it easier for the adults to get into the box and, when it’s time, for the nestlings to climb out. If your box is made of finished wood, add a couple of grooves outside below the hole. Open the front panel and add grooves, cleats or wire mesh to the inside. Never put up a bird house with a perch below the entrance hole.

Perches offer starlings, house sparrows and other predators a convenient place to wait for lunch. Don’t be tempted by duplexes or houses that have more than one entrance hole. Except for purple martins, cavity-nesting birds prefer not to share a house. While these condos look great in your yard, starlings and house sparrows are inclined to use them.

Where you put your bird house is as important as its design and construction. Cavity-nesting birds are very particular about where they live. If you don’t have the right habitat, the birds are not likely to find the house. You can modify your land to attract the birds you want to see by putting out a bird bath, planting fruit-bearing shrubs, including more trees or installing a pond with a waterfall.

Don’t put bird houses near bird feeders. Houses mounted on metal poles are less vulnerable to predators than houses nailed to tree trunks or hung from tree limbs. Use no more than four small nest boxes or one large box per acre for any one species. Don’t put more than one box in a tree unless the tree is extremely large or the boxes are for different species. If you have very hot summers, face the entrance holes of your boxes north or east to avoid overheating the box.

National Wildlife Refuges around the country are planning special events in mid April to mark the 39 th annual celebration of Earth Day. The activities, timed to coincide with the March equinox, are meant to build awareness of the fragility of the earth’s environment and what ordinary people can do to help conserve and protect our natural resources.

Earth Day is celebrated at many of the country’s more than 550 national wildlife refuges, which are dedicated to the protection of our natural habitat and the many creatures that depend on it for survival. Many refuges conduct year round environmental education programs. There is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major cities.

The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world’s premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants.
Here is a sampling of 2009 Earth Day events on National Wildlife Refuges. For more information on events in your area, visit www.fws.gov/refuges and click on visitors.

Saturday, April 11
Earth Day Litter Pickup
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Cambridge, Md.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Join in the refuge’s annual litter pickup of the roads around the refuge, and enjoy drinks and snacks, compliments of the nonprofit Friends of Blackwater. Individuals, families and groups are welcome. Meet at the Blackwater Visitor Center.
Contact: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 4102282677
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/blackwater

Saturday, April 18
Earth Day Cleanup and Hike
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Oceanville, N.J.
8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Join refuge staff and the Township of Galloway for a cleanup along the refuge’s Wildlife Drive. Then go for a short nature walk led by naturalists. Activities are free, but you must preregister: 609-748-1535.
A light lunch will be served. Rain date: Sunday, April 19.
Location: 800 Great Creek Road, Oceanville, N.J.
Contact: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge at 6097481535
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe

Saturday, April 18
Earth Day Litter Pickup and Bicycle Tour
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Folkston, Ga. East
Entrance
8 a.m. – noon
Join in a cleanup of the refuge and adjacent Highway 121. Then take off on a bicycle tour of Swamp Island Drive. Enjoy staffed exhibits and demonstrations along the way about wildlife, plants, wildland fire, fishing, nature photography, swamp culture, hiking, bicycling, recycling and more. Discover some of the amazing plants and animals found in the refuge. Create nature crafts, see live animals and get a free bicycle safety check. Find out what local organizations do in your community. Learn about what you can do to help protect the earth.
Contact: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 9124967836.
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee

Saturday, April 25
Earth Day Volunteer Day
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Seymour, Ind.
9 a.m. 4p.m.
Join in a cleanup of the refuge. Then move on to other hands on
projects for all ages. Among these: improving hiking trails and removing invasive garlic mustard.
Contact: Donna Stanley at 8125224352
or via email Muscatatuck@fws.gov
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/muscatatuck

Saturday, April 25
Earth Day Boating Tours, Butterfly Viewing and Fishing Lessons
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
Dayton, Texas
11 a.m. 2p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon of free outdoor activities, hosted by the refuge and the nonprofit Friends of Trinity River Refuge, at the Champion Lake Public Use Area. Activities will include canoeing, kayaking and boating tours? bird and butterfly viewing? walking the levee trail? and dip netting and fishing lessons in the lake for the kids. You may want to bring a lawn chair, as seating is limited.
Location: Champion Lake is located at the end of CR 417, two miles east of FM 1409 in
southern Liberty County. This is approximately 10 miles south of Dayton, Texas, from Hwy 90
or about six miles north of I10
at the Cove exit (FM 565).
Contact: Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge at 9363369786
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit <www.fws.gov>

Spring is a season of awakening, especially in the natural world. Go outside on one of America’s 550 National Wildlife Refuges to see what nature has to offer. There is at least one national wildlife refuge in every state and one about an hour’s drive from most metropolitan areas.

2009 Events

Fri. April 17:  2nd Annual Youth Fishing Rodeo, Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
Land a big one and win a prize. Open to children ages 4 – 12; 8 a.m. to noon.
For more information about the refuge:  http://www.fws.gov/grandcote/

Sat. April 18:  Earth Day Festivities, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, East Entrance, near Folkston, Ga.
Start your day with a litter pick-up on the refuge.  Then take a bicycle tour of Swamp Island Drive, stopping at many exhibits and demonstrations about wildlife, wildland fire, fishing, nature photography, swamp culture, hiking, bicycling and recycling. Create nature crafts, see live animals and get a free bicycle safety check. 8 a.m. – noon.   For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/

Sat. April 25:  Earth Day Festivities, Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Enjoy a host of free outdoor activities at the Champion Lake Public Use Area, including canoeing, kayaking and boating tours, bird and butterfly viewing, walking the levee trail, and dip netting and fishing lessons in the lake for the kids.  Bring a lawn chair as seating is limited. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  For more information about the refuge:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver/

Sat. April 17:  2nd Annual Youth Fishing Rodeo, Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
Land a big one and win a prize. Open to children ages 4 – 12; 8 a.m. to noon.
For more information about the refuge:  http://www.fws.gov/grandcote/

Sat. April 18:  Earth Day Festivities, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, East Entrance, near Folkston, Ga.
Start your day with a litter pick-up on the refuge.  Then take a bicycle tour of Swamp Island Drive, stopping at many exhibits and demonstrations about wildlife, wildland fire, fishing, nature photography, swamp culture, hiking, bicycling and recycling. Create nature crafts, see live animals and get a free bicycle safety check. 8 a.m. – noon.   For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/

Sat. April 25:  Earth Day Festivities, Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Enjoy a host of free outdoor activities at the Champion Lake Public Use Area, including canoeing, kayaking and boating tours, bird and butterfly viewing, walking the levee trail, and dip netting and fishing lessons in the lake for the kids.  Bring a lawn chair as seating is limited. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  For more information about the refuge:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver/

Sat. April 25:  Spring into Nature 2009, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, New York
Bring the kids and welcome spring back to the swamps. This free event, sponsored by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with the Buffalo Audubon Society and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, features exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on activities to connect children with nature. Includes bald eagle watch, guest speakers and live animals.  .9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For more information about the refuge:  http://www.fws.gov/northeast/iroquois/

Thurs., May 7 and Friday, May 8:  Birding Festival, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Suffolk, Va.
Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with a guided bird walk, a refuge tour, birding and photography workshops and family activities.
For more information about the refuge:  http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp/

Thurs, May 7 and Friday, May 8:  17th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Homer, Alaska
Celebrate spring and the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s Statehood at this festival, which coincides with International Migratory Bird Day. The theme: “Birds in Culture: Our Brothers and Sisters Return.” Hear two keynote speakers: Yup’ik storyteller Jack Dalton and Paul Baicich, author of “A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds” and chair of the Council on Environmental Education’s Bird Education Network.  For more information about the refuge:  http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/akmar/index.htm

Sat. May 9: International Migratory Bird Day, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman, Minn.
Celebrate the return of millions of migratory birds to their breeding areas by joining either of two guided bird tours at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, May 9. The “Songbird Search,” enjoyed most by intermediate and experienced birders, runs from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. “Birds in the Wetlands,” which focuses on beginning birders and families, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Both programs begin at the Old School House on County Road 9. For more information about the refuge:http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Sherburne/

Thurs, May 28:  The CCC at Deer Flat: A Legacy of Federal Labor in the Treasure Valley,  Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, Idaho
Celebrate Deer Flat’s 100th anniversary by attending a lecture by Boise State University history professor Marc Fisk about this historic place.
For more information about the refuge:  http://www.fws.gov/deerflat/