Two Events Scheduled for National Get Outdoors Day

Contact: Kathleen Diehl, 802-747-6709

RUTLAND, VT (June 1, 2009) – The Green Mountain National Forest is inviting everyone to get outdoors for National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 13. The National Forest is hosting free outdoor activities at Moosalamoo Campground and Hapgood Pond.

“We are really making an effort to help families make the most of getting outdoors,” said Green Mountain National Forest Supervisor Meg Mitchell, “We plan to help people learn about activities they may not be familiar with, such as camping and hiking. Many families may not know how to get started in outdoor activities, what to buy, or what is recommended. We hope to answer these types of questions for families.”

At Moosalamoo Campground in Goshen, beginning at 10 a.m.: activities include demonstrations about setting up tents, cooking over a campfire, and what types of stoves to use. There will be hikers there to talk about hiking shoes and take families on a hike. Families interested in establishing a Nature Club for their family and friends are encouraged to attend to get a toolkit with step-by-step instructions about setting it up.

At Hapgood Pond: free fishing day with fishing demonstrations and information about poles and lures. There will be demonstrations about camping and hiking there also beginning at 10:00 a.m. Families interested in establishing a Nature Club for their family and friends are encouraged to attend to get a toolkit with step-by-step instructions about setting it up.

Kids with families who would like to have a low-cost, active, memory-making summer vacation should plan to attend one of these events. Studies have shown that an outdoor active family is healthier and happier. On the National Forest there are 900 miles of trails, many picnic areas, places to camp, and many places to fish. Vermont State Parks, since 1924, also have a range of outdoor activities. Information about all these activities, both on and off the National Forest, will be available.

National Get Outdoors Day is an outgrowth of the Get Outdoors USA! Campaign, which encourages Americans, especially our youth, to seek out healthy, active outdoor lives and embrace our parks, forests, refuges and other public land and waters. They belong to families so why not use them!

For more information, please call Kathleen Diehl, 802-747-6709.

Directions to Moosalamoo: This campground is between Routes 125 and 73 on Forest Road 32.

Directions to Hapgood Pond: From any direction, find Peru on the Vermont State Map. At Peru, find Hapgood Pond Road.

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