Governor Martin O’Malley proclaimed June 2008 Great Outdoors Month, encouraging Maryland residents and visitors to spend time enjoying the State’s diverse and bountiful outdoor recreation opportunities.
Whether in the mountains of Western Maryland, near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic Ocean, or places in between, I hope citizens and visitors will take advantage of warm June weather by enjoying one of the countless outdoor activities that abound across our State,” said Governor O’Malley. “Spending a morning, afternoon, or weekend outdoors fishing, hiking, biking, boating, or bird watching can strengthen our personal health and well being, as well as relationships with family and friends.”
Governor O’Malley also talked about the personal responsibility that each Marylander shares in passing along an appreciation for our environment to the next generation.
“Every Marylander has a role in continuing our legacy of caring for our natural resources,” added the Governor. “Sharing a favorite outdoor activity with a young person helps them connect with our natural world and can inspire a lifelong path of personal development and stewardship.”
To ensure that all Maryland children have an opportunity to experience and connect with nature, Governor O’Malley recently signed an Executive Order establishing the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature. This coalition of state, local, private and non-profit partners is charged with promoting the well-being of youth by accelerating environmental learning, connecting communities to parks and public lands and expanding opportunities for structured and unstructured outdoor time in nature for both play and learning.
On June 7, Maryland will also celebrate National Trails Day during which hundreds of organizations and parks from across the nation will participate in events that celebrate the United States’ superb network of outdoor trails.
“Maryland’s public lands offer more than a thousand miles of trails through forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other natural areas,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “From hiking and horseback riding to cycling and paddling, our State’s public lands offer nearby, affordable and safe opportunities for everyone to enjoy time outdoors.”
For a full listing of trails visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/.
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