June is Great Outdoors Month NWF Invites Families & Kids to Great American Family Backyard Campout

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WIN a Trip to NY or L.A., Details below post

In May, MBE reviewed the children's animated feature Sid the Science Kid Backyard Campout from PBS.  Now family friendly backyard campouts are front and center again because June is Great Outdoors Month by Presidential proclamation. So what better time than now to actually show our kids by example why it’s called the Great Outdoors. Throughout the coming days there will be all kinds of opportunities that reintroduce children across the U.S. to getting outside for some fresh air, old-fashioned fun and quality family time.

2 of my Triplets frolic in a Highland Tepee Tent in our Yard

An ideal place to start is by getting your family to participate in the 8th Annual Great American Backyard Campout on June 23. Fundraising is optional but National Wildlife Federation is encouraging backyard campers everywhere to help raise funds to support programs that make it possible for America’s kids to switch screen time with green time.

Now that school is out for much of the nation, kids are already spending too much time sitting indoors with their  electronic devices. The program's main focal point is to change all that by helping parents to foster a healthy outdoor lifestyle that young and old can enjoy together.
 

Image from NWF

Free registration on NWF Campout Website gives access to

• Campfire Recipes
• Nocturnal Wildlife Guides
• Campfire Songs
• Camping Games
• Nature Activities
• Lots More Fun

Image from NWF

NWF’s report The Dirt on Dirt: How Getting Dirty Outdoors Benefits Kids seems to indicate that outdoor time can reduce childhood obesity while also increasing overall health quality in our kids. Fresh air also is known to enhance creativity and attention spans, decrease aggression, and boost classroom performance.  

Best of all, a night outside will give kids the chance to experience first-hand why it’s called the GREAT outdoors.

Image from NWF

Giveaway

Campers who register on NWF’s web site will be entered in the sweepstakes for a chance to go behind-the-scenes with celebrity naturalist David Mizejewski and some of his amazing wildlife friends. One lucky camper and a guest wins a trip to an upcoming NWF TV appearance in New York or Los Angeles.  Prize includes round trip airfare for two (2) from the contiguous United States or the District of Columbia, one (1) night hotel accommodation, one (1) meal for winner and guest with David and ground transportation to and from the airport. The potential winner will be selected through a random drawing on Monday, June 25, 2012, from all eligible entries received by Sponsor.

National Wildlife Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. Campout, which is made possible by national sponsors REI and the Coleman Company, is a signature event of NWF’s Be Out There movement whose goal is to engage 10 million new kids in outdoor play over the next three years. The Great American Backyard Campout lets kids explore a whole other world right in their own backyard at a local camp ground, or at a larger community camping event. 

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