Celebrate Get Outdoors Day in Bedford on June 21
Release Date: Jun 3, 2014
Contact(s): Teena Ligman, 812-275-5987, Judi Perez, 812-275-5987
A day of outdoor fun in Murray Forest Park
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Bedford, IN – Outdoor games, crafts, archery, horseback riding, demonstrations, and a free lunch for children are slated for Murray Forest Park on Saturday, June 21 to celebrate Get Outdoors Day.
Several local organizations have teamed up to offer a fun day for southern Indiana families to experience a variety of outdoor activities. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. and concludes at 3:00 p.m. During that time, there will be bird hikes, dog demonstrations, pony rides, and games to teach kids about butterflies, gardening, and bee pollination.
Children can learn to shoot a bow and a BB gun; play old fashion pioneer games, do a hula-hoop, and learn new games to play outdoors. There will be a detective game and a bounce house to play in and many other stations.
The first 300 children will receive a backpack with a jump rope, a bug box and go home with information and fun activities to do at home. All children should be accompanied by an adult and shoes with a heel are recommended for riding the ponies.
Bring your family, friends and lawn chairs to enjoy a beautiful summer’s day and “Get Outdoors” at Murray Forest Park, just off SR 58 behind Stalker School in Bedford. For more information call the Hoosier National Forest office at 812-275-5987 or the Bedford Park Department at 275-5692.
Sidebar Story:
A variety of people in Bedford were asked what they liked to do outdoors. Some of these activities will be featured at the June 21st Get Outdoor Day!
- Susan Gales, Vice President, Bedford Federal Savings Bank: "Our family loves walking on the new Milwaukee Trail – the scenery and serenity are second to none!"
- Chris Zimmer, Hoosier NF Acting Forest Supervisor: "Love kayaking, picnicking on lakes in summer, autumn and hiking Hoosier NF trails in spring, fall & winter."
- Eleanor Himebaugh, Retired news writer: "Walking outdoors, whether it be in the woods at Spring Mill, the streets of my neighborhood or an historic neighborhood, or the sands of a warm beach, that's my favorite thing to do outdoors."
- Rowena Cross -Najafi, Lawrence County Museum President: "I like walking on trails in historic areas. The combination of nature with manmade structures like old barns and houses keeps me interested."
- Janet Eger, IDNR District Forester: "Over the years, I've learned to slow down a bit and look more closely at the things around me - plants, birds, insects, etc. It's truly amazing the colors, shapes, and varieties Nature has to offer if we'll only take the time to look."
- Jill Vance, Monroe Lake Interpretive Naturalist: "I love to collect wild edible plants and figure out new ways to 'sneak' them into recipes."
- Mike Horn, Walmart Pharmacist: "My first love in the outdoors is backpacking/camping in remote areas. A close second is fly fishing from my kayak."
- Shawna Girgis, Bedford Mayor: "Being outside early in the morning is a great way to start my day. There is something very special about walking or jogging outside in the fresh air when the birds are just beginning to sing and hardly anyone is traveling the roads. It is often the only time I have alone all day and creates much needed time and space for peace before the day begins."
- Debbie and Paul Patton: "Paul and I like to bike. With the development of the new Milwaukee Trail in Bedford, people will have better, local opportunities to hike, bike & run. We have been donating many hours toward its completion and hope to have Phase #1 done by the end of this summer (6 miles). Anyone wishing to help can contact us at Friends of Milwaukee Trail Facebook page. This will be an awesome addition to our community!"
- Pat Hutchison, Twelve Months of Christmas: “I love sitting on my porch swing, reading or playing electronic games. Especially in the rain!”
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The U.S. Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a mission of sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Forest Service’s Eastern Region includes twenty states in the Midwest and East, stretching from Maine, to Maryland, to Missouri, to Minnesota. There are 17 national forests and one national tallgrass prairie in the Eastern Region. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/R9.
The U.S. Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (toll-free customer service), (800) 877-8339 (TDD), or (800) 845-6136 (TDD in Spanish).