Organized by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day is America’s largest annual single-day trails and outdoor celebration. The 22nd Annual National Trails Day is set to kick off this year on Saturday, June 7. National Trails Day 2014 is part of Great Outdoors Month, a month-long effort in June to get Americans outside. Great Outdoors Month celebrates all that is great about America’s abundant outdoor recreation resources and highlights Americans’ passion for the outdoors. It also encourages volunteerism and conservation efforts in our National Parks across the United States.
Hundreds of thousands of people from every state will participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities and trail stewardship projects at more than 2,000 nationally sanctioned events across the country. National Trails Day events are hosted by local and statewide trail clubs, city, state, and federal public agencies, and community groups. Check out www.AmericanHiking.org/ntd-events to participate in one of the fun trail events near you on June 7!
Southwest supports conservation efforts across the country. Just last month, Southwest sponsored National Geographic’s annual BioBlitz—an event we have supported for more than five years—that promotes the biodiversity of our national parks in the decade leading up to the U.S. National Park Service centennial in 2016. This year’s 24-hour event was held at the Golden Gate National Park. It was a great way for volunteers to get outside work together to identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible.
What are some ways that you are going to enjoy the outdoors and your national parks? Do you have ideas about how to preserve your outdoor areas and keep them healthy? Let us know by commenting below.