GO Day is designed to attract new, diverse communities to outdoor activities and motivate kids to explore their national forests and other public lands. Dozens of events on national forests and grasslands will feature opportunities including camping, rock wall climbing, kayaking, biking and archery.
“National Get Outdoors Day provides an opportunity for kids of all ages to explore and enjoy their national forests and grasslands,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “This is an open invitation for some healthy fun. Once you’ve experienced the forest, we think you’ll keep coming back.”
Free local recreational and educational activities will be offered nationwide. Many events are designed to better engage urban and multicultural youth and attract first-time visitors to public lands.
June is Great Outdoors Month and President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative seeks to connect people to the outdoors and creates partnerships between the federal government and American communities on conservation issues. The Let’s Move! Outside campaign launched by first lady Michelle Obama strives to offset childhood obesity through outdoor activities and healthier lifestyles.
In recognition of national Get Outdoors Day all day-use fees will be waived at Cherokee National Forest recreation fee sites on Saturday, June 9, including the Ocoee Whitewater Center, developed swim areas, picnic sites, boat launches, and shooting ranges. In addition, overnight fees at campgrounds in the Tellico and North River corridors (Dam Creek, Birch Branch, Davis Branch, Rough Ridge, North River, Spivey Cove, Holder Cove, Big Oak Cove and Stateline) will also be waived for one night — June 9.
The Cherokee National Forest covers 650,000 acres in 10 East Tennessee counties from Chattanooga to Bristol. The CNF is organized into four ranger districts that border Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the north and south. The CNF is the largest single tract of public land in the State. Approximately 2.1 million people visited the CNF last year to participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, boating, swimming, camping, hunting, fishing and picnicking.
