June is Great Outdoors Month

Descending Mount Washington on the Jewell Trail

  "NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2015 as Great Outdoors Month." It is expected that the governors in all fifty states will make a similar proclamation, reaffirming the value and benefits of the natural environment. New Hampshire's governor Maggie Hassan proclaimed Great Outdoors Month as a time to "celebrate New Hampshire's natural beauty and renew our commitment to protecting our environment and natural resources for future generations."

What started as Great Outdoors Week in 1998, the now month long celebration is a time to acknowledge and appreciate the beauty and opportunities of the outdoors which exist for every person to enjoy. And although there are certainly many opportunities to explore and appreciate our state and national parks which have been permanently conserved in order for wildlife to thrive and for people to recreate, everyone can also appreciate the "great outdoors" simply by stepping outside their door and glancing up at the night-time sky; taking a walk around the block in the mist following a spring rain; or just stopping to take a closer look at the ordinary and appreciate the often overlooked beauty right next to our feet.

Nature is resilient growing around rocks and is not afraid to show its colors

Pollinators make use of nectar from dandelions

Nature not only tolerates, but thrives under diversity

Next time you are outside, remember to pause and take a closer look, you might be surprised at what you see.

If I hadn't looked closer I wouldn't have seen this frog staring back at me.

Or noticed that what looked like just a twig, was actually a very cool-looking dragonfly.

It's wonderful to have a national "Great Outdoors Month", just multiply that times twelve and have a  great outdoors year!