President Joe Biden yesterday issued the 25th consecutive presidential proclamation for Great Outdoors Month, taking place through June.
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), along with federal, state, private and nonprofit partners across the country, is celebrating the national recognition of outdoor recreation on America’s treasured lands and waters. Great Outdoors Month began as Great Outdoors Week under President Clinton and has been proclaimed by every president since 1998, and unanimously declared by the Senate each year since 2017.
During his proclamation, President Biden said, “As part of my administration’s efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion, we are committed to ensuring that everyone can access and enjoy America’s great outdoors. Outreach efforts — including the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program — expand trails, conserve rivers and restore green space so that more people can benefit.”
On May 26, led by Senators Steve Daines and Gary Peters, the Senate unanimously passed its sixth consecutive resolution, saying, “regular outdoor recreation is associated with economic growth, positive health outcomes and better quality of life,” and “it is imperative that the United States ensure that access to outdoor recreation is inclusive, equitable and available to all its people for generations to come.”
“As a fifth generation Montanan and avid sportsman, I’m glad to designate June 2022 as ‘Great Outdoors Month’,” said Sen. Daines. “From hunting, to fly-fishing, to backpacking, exploring the great outdoors is part of our Montana way of life. I encourage folks to get outside and experience everything our national parks and public lands have to offer.”
“We’re thrilled that President Biden and the Senate have once again recognized June as Great Outdoors Month,” said Jessica Turner, president of ORR. “As the end of spring and the beginning of summer with school out, summer vacations starting and the outdoors beckoning – June is an incredible time to get outdoors and enjoy everything our public lands and waters have to offer. And this year, by working with Together Outdoors, we can take major strides towards ensuring all Americans have positive, welcoming experiences in their great outdoors.”
