June 2019: Great Outdoors Month

WHEREAS, Michigan is blessed with outstanding opportunities to Escape the Indoors by participating in safe and healthy fun in our great outdoors in the company of family and friends; and,

 

WHEREAS, our kids today spend an average of 10 hours a day in front of a screen, and outdoor activity is touted by many leading health organizations as a remedy for the adverse effects caused by our increasing inactivity; and,

 

WHEREAS, diverse Great Outdoors Month® events, including American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®, National Get Outdoors Day, the Great Outdoors Day of Service, the Great American Campout®, Kids to Parks™ Day, Bike Travel Weekend, and more, help introduce citizens of all ages to healthy fun outdoors events; and,

 

WHEREAS, other events during Great Outdoors Month®, such as National Fishing and Boating Week, National Marina Day, and more, provide all of us, especially our children, with exciting opportunities for recreation and boating on the great waters of our state; and,

 

WHEREAS, the economic impact of outdoor recreation is both large and growing nationally, producing $734 billion in gross output and accounts for 2.2% of GDP according to the federal government. In Michigan, outdoor recreation is responsible for $26.6 billion in consumer spending and directly supports some 232,000 jobs according to the Outdoor Industry Association; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan’s state and national park units and national forests attract millions of visitors each year and reflect every facet of our state’s rich natural and cultural history; and,

 

WHEREAS, enjoyment of our great outdoors allows us to celebrate the commitment of our state to conserve and protect our air, water, wildlife, and lands and contribute to conservation efforts through various licenses, taxes, and fees; and,

 

WHEREAS, Great Outdoors Month® allows us to celebrate the partnership of federal, state, and local agencies, and the recreation and tourism industries, and recreationists, which make outdoor recreation opportunities plentiful and add new and needed features, such as improved trails through the Recreational Trails Program, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 2019 Great Outdoors Month in Michigan and urge all citizens and visitors from other states and countries to Escape the Indoors by exploring, enjoying, protecting and conserving Michigan’s Great Outdoors.