Florida State Parks Encourage Family, Friends and Outdoor Fun, Announces Free Admission to All Parks on July 13
-Nature-based activities highlighted during the month of July-
To celebrate July as Recreation and Parks Month, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Recreation & Parks is
encouraging family-friendly, outdoor recreation with the launch of its Family.
Friends. Fun. campaign to reconnect children and families with nature. Since 1985,
the National Recreation and Park Association has designated July as Recreation and
Parks Month. To celebrate this designation, Florida is waiving admission to all state
parks on July 13.
"Recreation and Parks Month is an excellent time for family
and friends to visit a state park and experience …the Real Florida
SM," said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole, who himself started his career as
a marine biologist working in one of Florida's state parks. "State parks provide a
multitude of activities that promote mental and physical well being."
The Family. Friends. Fun. campaign is hosting events
in state parks that appeal to individuals and families of all ages and interests this
July during Recreation and Parks Month. On Sunday, July 13, entry into all 161 state
parks will be free, providing an opportunity for everyone to head outdoors and experience
Florida State Parks.
The National Park Service and the National Association of
State Park Directors encourage the nation's state park systems to endorse the national
initiative to connect children and nature, and influence the decline of nature-deficit
disorder. The ongoing movement to promote outdoor activity began with Richard Louv's book,
The Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
which highlighted the benefits of outdoor recreation. Studies show that young people
between the ages eight and 18 average almost seven hours per day playing indoors on
computers, video games and watching television, resulting in increased cases of obesity,
Attention Deficit Disorder and depression.
"Without the encouragement of parents and friends, children
are less likely to play outdoors and gain exposure to natural resources and nature-based
recreation," said Florida State Parks Director Mike Bullock. "Establishing a healthy
relationship with nature during childhood is a valuable habit that will benefit
individuals and society as a whole for years."