Celebrating Great Outdoors Month
June 15, 2022
On Thursday, May 26, Senate Resolution 654, a resolution designating June 2022 as "Great Outdoors Month," was submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. The Senate unanimously passed this resolution which associates "regular outdoor recreation with economic growth, positive health outcomes, and better quality of life" and further states that "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."
Great Outdoors Month had its beginning as Great Outdoors Week under President Bill Clinton and has been proclaimed by every U.S. President since 1998 and unanimously declared by the Senate each year since 2017. This year's resolution was co-sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), who serves on the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, and Gary Peters (D-MI).
"From hunting and fly-fishing to backpacking and biking, exploring the great outdoors is part of our Montana way of life," Daines said. "I'm always looking for ways to encourage folks to get outside and experience everything our national parks and public lands have to offer."
During this month-long celebration of the outdoors, everyone is encouraged to embrace the outdoor spirit and "get outside." Whether to embark on a hike, go camping, or visit a National Park, June invites us all to explore nature.
As part of the celebration, Outdoor Stewardship Week is commemorated this week, June 13-17. Area residents are urged to do their part by walking along the highways to pick up garbage, plucking some trash from a nearby waterway, or planting pollinating flowers in a backyard garden. These are just a few examples of activities a person can perform as a good steward of the earth. Several organizations are supporting these stewardship efforts with a social media campaign that invites people to share their experiences with the hashtag #ServeOutdoors.
On Saturday, June 11, Havre Trails sponsored a hike up Centennial Mountain on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. The 4.6 mile round trip hike took place on a two-track road that switchbacks up the mountain. Under the leadership of Sammie Chagnon, hikers met in the HRDC parking lot at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and caravanned from Havre out to the trail head. The approximately three-hour hike was approved by the Chippewa Cree Tribal Council/Natural Resources Department who issued a recreation permit for the event.
According to Lindsey Brandt-Bennett with Havre Trails, the next hike will occur on Sunday, June 26, with a very similar schedule. This hike will be from Ranger Creek to Wolf Creek on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. Interested hikers can check the Havre Area Events Calendar or the Havre Trails Facebook page for details and to register.
More locally, Chinook Rod and Gun Club Board Member Joe Kennedy, reported that because area residents are immersed in "doing their own thing," the Club doesn't typically plan events for summertime. However, they encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoors.
Furthermore, this Father's Day weekend, June 18-19, has been designated as a free fishing weekend. According to Montana Code Annotated 87-2-311, "a person may fish for any fish within this state without obtaining a fishing license pursuant to this part as long as the person does so in accordance with any other law or regulation of the department in effect on that weekend." Last week's issue of the Blaine County Journal-News-Opinion carried a story featuring an angler's fishing possibilities.
In fact, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Department offers multiple ideas for outdoor recreation-from biking to shooting sports. Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to explore these options by visiting the FWP activities page (fwp.mt.gov/activities).