These Oregon Parks Are Calling My Name (National Park and Recreation Month)

When my family moved from Oregon to Texas in late 2007, one of the things I didn’t consider was how much our summers would change.

Yes, I knew it would be hot, but I did not anticipate our difficulty in acclimating to the high temperatures and humidity. Our long summer days of playing outside in Oregon turned to only quick bursts of activity outside here in Texas, and we usually played in the water instead of at the park.

Well, our family is now preparing for a move back to our hometown in Oregon, and summer days at the park are one of the things I’m looking forward to the most!

Our hometown parks in Oregon are an amazing mix of recreation and relaxation. There are long walking and hiking trails, soccer and softball fields, tennis courts, and play equipment. There is something for all of my kids to do! And with the natural beauty and wildlife all around, there is lots to explore. As soon as we move back, we have big plans to be active and outside for as many dry, daylight hours as we can.

Scenes from our favorite Oregon hometown parks: Turner Creek Park & Rood Bridge Park

Coinciding with our building excitement to get back to the great outdoors, July is National Park and Recreation Month. The 2012 theme of “Get Wild” encourages families to play outside and enjoy all of the benefits that local parks have to offer. Such benefits include various programs developed to inspire healthy, active lifestyles along with activities geared towards helping kids learn to appreciate nature and the environment in their local communities.

About the National Recreation and Park Association:

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

Learn more at the National Recreation and Park Association Facebook Page.

In terms of celebrating July as National Park and Recreation Month, the National Recreation and Park website has a collection of helpful resources, including:

• a calendar of local park events
• an opportunity to take the Get Wild pledge
• instructions on how to participate in the awesome Get Wild Geocaching contest

I admit, there are plenty of nice parks here in the Houston area. We’ve enjoyed several of them during cooler times of the year and know that they are an asset to our community. But I just can’t help longing for summer days outside again, and I get goosebumps thinking about the fun we’ll have once we’re back in Oregon.

I hope you’ll take whatever chance you have this summer to get outside and “Get Wild” in your own local parks!

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of National Recreation and Park Association and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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