Category Archives: National Forests

Activities, Adventures, Geocaching, Kayaking, National Forests, National Parks, Off Roading

National Get Outdoors Day – June 8, 2013

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

In celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, the U.S. Forest Service is offering a fee-free day Saturday, June 8.

Fee-free days are offered four times a year to encourage people to reconnect to the forest for some healthy, active outdoor fun. If you didn’t get out to the first free day this year (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), then this is your chance!

From the U.S. Forest Service website:

The pilot effort of National Get Outdoors Day was launched June 14, 2008, through a partnership between the Forest Service and the American Recreation Coalition. The partnership built on the success of More Kids in the Woods and other efforts to connect Americans – especially children – with nature and active lifestyles. Go Day, as it sometimes called, now includes federal, state and local agencies, key organizations and recreation businesses to create activities across the country.

Forest Service lands, which include 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, offer something for everyone, from the casual hiker to the thrill-seeking recreationist. There also are opportunities and programs for children, from Discover the Forest that helps kids learn what to do outside to becoming a Junior Forest Ranger that comes with special access to the online “JFR Clubhouse.”

If you can’t make it to the parks this weekend, then try to schedule some time during the next couple of free days: September 28th (National Public Lands Day) or November 9th through the 11th for Veterans Day Weekend.

You can read more about National Get Outdoors Day HERE.

National Forests, News

Protecting the Cleveland National Forest – San Diego’s Planned Encroachment

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

According to the Sand Diego Union Tribune, San Diego County has just released a Draft Environmental Impact Report regarding the Cleveland National Forest.

In 1993 the voters of San Diego County by a two-thirds vote endorsed and passed the Forest Conservation Initiative, which protected the forest from what the U-T called a “Death Sentence” of development.

The new Draft Environmental Impact Report seeks to replace the riparian and rangeland habitat with urban sprawl. According to the DEI, the plan’s SIGNIFICANT impact in the forest is “unavoidable” because the county must put housing in San Diego’s last remaining wilderness area. Continue reading →

Activities, Conservation, National Forests

Lassen National Forest Celebrating Wildflowers

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

With the spring bloom of wildflowers filling the forests with color, the Lassen National Forest will be hosting a “Celebrating Wildflowers” program during National Wildflower Week from May 20th through the 24.

“Celebrating Wildflowers” is a U.S. Forest Service program that promotes the “enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing on our national forests and grasslands,” and helps to educate the public about the virtues and values of native plants.

From the Lassen National Forest press release: Continue reading →

National Forests, News, Wildfire

Fire Restrictions in place EARLY in Sequoia National Forest

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

KSEE is reporting that the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument have already implemented early fire restrictions, starting back on May 1, 2013.

From the news report:

A very dry winter has led to high fire danger much earlier than in previous years. In response to the increasing potential for wildland fire starts, Sequoia and BLM fire officials will keep these restrictions in effect until further notice.

You can read the entire news report HERE.

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

U.S. Forest Service Keeping Its Logo!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

When the United States Department of Agriculture released its Visual Standards Guide back in January, it contained the ominous phrase ‘agency logos are being phased out and replaced with a standardized signature model to be adopted by all USDA agencies.’

This reminded me of the Borg’s ‘you will be assimilated’ phrase from Star Trek the Next Generation.  And, given that the USDA is the same department that oversees things like the homogenization of milk, it makes absolute sense that they’d want to make sure that their employees, vehicles, websites, uniforms, etc. would all be … ‘assimilated.’

But here’s the thing.  The U.S. FOREST Service is all about forests and forestry.  The USDA’s logo is described – by the USDA themselves – as “a graphic representation of the land — the foundation of all agriculture — and the Department’s initials. The symbol’s colors — dark green and dark blue — represent the essential elements of earth, air, and water. Together these elements comprise the symbol.”

Falling back on my Southern California roots and lingo: “Dude.  Really?“

Continue reading →