Wisdom begins in wonder. - Socrates

June 2008 Get outdoors and explore! Summer is a great time to explore our blue planet! Turn off the TV and tune in to the outdoor world! Explore the coast or other living waters near you including lakes, rivers, or wetlands. The ocean may be out of sight, but it need not be out of mind. Take the time to celebrate your connection to our ocean and its incredible diversity of life, like this coral reef exploding with colorful fish.

  Three for me...

1. Celebrate World Ocean Day on June 8th! Take time on June 8th to celebrate the beauty and importance of our ocean with family and friends or on your own. By joining with people all over the world in celebration of World Ocean Day we can make a clear statement that no matter where we live we all share one world ocean, with our fate inextricably tied to the future health of our ocean.
   
   This year's World Ocean Day theme “helping our climate – helping our ocean” will draw attention to the many connections between our climate and our ocean and the impact climate change is having on coral reefs and other ocean life.
   
   More information about World Ocean Day, activities in your area, and fun celebration ideas are just a click away at the World Ocean Day website.
   
   
2. Enjoy the great outdoors! There's no better way to relax and to experience the wonders of nature than by immersing yourself in its sights and sounds. Wherever you live there are many ways to get outdoors and enjoy the natural world - take a trip to the beach, go for a walk or a hike, enjoy a picnic at the park, ride your bike, or take a stroll along a river, lake, or stream.
   
   Each of us is a part of the infinite web of life; while you enjoy the outdoors take a moment to think about your connections to the places you explore, and to absorb and enjoy their special qualities.
   
   
3. Discover your route to the sea! Each of us lives in a watershed that eventually connects us with the ocean through rivers, lakes, and streams. Take a minute to surf your watershed virtually or a day to do some real world exploration. You can use a map to trace the path from your home to the sea and explore the different communities, types of animals and plants, and habitats that are found along your path to the sea. You'll be fascinated to discover all the interesting plant and animal life around you and your connection to the ocean downstream.
   
   You can continue to explore and enjoy your watershed and preserve it for future generations by getting involved in the fun opportunities to protect it through the Adopt Your Watershed program and similar programs offered through your local environmental group, zoo, or aquarium.

  ...and three for the seas

1. Beautify your local area. Take a day this summer to beautify your local area by joining with friends and neighbors to participate in or organize a litter clean up around a local beach or waterway. Litter is not only unsightly; it can also pollute the ocean and harm the critters that call the ocean home. Whether you live near the sea or near a river, taking a day to clean up your local waterway makes for a cleaner environment for you and your favorite ocean critter! The International Coastal Cleanup is just a few months away so now is a good time to start rallying your team.
   
   
2. Take action globally by helping locally. Because the ocean connects us all we can truly act on a global scale by taking actions in our backyard. In honor of World Ocean Day this month, take a moment to contribute to organizations in your area that help protect the ocean, local rivers, lakes, streams, or watersheds. You can contribute by donating money or resources that these organizations need to run, or by volunteering your time and expertise to help with local a restoration, education or other project.
   
   
3. Be a responsible vacationer. You can make the world a better place when you travel. By starting your search for the perfect vacation spot close to home and enjoying your stay there in a green hotel you can conserve energy, water, and other resources, and protect natural areas.
   
   Wherever your vacation takes you, you can lighten your burden by educating yourself about your destination and its natural areas and leaving the places you visit in better condition than they were when you arrived. Contribute to the community you visit by letting wildlife enjoy their home in peace, picking up litter that you come across, taking advantage of opportunities to walk or bike instead of driving, and making a donation to a local wildlife conservation program.
   
   There are many other simple ways to green your vacation, even just remembering to turn off the lights, the AC, and water heater before you leave for vacation makes a huge difference!