Since we know that simply figuring out what to do “out there,” can sometimes be a challenge, check out these 9 ideas from wildlife on easy and fun ways to spend time outdoors in nature this month:

1. Go for a swim.

Photo by MindLuge / Flickr

2. Play catch.

Photo by Ilona Tongel. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry.

3. Climb a tree.

Photo by Steve Perry. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry

4. Take a walk with a friend.

Photo by Jeanette Bond. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry

5. Go fishing.

Photo by Paul Brooke. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry.

6. Observe local wildlife.

Photo by Brian Hansen. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry.

7. Roll around in the dirt.

Photo by Megan and Tripp McCoy. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry.

8. Practice yoga.

Photo by Patricia Yeager. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry.

9. Have a picnic!

Photo by Barbara Lauver. National Wildlife Photo Contest donated entry.

Give Us Proof You Go Outside!

How are you getting outdoors in nature this month? Snap a pic and share it at www.facebook.com/nationalwildlife OR email your photos to alerts@nwf.org and we’ll share them for you.

June is Great Outdoors Month, which means that if there was ever a time to be encouraged to spend more time outdoors in nature, it’s now.

Check out this video on how to celebrate the great outdoors all month long!

Click here to view the embedded video.

From walking and wildlife watching to canoeing, picnicking or swimming, there are dozens of easy and fun activities you can do to spend time outdoors all month long on your own, with family or with friends.

Give Us Proof You Go Outside!

How are you getting outdoors in nature this month? Snap a pic and share it at www.facebook.com/nationalwildlife OR email your photos to alerts@nwf.org and we’ll share them for you.

Organized by 350.org, the day of action aims to unite the efforts of climate action advocates across the globe to increase public awareness on the need for meaningful political change to address global warming.

Specifically, participants in this weekend's actions will be working to heighten attention on the need for a strong international climate treaty to reach "350 parts per million"–the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere that scientists and climate experts say is a safe limit for humanity. As 350.org explains further:

"Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt."

Over the past few weeks, National Wildlife Federation supporters have been prepping for their engagement with the international day of action too.

NWF's Forest Justice campaign has partnered with 350.org to organize film screenings on dozens of campuses across the country of Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai — a film to help us raise awareness about the devastating effects of deforestation and climate change on our world.

In addition to the film screenings, NWF supporters will also be joining actions in cities such as Honolulu and Seattle.

How You Can Be Part of the Action!

As mentioned, hundreds of actions will be taking place in cities across America this week, and it's not too late for you to join in!

1. To find out about actions happening near you visit www.350.org/map

2. Even if you can't come out to one of the events this weekend you can still add your voice to the millions calling for bold action to confront global warming today.

By Dominique Burgunder-Johnson, National Wildlife Federation

However, this growing interest in oil shale development is two steps back in the wrong direction.

The process of extracting, heating and processing the shale rock that produces oil intensifies the burden on the West’s already strained water resources, places well over 2 million acres of our wildlands at stake, and threatens vital habitat for wildlife such as mule deer, black bears and the bald eagle.

Although America’s need for energy is undeniable, we need to decide if our western lands should continue to serve a tired, old, dirty energy industry.

That’s why earlier this year, the U.S. Interior Secretary imposed a temporary halt on further leasing of public lands to companies looking to extract oil shale and he’s now asking for public input on whether the federal oil shale program should proceed.

The current regulations for oil shale development do not have anywhere near the appropriate environmental or financial standards needed to protect U.S. taxpayers, our climate, the precious water in the Rockies or the millions of acres of wildlife habitat that provide some of the best opportunities for outdoor recreation out west.

So, please join me today in urging the U.S. Interior Secretary to focus on promoting cleaner sources of domestic energy that will help to protect wildlife and our communities.

Passing with bipartisan support, the No Child Left Inside Act is designed to provide the funding and resources necessary to help teachers bring hands-on environmental education back to our nation’s schools.

With environmental and energy issues standing as two of the top concerns for our children’s generation, it’s become more important than ever to educate America’s future leaders on conservation issues and help a “plugged-in generation” re-connect with nature.

Numerous studies show–and anyone recalling their childhood for that matter knows–there are so many benefits for kids who spend more time outdoors. While reduced anxiety, improved concentration and better physical health are just a few of the personal benefits, developing a strong sense of connection to nature at a young age will also help to make today’s kids tomorrow’s leading conservationists.

Following the bill’s strong bipartisan support in the House, we’ll need your help to keep the momentum going to ensure similar legislation passes in both chambers during next year’s Congress.

Please find out how your representative voted on this important bill for environmental education, and hold them accountable for their vote.

And thanks again to the thousands of parents and supporters of this bill for helping reach this huge victory!

This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will host a hearing featuring the proposed rollbacks for the Endangered Species Act.

So, please take just a minute this week to contact your Members of Congress to make sure they are aware of the public outcry against the attack on America’s most important conservation law.

Thanks so much for speaking up for imperiled wildlife!

Drilling for oil and natural gas, and mining for coal, has already taken a dramatic toll on our country’s public lands, wildlife habitat and natural resources.

Now Congress is considering a proposal to develop a new dangerous energy source–oil shale–for millions of acres of America’s public lands.

Some technologies for oil shale production can generate up to five times as much CO2 as conventional gasoline, which means it would continue to fuel global warming–the already single greatest threat to wildlife.

As if driving up global warming pollution weren’t enough of a calamity for wildlife and the natural resources we all depend on, here’s what else is at stake with increased oil shale production:

• OUR WATER: Oil shale production will require upwards of 300 million gallons of water a day. This is scarce water we already need for drinking, agriculture, livestock and wildlife.
• OUR WILDLIFE: Oil shale development would put at risk at least two million acres of wildlife habitat and continue to raise the harmful impacts of global warming pollution for wildlife and their habitats.
• OUR WAY OF LIFE: Preserving America’s public lands is an important part of our country’s conservation tradition. Oil shale development threatens to dramatically change the face of some of our most treasured places.

It’s quite disappointing to see Congress considering a move that would be such a backward direction for the real energy solutions we need and deserve.

The current ban on commerical oil shale development expires on September 30. In the lead up to this date, please ask your Members of Congress to extend the ban on developing this dangerous source of fuel.

Whether it’s oil shale or offshore drilling, our country’s leadership must stop chasing the last barrel of oil and start pursuing our clean energy future.

The new package of energy legislation under consideration has come together as a product of the efforts of some in Congress who favor a proposal they call “all of the above”–all drilling, everywhere, all the time. If these efforts progress, Big Oil’s scheme would drill the entire U.S. coastline and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

While Big Oil has been spending millions of dollars on public relations campaigns this summer to try and convince Americans that increased and expanded domestic drilling will lower gas prices, the truth is quite simple–increased drilling will have little to NO impact on reducing family fuel costs.

Please remember that even Bush’s own Energy Department admits drilling here and drilling now will not save us any money today, tomorrow or in the near future.

Furthermore, drilling “at home” does nothing to secure domestic energy sources. With only 3 percent of the world’s oil, the United States could drill every national park, wildlife refuge and coastline, and still be importing 60 percent of the oil we use.

Getting our country’s leadership to put America on the path toward a clean energy future is the ONLY answer to solve America’s economic, environmental and energy crisis.

Federal legislation that promotes clean, alternative energy and reduces global warming pollution will reduce our oil imports four times more than drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the Rocky Mountain states, combined.

The clean energy solutions that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels are the same technologies that will also solve global warming, clean the air and help protect America’s natural resources for our children’s future.

In the coming weeks, please ensure that you and all your friends send messages into your Members of Congress, urging them to leave the failed energy polices of the past behind and push America’s energy policy in a bold new direction.

This week, the House is scheduled to vote on this important bill, which will strengthen and expand environmental education in our nation’s schools.

Please take just a few minutes to call your representative, and ask them to vote ‘YES’ to the No Child Left Inside Act.

In the next 30 years, today’s children will inherit a world of environmental challenges. Yet, our schools are being pushed to cut environmental field trips and other outdoor activities.

To secure our children’s future we need to prepare them to understand and inspire them to preserve our natural world.

Please speak up to ensure your representative does their part to help reconnect our kids to nature.

The area also contains the wetlands where Theodore Roosevelt famously refused to shoot a Louisiana Black Bear that had been tied to a tree–an action that sparked the creation of the teddy bear.

For almost 70 years, sportsmen and residents in Louisiana and Mississippi have fought the Army Corps of Engineers’ project for the threats it posed to wildlife refuges and national forests. Their efforts were also supported by more than 45,000 National Wildlife Federation activists who sent in public comments to the Environmental Protection Agency protesting the project’s efforts.

In an age of global warming, these wetlands need to be protected now more then ever.

Mississippi’s wetlands not only maintain a healthy population of wildlife in the area and nationally, but also protect residents from the increased flooding and harsh weather that comes with global warming.

The Yazoo project, sometimes called the “monster that won’t die,” is officially dead. Thanks to all of you who helped us achieve this historic victory.

Let’s keep up the fight to protect wildlife!