It's National Get Outdoors Day: What are you doing here?

Turn off the television. Say whoa to the Wii. Step outside for an hour or two!

Today is National Get Outdoors Day (yes, they have a day for everything). It's a day to remind ourselves to get out of our sendentary ways and enjoy the greatness of nature.

Still on your computer reading? Here's another reason to get off.

According to Joanne Ditmer of the Denver Post:

American youngsters spend up to six hours a day watching TV or movies, on
the Internet and playing video games, and a scant 30 minutes a week of
unregulated time outdoors. They should have 60 minutes of physical activity a
day. Our kids are nature-deprived. When they are outdoors, they're more apt to
be involved in some team competition, not just becoming acquainted with flora
and fauna, or enjoying the peace brought by special places.

...With that lack of outdoor activity, children have become more overweight. For the first time in our nation's history, kids' current life expectancy is 3 to 5 percent less than that of their parents. We can't lose a generation to "house arrest." And if our children are blind to the values of our irreplaceable natural lands, who will be the stewards of our future?

So spend a few hours or two outdoors today getting back to nature. Ride a bike, hike a trail, do something. Today, we're likely going to be taking a hike through our neighborhood park, hitting up the farmers market, possibly swimming at the neighborhood pool and just taking advantage of the pleasant 80-degree, sunny forecast.

If you need additional ideas or inspiration, 54 national and state parks and recreational areas will have activities associated with National Get Outoors Day today. Find the complete list of locations at http://www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org/locations. And then get off the computer.