Today is National Get Outdoors Day, and across the country special programs and deals entice citizens to step away from their screens and do a little interfacing with Mother Nature.

The first GO Day was set up nine years ago, its stated goals being to reach first-time visitors to public lands and reconnect youth to the great outdoors. With the weather warming, the days lengthening and school out (or nearly so), it’s the perfect time to encourage such pursuits. Here in the Pacific Northwest, day-use fees will be waived at state parks, wilderness trailheads, picnic areas and visitor centers. That includes parking and boat launch fees, although overnight camping fees and cabin rentals still apply.

GO Day in Oregon and Washington also coincides with the states’ free fishing weekend, when anglers can wet a line without a fishing license. This gives residents and visitors plenty of incentive to get out and explore the beaches, rivers, lakes, forests, mountains and deserts of the state parks, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands found in every corner of the states.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and that organization has plans for special events throughout the year. There are 127 national parks in the system (and a total of 411 areas including monuments, battlefields, lake- and seashores, recreation and scenic areas, historic parks and sites and military parks), all of which charge entrance fees ranging from $3 to $30. In 2016 the Service offers 16 days where those fees are waived, encouraging those who’ve never explored a national park to come have a look. Free days still to come include Aug. 25–28 (National Park Service birthday), Sept. 24 (National Public Lands Day) and Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day). The fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees and transportation entrance fees.

There are other discounted passes for those wishing to explore the national parks, which you can read more about here. Some of these include free passes to all active duty military personnel and their dependents, all fourth-grade students (under the Every Kid in a Park program) and citizens with a permanent disability. I’m going to encourage my husband to apply for a lifetime Senior pass ($10 plus a $10 processing fee — what a deal!), and anyone can get an annual pass for $80.

To find out what’s available in your area, just search Get Outdoors Day and your state’s name. Take advantage of these great opportunities to visit our scenic public lands, and get out there!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor