Venture outside with ‘Becoming an Outdoor Family’

Camping weekend has something for everyone to love

WATERBURY – Make a date with your family and book now for the 12^th annual “Becoming an Outdoor Family” weekend, May 29-31, at Stillwater State Park, hosted by

the Departments of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Fish and Wildlife and the University of Vermont Extension.

At $165 for the weekend and chock full of everything you ever wanted to do outside, the event is the perfect kickoff for a summer of affordable outdoor fun at any of the 52 state parks around Vermont.

Whether you’re new to camping or experienced in outdoor adventures, Becoming an Outdoor Family offers a myriad of workshops to expand your nature-loving repertoire and introduce your family to new outdoor adventures.

There’s mountain biking, photography, canoeing, shooting, basketry, nature writing, archery, fishing, hiking, a Dutch oven cooking class and much more—all taught and supervised by outdoor professionals. Expert instructors begin each class with the basics, providing hands-on experience and encouraging participants to ask questions.

“Becoming an Outdoor Family is a popular event that brings families together to learn outdoor skills, share common interests and have fun outside – away from the busy-ness of every day life,” said Jason Gibbs, commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation. “Becoming an outdoor family is a great way to make the most of family time together.”

Stillwater State Park is located on Groton Lake in 28,000-acre Groton State Forest. It has 17 lean-to sites, and 62 tent/trailer sites. There are some excellent sites and lean-tos on the shores of the lake where you can boat right up to your campsite. Stillwater also has a boat launch and a beach, and just down the road is the Forest Nature Center. Close to the campground is the beginning of many of the 22 miles of hiking trails that meander through Groton State Forest.

For more information, contact Gail Makuch (gail.makuch@uvm.edu) or Lisa Muzzey (lisa.muzzey@uvm.edu), 802-257-7967 or 1-800-278-5480 (toll-free within Vermont). Or, online at: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmext/programs/4h/youth/outdoor.php.