Our guest blogger today is Martha Nudel of the Department of Interior's National  Wildlife Refuge System.  

Want to try something wild this summer? You don’t have to go far or spend a bundle.  National wildlife refuges, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are teeming with out-of-the-ordinary seasonal events.   Here is a sampling: 

• As bird watching grows in popularity, new trails are popping up around the country, many on national wildlife refuges. The new Makoke Birding Trail in central Iowa is a collection of 22 separately mapped sites, none more than 40 minutes from downtown Des Moines. One of those 22 sites is Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, where tallgrass prairie restoration is bringing back habitat for more than 200 species of birds. A guide to the trail can be loaded: http://www.iowabirds.org/places/documents/Makoke_Trail.pdf.

• The new Sun and Sage Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail features more than 200 of the state’s 346 annually recorded bird species.  Among the 52 stops in southcentral Washington is # 29, Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge, with its 1,700 acres of seasonal wetlands and shrub-steppe.  Each fall, 30,000 waterfowl arrive at the Toppenish Refuge and stay for winter.  You may spot Pied-billed grebes, northern pintails, northern shovelers and perhaps even short-eared owls.  For a downloadable trail guide: http://wa.audubon.org/BirdingTrailMaps/TM_index.html.

• All summer long, track wolves at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Manteo, N.C., during the red wolf howling safari.   Cars caravan to the howling site on Wednesday nights, weather-permitting.  $5 to participate in the two-hour guided program.  Bring a flashlight and insect repellant.  For more information: www.redwolves.com or www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=41630 or 252-473-1131

• Learn how Native Americans made hunting tools from stone and bone August 9 at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA.  Enjoy demonstrations of historic Chinookan tool making, plant harvesting and weaving from natural materials, noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse. The plankhouse is open regularly on weekends from noon to 4 p.m. through October. For more information: www.plankhouse.org or 360-887-4106.

• Take your camera when you visit national wildlife refuges so you can become part of an online wildlife  photo mosaic.  Go to http://yououtdoors.org/ to get started.

This summer, go wild!!  For more information about national wildlife refuges, go to: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/.

Our guest blogger today is Caryn Bower, an intern with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

As the heat of summer hits, everyone can use an opportunity to cool off and have some fun by the water. In these tough economic times, however, it can be hard for a budget-conscious family to find ways to beat the heat that don’t involve spending lots of cash to wait in lines at a water park.

So, if you’re one of the many Americans searching for inexpensive, entertaining and educational aquatic activities, it’s hard to go wrong with a visit to one of our national marine sanctuaries! From Lake Huron to the Florida Keys, NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System manages more than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes waters. If you live near the coast, chances are that you’re close to one of these 14 special places and all of the wallet-friendly fun they have to offer.

There are countless things to do in the marine sanctuaries, like snorkeling, surfing, fishing, kayaking, or just relaxing on the beach. Visitors can explore tide pools along Washington’s shores in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary or see wildlife like sea otters and pelicans as they paddle among the kelp forests of California’s Monterey Bay.

Adventure seekers can plunge into the depths of the sanctuaries and see the underwater world through a wide range of scuba diving experiences. Even without scuba training, many of the historic shipwrecks in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Michigan’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary are accessible within snorkeling depths.

 For an unforgettable experience, whale watching tours are a great way to see some of the largest creatures on Earth. Popular whale watching destinations include the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary, Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary in Massachusetts, and the Channel Islands Sanctuary off the Southern California coast.

Those who prefer to experience the wonders of the underwater world without getting their feet wet will find free visitor centers in San Francisco, Key West, and Hilo, Hawaii to be perfect for learning about the sanctuaries from the safety of dry land.

If you’re a history buff, you can learn all about our nation’s maritime past at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (free admission) or check out one of the most famous ships in American history at the USS Monitor Center in Newport News, Virginia. More information about some of the historic shipwrecks and landmarks within the sanctuary system can be found through the Historic Places and Preservation section of USA.gov.

You don’t always have to open your wallet to open your mind. Plan a visit to a national marine sanctuary today, and explore some of America’s underwater treasures!

To be honest, when I hear the phrase "The Great Outdoors" my first inclination is to think of the 1988 John Candy movie.

While my mother and I are firm believers that the closest we come to camping is a three-star hotel, apparently there are plenty of you out there who enjoy snuggling up with mother nature.

Those willing to bond with mosquitoes and bears, you're in luck. June is Great Outdoors Month!

Getting outdoors, especially in our nation's national parks, is a great and economical way to see the natural splendor of our country. It is also a fun way to be active- doing recreational activities like fishing, biking, and hiking.

Visit Recreation.gov to find your perfect camping site.

Have any family camping trip stories to share? Tips on having a safe and fun time outdoors?

Leave your comments; I'll check them out while I'm doing my own version of "camping" - in Vegas.

In a measly eight days I will be headed to glorious Las Vegas. My only other prior experience in Vegas was when I was 14, so I sense this trip will be somewhat different than the time I tagged along when my Dad attended a conference.

I plan on leaving my camera behind, to avoid the possibility of any remotely inappropriate photographs surfacing while I enjoy the splendors of Sin City.

However, one picture could be taken of me of which I have no control. In nineteen different airports around the country, new whole-body imaging machines are being used to detect both metallic and non-metallic threats on passengers.

In some airports these machines are the primary source of security. In others, passengers can opt to use them instead of a body pat-down from a TSA security officer.

The machine produces a robotic image, which some people find to be invasive, and bordering on the feeling of being naked- somewhat of a "virtual strip search."

To me, the pictures seem closer to that of a x-ray than anything I'd consider invasive or offensive. What do you think? Would you prefer the scanner over a physical pat-down?

The TSA blog is discussing this issue as well.

Carl Chitwood has been Web Manager for the National Park Service since December of 2003 and has traveled to 124 of the 391 parks in that time.

Of all the weekend and day trips I make, none is more refreshing than a day in the mountains. Whether that day is spent at Catoctin Mountain or Shenandoah, just one or two days hiking in the crisp, fresh mountain air refreshes and recharges me for the inevitable energy drain of day-to-day work. On longer vacations, as a self described “mountain man stuck in urbania,” I always try to get to the mountains and spend time with nature. For me there is nothing better than a late spring day spent above 8,000 feet with my family. However, not everyone is a mountain person . . .

Almost everyone thinks of geysers or wildlife when they hear “National Park.” However, what you may not know is there are parks in almost every state covering everything from American cultural and societal history to beautiful natural landscapes and recreational activities. If you have an interest in something “American,” you can bet that there is a park for you.

This country is blessed to have such a vast and diverse National Park System. With 391 places to visit, it is almost guaranteed that you have one near you.

Get out there, enjoy your public lands, landmarks and places . . . you own them.