‘Great Outdoors Month’ set for June at Cache Creek Preserve

June has officially been designated as "Great Outdoors Month’ and judging by the events taking place across Yolo County, there are plenty of things to get people out of the house and into the open air.

"Great Outdoors Week" began under President Clinton in 1998 and has grown under the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations into a month-long celebration of the outdoors.

Since 2008, governors from across the country have joined in designating June as a month to celebrate the great outdoors and more than half the states have already proclaimed June 2019 as "Great Outdoors Month."

This celebration is designed to bring not only health benefits but social and economic benefits as well, according to the White House.

Nationally, there are celebrations such as National Trails Day and "Urban Kids Fishing Derby," both of which are set for the first Saturday in June. There are also other activities, such as the Great Outdoors Day of Service.

In Yolo County, there are a variety of activities scheduled to get people into the open and under the trees.

At the Cache Creek Nature Preserve, two events are planned, the first being "Sunrise Sunday" and the second is "Yoga Under the Oaks" this Sunday.

"Sunrise Sunday" gets underway at 5:30 a.m. at the Nature Preserve, 34199 County Road 20, when visitors are welcome to come by and greet the sunrise (scheduled for 5:44 a.m.) by walking out to the storage pond or hiking among the 130 acres of grass- and woodland, or do some birding. There is no charge, and no registration is required.

"Sunrise Sunday" is sponsored by Teichert Inc., Granite Construction, CEMEX, and Vulcan Materials. It will be held the first Sunday of each month through September, with future events set for 5:30 a.m., July 2; 6 a.m., Aug. 6; and 6:15 a.m., Sept. 3.

People can simply show up to take a hike, take photographs or enjoy the early-morning sounds of birds and other wildlife.

The early openings were requested by photographers and birders who wanted to enjoy the "golden hour," which is the first hour after sunrise.

The Conservancy will continue to close at its regular time of 4 p.m. each Sunday.

For those who want to get in tune with nature after greeting the sunrise, they can stay for an 8 a.m. yoga class titled "Yoga Under the Oaks," being taught by Christine Pollard, a certified yoga instructor.

The course costs $15 and will be held in the amphitheater of the Memorial Garden to the northeast of the Preserve's parking area. Yoga classes will be offered each Sunday throughout the summer.

Under Pollard, there will be no advance sign-ups. Rather an informational page will be posted on the Conservancy's website, www.cachecreekconservancy.org.

Still later in June, the Yolo County Library, Yolo County General Services County Parks Division, Tuleyome and Latino Outdoors are planning a festival and resource fair to share information and promote the benefits and joys of being outdoors.

This family-friendly event is set from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 10 (which is "National Get Outdoors Day) at Capay Open Space Park, 15603 County Road 85, outside of Capay in the Capay Valley.

Emily Huerta, the associate parks planner for the Yolo County General Services Department, has reported that organizations have been invited to provide interactive resources and activities for children and adults.

"In addition to information tables, we plan to have a Casa de Flores, an interactive bilingual musical group, bilingual story times and nature walks at scheduled times throughout the event," Huerta reported.

The event is also a kick-off activity for Yolo County Library's All Together Outside Parks Pass grant from the California State Library.

"The grant provides funding for programs throughout the summer to increase access to outdoor recreation opportunities and promote the library's free circulating State Parks Passes, especially to underserved communities," Huerta reported.

"Our goal with this resource fair is to provide as much information as possible in English and Spanish to help reduce potential language barriers to outdoor recreation, share information about our local wildlife and ecosystems, provide access to low or no-cost outdoor equipment and supplies, and increase knowledge of and confidence about the outdoors and outdoor activities," she added.

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