#RecreateResponsibly

[noaasanctuaries]

🥁 Drum roll, please! 🥁

We would like to introduce you to the winners of the 2023 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest.

Sanctuary Life

1st: Douglas Hoffman in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

2nd: Jean Zuo in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

3rd: Douglas Croft in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

Sanctuary Recreation

1st: Chuck Graham in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

2nd: Daniel Eidsmoe in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

3rd: Bryan Dort in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Sanctuary Views

1st: Bruce Sudweeks in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

2nd: Martin McClure in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

3rd: Courtney Stanford in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Sanctuaries at Home

1st: Laurie Santoro

2nd: Tina Morrison

3rd: Jenn Fletcher

Sanctuaries Around the World

1st: María Rodríguez-Salinas

2nd: Lawrence Alex Wu

3rd: Kayvon Malek

Congratulations to all the outstanding photographers who entered our 2023 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. Don’t forget to check out the winners and honorable mentions on our results page:

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we feature each winner in our #EarthIsBlue campaign!

[artie-alvarado]

Early morning wild flower stroll with the family. #optoutside

#findyourpark

#encuentratuparque

#colorfulcolorado

#parklife

#coloradophotography

#nature

#hiking

#trails

#hikemoreworryless

#leavenotrace

#recreateresponsibly

#protectpubliclands

#rechargeyoursoul

#outdoors

#nature

#adventure

#photography

#hiking

#travel

#explore

#landscape

#mountains

#outdoor

#summer

#outside

#wanderlust

#getoutside

#bhfyp

[americasgreatoutdoors]

The sky's field of stars unfolds along the Pa'rus Trail at Zion National Park in Utah. The trail follows the Virgin River in the broadest section of Zion Canyon. Located near the visitor center, it is an easy trail to explore to see the wide range of the park's splendor. Visiting during sunrise and sunset promises beautiful light. In the evening, the night sky promises some of the best stargazing opportunities. Don't forget your mask! Bring water, your mask and your sense of wonder. Photo by Karen Wong (www.sharetheexperience.org).  

[mountrainiernps]

As a person not raised in the western U.S., I met my first marmot when I moved to the Cascade Mountains. What fascinating and cool creatures, I thought. Their lifestyle is certainly appealing to some folks. Some of us might very well like to sleep for many months. Crawl out of your burrow when the snow melts. Then proceed to chow down as much as possible while setting some aside some food  for emergency stores in the winter. Plus their homes are in some of the most beautiful places around.

Here are Mount Rainier National Park, our marmots are hoary marmots. Hoary as in frosted, and geesh does it look good on them? They’re found in the subalpine meadow areas of the park. Perhaps you’ve noticed one or two?

What has fascinated you about these little animals? Is it their amazing whistle to warn their companions about nearby predators? Is it how they can radically increase their body weight to get through winter? Or how about their great method of cooling down; lay spread eagle on a rock. What’s your favorite marmot fact, picture, or story? ~ams

Please remember that while hoary marmots appear fluffy and squishy, they are also wild animals. Please give them space and never feed a wild animal. For more information please visit this website https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/nature/rodents.htm

NPS/I. Metzen Photo. Marmot near trees in Paradise. June, 2018. NPS Photo. Marmot chilling out trailside in Paradise. June, 2015.

[mypubliclands]

#RecreateResponsibly this #GreatOutdoorsMonth

Today kicks off #GreatOutdoorsMonth! The more than 245 million acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management offer a wide variety of diverse landscapes that feature unique and memorable experiences as vast as the land itself. This summer, we invite you to explore the outdoors with us, but please do so safely and responsibly.

Following guidance from the White House, CDC, and state and local public health authorities, we are increasing access and services to BLM-managed public lands, offices and facilities in a phased approach based on regional, state, and local conditions. Before visiting, please contact your local BLM office to check operating status and current conditions: www.blm.gov/contact.

If you go outdoors, please #RecreateResponsibly by being prepared, flexible and respectful of other users, as well as of the natural and cultural resources on public lands.

Tips to Recreate Safely and Responsibly:

Stay home if you don’t feel well or have recently been sick.

Follow guidance from local and state authorities, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Avoid heavily used or crowded trails, parking areas, and sites and seek     dispersed recreation opportunities in your local area. Have a backup plan  to avoid crowded high-use areas. If you find an area to be crowded, turn around.

Check with local offices for current conditions, including closures and changes in service, before visiting popular areas and visit blm.gov for operating status updates.

Practice social distancing. Be considerate of others enjoying the outdoors by giving them as much space as possible in parking lots, at trailheads, and out on public lands.

Help prevent human-caused wildfires. Completely extinguish campfires by using the “drown, stir and feel” method. Don’t park on dry grass and ensure tow chains aren't dragging and tow straps are secured. Observe fire danger restrictions on BLM lands designated as high-risk early in this fire season. Follow fireworks restrictions and target shooting requirements at all times.

Avoid unnecessary risks while recreating to prevent overwhelming medical facilities.

Bring supplies for sanitation with you and pack out your trash. Facilities,     including bathrooms and visitor centers, may not be open or available for  in-person contact.

If you’re unable to visit #yourpubliclands, please continue following along with us on our social media for plenty of virtual trips through our ongoing #ArmchairAdventures.

Resources:

Visit your public lands: www.blm.gov/visit

Updates about the overall BLM response to COVID-19: https://www.blm.gov/alert/coronavirus-advisory

CDC Information on Protecting yourself: www.coronavirus.gov

Wildfire information: https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm

Leave No Trace ethics: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/

Tread Lightly principles: https://www.treadlightly.org/learn/

[nationalparkpatchlady]

Happy #NationalLighthouseDay! The lighthouse adorning BICA Chita Key in @biscaynenps is purely decorative and does not have its own light, but with the help of the guys from @nationalparksatnight we created the illusion of a functional lighthouse. 📍: Biscayne National Park, FL 📅 : February 2019 #IBrakeForBrownSigns #nationalparkgeek #RecreateResponsibly #BiscayneNPS (at Biscayne National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSR91oJF4_J/?utm_medium=tumblr

[amyfelder]

I integrate art with geography. Mimicking cartographers, I create maps to correspond with each demerit badge. To illustrate how going off trail causes erosion, I painted a topographical map of Devil's Backbone, the park's marked trails, and my imagined human created off shoots from those trails. I chose burlap as the structure material because it is similar to erosion control blankets that are used to prevent erosion on hillsides. I chose a neutral color for the topographical lines to show that they are natural, green for the trail to show that staying on the trail is environmentally friendly, and red for the footpaths that go off trail to show the earth bleeding from the human impact. Next, I painted another topographical map without any trails to show the park without human presence. The white represents the earth in its pure, virgin state before humankind tainted it. The topographical lines are green to show how the earth was a paradise, flourishing without human presence. 

I cut each map into strips that shrank in size as I went from one end to the next and arranged them together into one elongated map, alternating strips between each map. I used twine to weave the two maps together. The bottom starts with a wide strip of the map untouched by humans. I followed it with a very tightly woven tiny strip of the burlap map. It is barely visible to show how when one person goes off trail the mark is barely visible. As I progressed upward, the strips of map without human presence gradually shrink in size and get woven more, becoming less visible. Meanwhile, the strips of map with human presence get wider and more visible. The weaving is very loosely woven and looks as though it may fall apart at any given moment.

Image Credit: Erosion, 2019 | Fabric paint on fabric with twine | 41x11 inches

[seekingventurephoto]

🌍 A silly one for Earth Day 2021!! 🤣 ⁣ It's not only Earth Day but National Park Week as well... it's a great week for nature! Everyone is gearing up for some epic plans with the warmer weather arriving and also due to the fact this whole last year a lot of us didn't do anything. We will both be fully vaccinated within the next few weeks and we are excited to get back out and not worry about larger crowds of people.⁣ ⁣ When you are venturing out this season, remember to always #LeaveNoTrace & to #RecreateResponsibly! We always want to mention our friends over at @naturefirst_org as they have an awesome attitude towards nature photography and how all of us in the photography community should actively try to make a difference and set an example.⁣ ⁣ You can always have fun on the trail but make sure to act in a responsible manner. Please pack out what you bring in-- even food scraps that you think are harmless and 'biodegradable (spoiler alert, it's not for a longggg time) can negatively affect the ecosystem & wildlife ✌ https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-s6VOjcBi/

[goownit]

In life, a person has experiences that stay with them until the end, and they are unique to each person. These are the intangible treasures that money cannot buy. Along the way, we meet some people who remain a part of our lives, while other encounters are fleeting. Some convergences are so intense that they compel us to re-examine our values and have an irrevocable effect on us. Our trek up Mount Kilimanjaro was one of those experiences. This post is my tribute to those I will never forget—the guides and crew of Kilimanjaro.

Read the Blog Post:

The True Champions of Kilimanjaro

https://bit.ly/3DGBMSi

[goodjuiceclub]

@pointreyesnps Tomorrow is the #summersolstice, marking the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and the official beginning of summer. But given that Point Reyes has an average of 200 foggy days per year, summer means something different out here. 🌫 So while you’re dreaming of sunshine and beach days as you #RecreateResponsibly, make sure to pack your warm layers and be prepared for thick fog and strong winds!💨 Though you may get lucky and have a beautiful, clear day like @dougnichol did when he took this photo from the South Beach Overlook. To have a chance to have your photo featured, use #prnsyes. Happy Summer, everyone! . #PointReyesNPS #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque (at Point Reyes National Seashore) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQT_0ErBK5j/?utm_medium=tumblr

[noaasanctuaries]

Get ready, get set, Get Into Your Sanctuary!

Don't forget your camera! Our 2024 #GetIntoYourSanctuary Photo Contest opens today 📸

Submit your entries at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html.

[sonic-rust]

Not only good content to avert attention for a bit-but also as we head into wildfire season. Check it! Repost from @recreate.responsibly • Did you know 9 out 10 wildfires are human-caused? Don't be the spark that starts one this holiday weekend––join us in committing to #RecreateResponsibly. Better yet, share these guidelines in your stories today and help us spread the word about wildfire safety and prevention. Building an outdoor culture that recreates responsibly is a team effort, it's going to take all of us to spread this message far and wide. When it comes to wildfires, remember to: 🔥 Know Before You Go 🔥 Plan and Prepare 🔥 Build a Safe & Inclusive Outdoors 🔥 Learn How to Respond 🔥 Respect Fire 🔥 Make It Better Head to recreateresponsibly.org/wildfireresponsibly (also linked in bio) to learn more and join the movement. https://www.instagram.com/p/CfX0ysRLR2z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[americasgreatoutdoors]

Tall trees are a reminder to take time to marvel at the sky. At Everglades National Park in Florida, Long Pine Key Trail explores the Pine Rocklands and weaves through majestic trees and palmettos. From sawgrass prairie and marsh to freshwater sloughs and mangrove habitat, Everglades National Park has an enchanting array of habitats and is one of the world's most extensive wetlands. Kayaking, birding, biking, boating, camping and hiking offer ways to enjoy Florida's sunshine and are popular activities -- especially during the dry season. Photo by Luis Garcia Flacon (www.sharetheexperience.org).

[mountrainiernps]

Mount Rainier is dominated by water. It’s easy to see the glaciers covering the summit and sides of the mountain in year round ice. Not so easy to see are the wonderful rivers that start from the snows and glaciers then head out of the park, travelling to the Puget Sound and Columbia River. The White, Carbon, Puyallup, Nisqually, Cowlitz, and Ohanapecosh Rivers are all fed by the waters on Mount Rainier.

Recreating in the national park throughout the year, maybe you’ve photographed these wonderful rivers while parked at a pull-out or from a trail. Did the color, or lack of, ever strike your eye? How clear the water is or how opaque it is can tell you where the water originated. And even what time of year it is.

During the snowmelt season, spring and early summer, melted snow dominates the water in the rivers. They tend to be more clear during this time.

In the late summer and fall, most of the water comes from melting glaciers. That glacier water tends to be heavily mixed with “glacier flour” which is the finely ground up rock from the bottom of the glacier. It tends to make the water look very opaque, almost like milk. You can see this right now in the White and Nisqually Rivers as you drive around the park.

But take a look at the Ohanapecosh River. It flows clear year round. The Ohanapecosh is now cut off from the glaciers that used to feed it. They’ve receded so far up the mountain that the melted glacier water doesn’t make it into the river, leaving the Ohanapecosh very clear.

And sometimes the rivers run muddy. This is most noticeable after the big rainstorms in the fall. It’s during the big rainfalls that a lot of sediment can get mixed into the rivers’ water. While rivers tend to be smaller during the end of summer, hot temperatures can still occur causing faster than expected melting of the glaciers. This can lead to quickly rising river levels, and possible debris flows of muddy, rocky water.

What colors have you seen in the waters of Mount Rainier? Did you see a crystal clear river while hiking Eastside Trail? Did you cross the White River when it was milky with glacier flour?  What’s you favorite river memory of the rivers of Mount Rainier? ~ams

Please check this website http://www.morageology.com/ for info on river levels and the latest forecast for debris flows possibilities.

NPS/Spillane Photo. Clear waters of Nisqually rvier flowing by and over rocks. March, 2019. NPS/Hui Photo. A milky Carbon River full of glacier plour flowing through living and dead trees. July, 2016. NPS/E. Brouwer Photo. Clear waters of Ohanapecosh River flow past view point. June, 2014.

[superkidd5]

Spent last Saturday cleaning up another section of the desert. This time it was near the Mesilla Diversion Dam. Got me two new hats including a pretty nice one from @throatpunchperformance. PC @nmgameandfish - - - - - #HappySaturday #YourPublicLands #RecreateResponsibly #TeamPublicLands #BLMPublicLands #PublicLand #explore #Adventure #Photography #Landscapes #NaturePhotography #Nature #NewMexico #NewMexicoBLM #NewMexicoPublicLands #VisitNewMexico #ExploreNewMexico #Spring #Springtime #organmountains #nationaltrailsday #earth #organmountainsdesertpeaksnationalmonunent #hikenewmexico #lascruces #community #mountains #june #liveyouradventure #bikingtrails (at Mesilla Diversion Dam) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfHuuaGvN7O/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nationalparkpatchlady]

Happy Birthday to the nation's first national preserve - @bigthicketnps!⁠ ⁠ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⁠ Signed into law on this day in 1974 (just 10 minutes before its twin park Big Cypress National Preserve), the Big Thicket became a unique designation in the National Park Service allowing for protection and the historic utilization of resources by those who resided within its borders.⁠ ⁠ 📷 📷 📷⁠ 1. carnivorous pitcher plants⁠ 2. the Godmother of the Big Thicket, Maxine Johnston⁠ 3. beautiful old trees along the paddling trail⁠ 4. Cypress knees⁠ 5. paddling along the Cooks Lake to Scatterman trail⁠ 6. saw palmetto in the swamps of Big Thicket⁠ 7. The famous Madonna tree⁠ 8. longleaf pine plugs for the annual plantings in the Big Thicket⁠ 9. the endangered Red Cockaded woodpecker - which has the opportunity to be reintroduced into the park within the next 5 years.⁠ ⁠ 📍: Big Thicket National Preserve, TX⁠ ⁠ #IBrakeForBrownSigns ⁠ #nationalparkgeek ⁠ #RecreateResponsibly⁠ ..................................................⁠ (at Big Thicket National Preserve) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjk6yNCtMnh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=