Great American Campout Is Saturday

Pitch a tent this weekend.

Outdoor enthusiasts nationwide will take part in the 8th Annual Great American Backyard Campout Saturday, and Maryland leaders are urging locals to join in the fun.

“This campout is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with family and create memories that will last a lifetime," First Lady Katie O’Malley said in a Department of Natural Resources statement. "Any time spent outdoors is a great way to connect with nature and instill in our children the importance of environmental stewardship."

Special events, including campfires, crafts, canoeing and hiking, will be held by the Maryland Park Service on Saturday and Sunday at the following locations:

• Dan’s Mountain State Park » Lonaconing
• Rocky Gap State Park » Flintstone
• Elk Neck State Park » North East
• Sandy Point State Park » Annapolis
• Point Lookout State Park » Scotland
• Fair Hill NRMA » Elkton

"I believe that one of the greatest threats to our precious wildlife and natural resources is a generation of children entirely disconnected from nature," National Wildlife Federation regional executive director Tony Caligiuri said in a statement. "The Great American Backyard Campout provides an easy, inexpensive way for families to have fun, while rediscovering and learning about the great outdoors."

For more information and to register, you can visit The Backyard Campout website.

For state campground locations near you, search here.

In Harford County:

• Rocks State Park 
• Susquehanna State Park  

“June is Great Outdoors Month and one of the best times of year to enjoy our natural world,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “Whether spending a day at one of our beautiful State Parks, taking a dip in your local watering hole, or catching [fish] off of a pier, our State’s outdoor recreational opportunities are second to none.”

TELL US: When is the last time you camped out? Are you camping out this weekend? Leave a comment.