PROVIDENCE – On Saturday, August 17 the Rhode Island Departments of Environmental Management and Health will award thousands of dollars worth of outdoor recreational equipment at the final event of the 2013 Great Outdoors Pursuit at Burlingame State Park Campground in Charlestown.
The Great Outdoors Pursuit is designed to encourage the use of state parks in an effort to move towards a healthier lifestyle. The event at Burlingame is the culmination of the 2013 program where teams earned credit for taking part in outdoor adventures. The prizes, donated by Verizon, UnitedHealthcare and O'Brien and Sons, will be awarded at 2 p.m. They include:
• Grand Prize – a family 4-pack of kayaks and kayaking accessories (valued at approximately $1,000) • 1st Place – a deluxe family camping package (valued at $800) • 2nd Place – a GPS Geocaching package (valued at $400) • 3rd Place – a family fishing package (valued at $250)
The number of events the teams attend will determine which prize category they are eligible for. Finalists in each category are first selected by way of raffle and then will compete in games of "Pin the Tail on the State Park" and "Great Outdoors Pursuit Jeopardy".
The Burlingame event will also include rock climbing, geocaching, nature walks, hula-hooping, a reptile show and other nature, health environmental education exhibits. Registered teams will also have the option of camping overnight when they can enjoy evening activities such as a campfire, s'mores, storytelling and an outdoor family movie.
More than 1,700 people participated in the 2013 program. The adventure began in May in the Blackstone Valley at Lincoln Woods State Park with kayaking, fishing and horseback riding. In June, teams toured historic Fort Adams State Park in Newport, while participating in old-fashioned lawn games, guided bay walks and a vintage baseball clinic. In July, teams joined other Rhode Islanders for Governor's Bay Day at Colt State Park in Bristol. Participants hula-hooped, learned about the sea creatures of Narragansett Bay and purchased fresh, local produce at a farmer's market composed of three different Rhode Island farms. Teams also selected three events from a list of self-guided options.
For more information please visit www.riparks.com. If you need further assistance please contact Terri Bisson at (401) 222-2776, ext. 4402 or email at terri.bisson@dem.ri.gov or Robert Paquette at (401) 222-2632 or (401) 639-0568 or email at Robert.paquette@dem.ri.gov.