Outdoor Heritage Day April 24

WEST SLOPE KIDS ENCOURAGED TO EXPERIENCE OUTDOORS AT OUTDOOR HERITAGE DAY

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - More than 30 non-profit outdoor and sportsmen's groups, government agencies and outdoor-related businesses from across western Colorado will sponsor the 3rd Annual Outdoor Heritage Day in Palisade on Saturday, April 24. The free event began in 2008 from the efforts of Colorado Division of Wildlife officer Frank McGee. McGee became concerned with how little time today's youth spend outdoors and organized the first Outdoor Heritage Day event to get kids and their families outside and experiencing what Colorado can offer.

"There are so many different things locally that families can enjoy," said McGee. "People don't realize what we have within just a short car ride. We want to give families, especially kids, what they need to know to get out and experience the best parts of western Colorado."

Outdoor Heritage Day is free and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 24 at Riverbend Park in Palisade. Activities for school age youth include a fishing clinic, hunting simulator, climbing wall, mountain biking, nature walks, a mobile shooting range and much more. Presentations by outdoor organizations will also be held throughout the day. Lunch and all activities are provided at no cost. Visit www.outdoorheritageday.org for more information and full event schedule.

Outdoor Heritage Day is sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Town of Palisade, Colorado Mule Deer Association, Colorado Sportsmen's Wildlife Fund, Ducks Unlimited, Mesa County School Districts 50 and 51, Colorado State Parks, National Park Service, US Fish an d Wildlife Service, Boy Scouts of America, 4H, Trout Unlimited and Federation of Fly Fishers - Grand Valley Anglers, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Future Farmers of America, Colorado Outfitters Association, Grand Valley Audubon Society, Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association, Grand Mesa Back Country Horsemen, North American Grouse Partnership, Camp Redcloud, Red Rock Archery, The Moose 100.7, Mesa County Search and Rescue, US Bureau of Reclamation, Western Slope ATV Association, Army National Guard, US Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service-Grand Valley Ranger District, Girl Scouts of America, Western Colorado Retrievers Club, Outdoors Alive, Colorado State Forest Service, Western Flyers Youth Project, Gene Taylors, Colorado Hawking Club, Rocky Mountain Spearfishing Association, Friends of the Mustangs, Sportsman's Warehouse, REI, Western Colorado Conservation Corps, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and Cabela's.

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For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.