There are people who live in Manhattan their entire lives and never visit the Statue of Liberty. There are Parisians who have never ridden to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

And, just as odd, there are Floridians who don’t take advantage of the same natural beauty that millions of vacationers travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to see each year.

Two UF School of Forest Resources and Conservation faculty members are part of an organization whose goal is getting Sunshine State families out into the…well…sunshine.

Martha Monroe and Taylor Stein are part of the Get Outdoors Florida! coalition. The group comprises land managers, government personnel, public interest groups, child advocates, health care professionals and others who have come together to organize safe, ecologically sustainable, nature-based activities for Floridians of all ages.

Get Outdoors Florida! was endorsed on March 24 by a resolution passed by Gov. Crist and the Florida Cabinet. The resolution, which also included the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, was followed by a kickoff event outside of the capitol building in Tallahassee—during which, more than 40 children enjoyed various outdoor activities such as learning how to spot birds with binoculars and learning how to cast fishing lines.

In support of Get Outdoors Florida!, the Apalachicola, the Osceola and the Ocala National Forests will offer free admission to forest visitors on April 3-5 at most recreation sites.

For more information, visit www.getoutdoorsflorida.com.