Albuquerque National Get Outdoors Day June 12

The second annual National Get Outdoors Day encourages us to back slowly away from the remote control and brave the Realm of No Air Conditioning, otherwise known as Outside.

Once we’re there, we’ll find free outdoor fun for all the family this Saturday for National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day). The event at Tingley Beach includes:

• Rock climbing walls
• Camping demonstrations
• Fishing clinic (I think this is in the morning, 10 am to noon – call the BioPark to be sure)
• Wildlife watching
• Short guided hikes into the bosque
• GPS and orienteering
• Free prize drawings for outdoor gear and America the Beautiful Passes worth $80
• Bring your camera to take photos with Smokey Bear and (woof!) Bobber the Water Safety Dog.

You can also get more info about cheap outdoor activities and local events this summer.

National Get Outdoors Day is not actually a full day, just kind of an extended lunchtime, so we can probably all manage that.

• When: Saturday June 12, 2010
• Time: 10 am to 2 pm
• Where: Tingley Beach, 1800 Tingley Dr SW

And it’s all totally free.

–Tania

Last Free Fishing Clinic of the Season

If you’ve been planning to take advantage of the city’s free fishing clinics but have put it off, don’t delay! Catch the last offering this year and be ready when spring comes around.

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about fishing, or if you already fish but would like to improve your skills, here’s a fun event for you. The city is offering a series of FREE fishing clinics at Tingley Beach! These all-ages events occur on the second Saturday of each month through November, and take place from 10:00am – noon. The specific 2009 dates are:

• July 11
• August 8
• September 12
• October 10
• November 14

You’ll learn about fly-rod fishing, rod casting, fly tying, and basic fishing etiquette. This event is for grown-ups and kids alike — but what a great way to introduce a kid to the fun of fishing!

No advance registration is required; just meet at the event tent, located on the grassy area just south of the train station.

Tingley Beach is located on Tingley Drive, just south of Central Ave west of downtown Albuquerque.

–Elizabeth Hanes

Free Fishing Clinic

Water is not in great abundance in New Mexico, so any activity that encourages water recreation is great by us. Fishing definitely ranks right up there.

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about fishing, or if you already fish but would like to improve your skills, here’s a fun event for you. The city is offering a series of FREE fishing clinics at Tingley Beach! These all-ages events occur on the second Saturday of each month through November, and take place from 10:00am – noon. The specific 2009 dates are:

• July 11
• August 8
• September 12
• October 10
• November 14

You’ll learn about fly-rod fishing, rod casting, fly tying, and basic fishing etiquette. This event is for grown-ups and kids alike — but what a great way to introduce a kid to the fun of fishing!

No advance registration is required; just meet at the event tent, located on the grassy area just south of the train station.

Tingley Beach is located on Tingley Drive, just south of Central Ave west of downtown Albuquerque.

–Elizabeth Hanes

Free Fishing Clinic

Water is not in great abundance in New Mexico, so any activity that encourages water recreation is great by us. Fishing definitely ranks right up there.

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about fishing, or if you already fish but would like to improve your skills, here’s a fun event for you. The city is offering a series of FREE fishing clinics at Tingley Beach! These all-ages events occur on the second Saturday of each month through November, and take place from 10:00am – noon. The specific 2009 dates are:

• July 11
• August 8
• September 12
• October 10
• November 14

You’ll learn about fly-rod fishing, rod casting, fly tying, and basic fishing etiquette. This event is for grown-ups and kids alike — but what a great way to introduce a kid to the fun of fishing!

No advance registration is required; just meet at the event tent, located on the grassy area just south of the train station.

Tingley Beach is located on Tingley Drive, just south of Central Ave west of downtown Albuquerque.

–Elizabeth Hanes

Free Fishing Clinic

Water is not in great abundance in New Mexico, so any activity that encourages water recreation is great by us. Fishing definitely ranks right up there.

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about fishing, or if you already fish but would like to improve your skills, here’s a fun event for you. The city is offering a series of FREE fishing clinics at Tingley Beach! These all-ages events occur on the second Saturday of each month through November, and take place from 10:00am – noon. The specific 2009 dates are:

• July 11
• August 8
• September 12
• October 10
• November 14

You’ll learn about fly-rod fishing, rod casting, fly tying, and basic fishing etiquette. This event is for grown-ups and kids alike — but what a great way to introduce a kid to the fun of fishing!

No advance registration is required; just meet at the event tent, located on the grassy area just south of the train station.

Tingley Beach is located on Tingley Drive, just south of Central Ave west of downtown Albuquerque.

–Elizabeth Hanes

Free Fishing Clinic

Water is not in great abundance in New Mexico, so any activity that encourages water recreation is great by us. Fishing definitely ranks right up there.

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about fishing, or if you already fish but would like to improve your skills, here’s a fun event for you. The city is offering a series of FREE fishing clinics at Tingley Beach! These all-ages events occur on the second Saturday of each month through November, and take place from 10:00am – noon. The specific 2009 dates are:

• July 11
• August 8
• September 12
• October 10
• November 14

You’ll learn about fly-rod fishing, rod casting, fly tying, and basic fishing etiquette. This event is for grown-ups and kids alike — but what a great way to introduce a kid to the fun of fishing!

No advance registration is required; just meet at the event tent, located on the grassy area just south of the train station.

Tingley Beach is located on Tingley Drive, just south of Central Ave west of downtown Albuquerque.

–Elizabeth Hanes

Free Activities: National Get Outdoors Day

Even though we live in a climate where we can play outdoors year-round, sometimes we need a gentle reminder to get our butts out of the Barcalounger, close the laptop lid, and remove ourselves to that unfamiliar territory called “outside.”

Luckily, National Get Outdoors Day provides just such a reminder. And the city is planning some fantastic free activities at Tingley Beach to help motivate you to enjoy the fresh air!

On Saturday, June 13 (2009), from 10:00am – 2:00pm, take the whole family out to enjoy:

• Climbing wall
• GPS/orienteering
• Guided bosque hikes

…and tons more! There will even be prize drawings.

So, mark your calendar for Saturday to enjoy this great, FREE family event!

Tingley Beach is located near downtown Albuquerque at Tingley Drive, just off southwest Central Ave.

–Elizabeth Hanes

Over 50% off Registration: Great Race Down the Rio Grande

Get your kayak, your canoe, your raft, your homemade watercraft made out of old milk jugs — whatever you can put in the water and paddle — and race down the Rio Grande river for your share of…well, nothing. Nothing, that is, except the glory of winning and the fun of competition!

Fun for participants and spectators alike, it’s time once again for the Great Race Down the Rio Grande. Register before noon Wednesday (May 27) for just $10 per person — that’s over 50% off the late registration fee of $25. Just fill out the registration form and dash with your cash (or check, debit card, credit card, or Q Card) to any of the registration locations prior to noon Wednesday. In addition to getting you into the race, your registration fee scores you an official event t-shirt. Suh-weet!

You can register during pool hours at these city pools:

• Highland
• West Mesa
• Valley
• Los Altos
• Sandia

See the map on the official website for locations.

Info for spectators: the Great Race Down the Rio Grande will be held Saturday, May 30 (2009). Kayaks and canoes will launch at 8:00am from the Alameda Bridge; rafts and our faves, the homemade crafts, will launch at 10:00am from Tingley Beach. Finish line for all racers is the South Diversion Channel at Valley High Rd SW. See more info on this nifty, interactive map.

Thanks to Editorial Assistant Jeanni Sintas for her help with this post!

–Elizabeth Hanes

FREE KIDS’ FISHING FAIR AT TINGLEY BEACH — FREE BAG-O-GOODIES

When I was a kid, I loved going fishing with my grandpa, who tied his own flies. Here’s an opportunity for you to start (or continue) a fishing tradition with your kids or grandkids.

Kids ages 4-12 are invited to a free fishing fair at Tingley Beach on Saturday, February 28, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Sponsored by the Albuquerque Biopark, New Mexico Game & Fish, REI, New Mexico Trout, Wildlife Rescue Inc of New Mexico, and the Albuquerque Cultural Services Department, the fair will feature 11 discovery stations where kids can learn about things like fly tying, “leave no trace” ethics, and what to do with injured or orphaned wildlife.

No registration is required, and every kid receives a free bag of fishing goodies!

Tingley Beach is located at 1800 Tingley Dr SW, south of Central Ave and east of the Central bridge.

–Elizabeth Hanes