George W. Bush

“ During Great Outdoors Week, our Nation celebrates the beauty and majesty of the great outdoors. This occasion allows Americans to reflect on the role our parks, forests, wildlife refuges, recreation areas, and other public lands and waters play in our lives. ”

“ No other country boasts more extraordinary or more diverse options for recreation. Our Nation's federally managed lands account for nearly one in every three acres and, together with our Nation's waters, provide visitors with almost 2 billion opportunities for recreation annually. Eight of ten Americans participate at least monthly in outdoor recreation, and we may choose to challenge ourselves through demanding activities like mountain climbing or river rafting. ”

“ During Great Outdoors Week, we also honor Americans who volunteer their time to restore and safeguard these national treasures. These generous individuals collectively contribute millions of hours to clean shorelines and waterways, maintain trails and campsites, staff interpretive centers, and perform other important tasks. ”