July is Lakes Appreciation Month!

You work and play on them. You drink from them. But do you really appreciate them? Growing population, development, and invasive species stress your local lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. All life needs water; let’s not take it for granted!

Help make Lakes Appreciation Month great this year!

• Submit a video to our short clip video contest to increase lakes appreciation!
• Get your governor to proclaim July as Lakes Appreciation Month.
• Pursue media coverage for your local Lakes Appreciation events.
• Join the Secchi Dip-In and help track water quality trends in your local lake or reservoir. Please follow this COVID-19 guidance for volunteer lake monitoring.
• Utilize our fun, kid-friendly BINGO sheet (partnership with Earth Science Laboratories)! A perfect teaching tool that can be used year-round.
• Utilize our media toolkit for your events, social media, and local marketing.
• Share your stories, events, photos, videos, etc. on social media! Be sure to use the hashtag #LakesAppreciation and tag NALMS! (We love to see your stories and lake photos.) Have you followed us on Facebook and Twitter yet?

Thank you to these states/provinces for declaring July Lakes Appreciation Month!

States are color-coded based on the date the proclamation was received.

And how about these ideas?

• Organize a physically-distanced shoreline cleanup*
• Develop an educational self-guided lake tour
• Organize a hike or biking event with a focus on your local lake*
• Reach out to a local restaurant about hosting a “Lakes Appreciation Night” with a percentage of the proceeds donated to your local lake association*
• Enjoy your local lake, pond, or reservoir with fun summertime activities, such as: boating, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, or rowing; swimming; SCUBA diving; fishing; or enjoying the natural scenery with friends and family*
• Help monitor your local waterbody or watershed
• If you manage a lake, host an activity. Bring enough sampling gear, id keys and other materials for everyone to join in.*
• If you don’t manage a lake, ask your local lake agency about shadowing a lake manager for a day
• Start a watershed storm drain stenciling program
• Have your septic system pumped if you live close to a waterbody
• Go birding or take pictures at a lake or pond (don’t forget your mask!)
• Tap into your artistic side and draw or paint a lake scene for your home or office. Be sure to send us a copy!
• Organize a lake field trip for students*

*While these are activities we promote each year, please take care this summer to take extra precautions while participating. Follow CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

While spending time outdoors (especially in public spaces), it is important to protect yourself and others by practicing physical distancing. The National Recreation and Park Association has shared some guidelines for how to distance while utilizing public parks and trails.

Congratulations to our 2022 Lakes Appreciation poster contest winners!

VIEW ALL POSTER CONTEST ENTRIES

Thank you to our 2022 program sponsors!