New UW Extension Program Encourages Outdoor Exploration

University of Wyoming Extension recently created a new program -- Ready, Set, Explore -- designed to inspire outdoor adventures and help families connect.

The program is free and open to interested Wyoming families.

Every month, registered participants receive a list of activities via email. Each packet includes an outdoor activity; tips about health and nature; a handout on a natural resource; a snack idea; and a journaling prompt.

Families are asked to complete at least four activities from the packet and then answer a series of questions. The answers, as well as pictures of their families completing the tasks, should be emailed to the Ready, Set, Explore team. In return, participants will receive a small outdoors-themed prize.

Ready, Set, Explore is led by Joshua Bliss and Gretchen Gasvoda, UW Extension 4-H youth development educators; Dagan Montgomery and Jedidiah Hewlett, agriculture and natural resource educators; Joddee Jacobsen, community vitality and health extension educator; and Hailey Sorg, Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative extension educator.

The organizers of Ready, Set, Explore highlight the program's flexibility. Families are not limited to parents with young children. Any group of people who care about one another can participate.

"You have the freedom to do these activities at your own pace throughout the month," says Bliss, the Natrona County 4-H youth development educator.

Participants also may retroactively complete projects from past months. To view the packets for October and November, visit the program's website here.

The program launched in October and runs through April 2025. November's activities include creating a fall wreath, reading a book about nature and going on a gratitude walk. To register, go here.

Families who participate in Ready, Set, Explore for four of the seven months will receive an annual day-use pass for Wyoming state parks. The pass covers day-use fees for one vehicle for all Wyoming state parks and historic sites. It does not cover other fees, such as camping fees.

The Ready, Set, Explore program is supported by Wyoming State Parks, Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Bureau of Land Management.

For more information, call Josh Bliss at (307) 235-9400 or email [email protected].

About University of Wyoming Extension

University of Wyoming Extension serves Wyoming communities by helping residents apply university research and resources to practical problems. Since 1914, UW Extension has provided educational programs and tools to the state's 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. From 4-H programming and pesticide safety education to food preservation and nutrition courses, Extension upholds the university's land-grant mission by offering learning opportunities for people of all ages. UW Extension staff help Wyoming residents boost agricultural production, care for lawns and gardens, cultivate future leaders, support individual and community well-being, and develop thriving businesses. To learn more, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe or call (307) 766-5124.