National Trail Day Saturday

National Trails Day is June 4, 2005, and Florida Agriculture and Consumer
Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is encouraging everyone to visit a
state forest and start your Trailwalker program. The Department's Division
of Forestry oversees the management and protection of the state's nearly 1
million acres of forest land.

This year's National Trails Day theme is "Take the Path to a Healthier
You." The American Hiking Society is using this day to bring greater
awareness to trails, as well as promoting the many benefits and pleasures
that are associated with walking and hiking.

The Florida State Forests Trailwalker Program started in 1999 and was
designed to encourage people to visit and hike the many trails that are
located in state forests. An incentive to participating in this program,
besides recreating and enjoying the beauty of Florida's many state forests,
is the recognition a person receives once a level of the program has been
accomplished.

Each of the three levels of the Trailwalker program only requires
completing 10 participating trails. At each level, the Trailwalker
receives a certificate commemorating their achievement and a Trailwalker
patch that can be sewn to a shirt, jacket or vest. The first level of
achievement is the Trailwalker designation given for hiking 10 trails, the
second is the Trailblazer designation for hiking 20 trails, and finally a
Trailmaster for hiking 30 trails.

While National Trail Day is a single-day celebration of the benefits of
hiking, the spirit of good health and exercise can be practiced every day
of the year in Florida's state forests. For more information on the
Trailwalker Program, write to Division of Forestry, 3125 Conner Blvd.,
C-25, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650, or visit the Division of Forestry web
site at http://www.fl-dof.com.