Nearly every month of the year is "officially dedicated to an assortment of causes. Some are more noteworthy than others for parks and recreation. What follows is a brief list of notable dates and monthly observances culled from Chase's 2001 Calendar of Events. Web page or phone numbers are listed if provided in Chase's. The list is not comprehensive, and please send me an e-mail if there's a major event omitted here (alondrigan@ILparks.org). For more listings, including Illinois events (such as "Lilac Time" in Lombard, May 5-10,2001 in Lombard Park District's Lilacia Park or "Bark in the Park," May 5, in Chicago Park District's Lincoln Park), check out Chase's at your local library.

• International Biodiversity Observation Year 2001-2002
Focus global attention on the earth's biodiversity,
www.nrel.colostate.edu/ IBOY

• National Environmental Policy Act anniversary: Jan. 1, 1970

• United Nations International Year of Volunteers
www.iyv2001.org

• PGA of America Founded 85th Anniversary Jan.17, 1916

• American Heart Health Month,
American Heart Association,
www.americanheart.org

• National Sign Up for Summer Camp Month,
American Camping Association,
www.ACAcamps.org

• National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Feb. 7,
National Association for Girls and Women in Sports,
516.542.4700

• National Craft Month,
www.i-craft.com

• National Nutrition Month,
www.eatright.org

• National Women's History Month,
www.nwhp.org

• Youth Art Month, Council for Art Education,
781.293.4100

• Special Olympics World Winter Games, March 4-11, Anchorage, AK,
www.2001 worldgames.org

• Keep America Beautiful Month,
www.keepamericabeautiful.org

• National Lawn and Garden Month,
Associated Landscape Contractors of America,
www.alca.org

• National Youth Sports Safety Month,
National Youth Sports Safety Foundation,
www.nyssf.org

• Stress Awareness Month,
www.stresscure.com

• ZAM! Zoo and Aquarium Month,
American Zoo and Aquarium Association,
www.aza.org

• National Public Health Week, April 2-8,
American Public Health Association,
202.789.5600

• National Youth Service Day, April 20-21,
Youth Service America, www.SERVEnet.org

• Earth Day, April 22 (Sunday)

• National Volunteer Week, April 22-28,
www.pointsoflight.org

• National Playground Safety Week, April 23- 27,
National Program for Playground Safety,
www.uni.edu/playground

• Arbor Day, April 27 (Friday),
Committee for National Arbor Day,
201.731.0840

• National Bike Month,
League of American Bicyclists,
www.bikeleague.org

• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month,
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,
202.690.900

• Older American's Month

• USA Tennis Month,
www.usta.com

• Robert's Rules Day, May 2,1837
anniversary of Henry M. Robert, author of Robert's Rules of Order

• National Tourism Week, May 6-12,
Travel Industry Association of America,
www.ria.org

• National Historic Preservation Week, May 13-19,
National Trust for Historic Preservation,
www.narionaltrust.org

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• National Senior Health and Fitness Day, May 30,
Mature Market Research Center,
www.nmessday.com

• National Fishing Week, June 2-10,
www.gonshing.org

• National Trails Day, June 2,
American Hiking Association,
www.americanhiking.org

• National Little League Baseball Week, June 11-17

• National Men's Health Week,
www.nmhw.org

• Special Recreation Week, June 27-JuIy 4,
Special Recreation for disABLED International,
319/337-7578

• National Recreation and Parks Month,
National Recreation and Park Association,
www.nrpa.org

• First U.S. Zoo Anniversary, July 1,1874,
Philadelphia Zoological Society

• First Special Olympics Anniversary, July 18,
1893, Soldier Field, Chicago

• President's Environmental Youth Award National Competition, Aug. 1, 2001 -July 31,
2002, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
202.260.2744

• National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15

• Family Healthy and Fitness USA, Sept. 29-30,
Health Information Resource Center,
www.fitnessday.com

• National Crime Prevention Month, National Crime Prevention Council,
www.ncpc.org

• National Roller Skating Month (includes inline skating)
Roller Skating Association,
www.rollerskating.com

• United Nations International Day of Older Persons, Oct. 1,
inquiries@un.org

• National Wildlife Week, Oct. 10-16

• America Recycles Day, Nov. 15,
www.americarecyclesday.org

• National Game and Puzzle Week, Nov. 18-24,
www.patchproducts.com

• National Family Week, Nov. 19-25

• Basketball Created, Dec. 1,1891 by James Naismith, teacher of physical education at the International YMCA Training Center, Springfield, MA

• Illinois Admission Day, Dec. 3, 1818 (21ststate)

• United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons, Dec. 3

ANN M. LONDRIGAN
is the publications director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the editor Illinois Parks & Recreation magazine.

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