NATIONAL BEACH DAY

August 29, 2026August 21, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

National Beach Day on August 30th celebrates all the sandy beaches across the nation. It also provides an opportunity to help keep those relaxing places clean, so we can continue to enjoy them long into the future.

As we live along the Gulf Coast of Florida this splendor has many spots along our coastlines. So when planning a vacation, weekend getaway, honeymoon, and any other reason you can think of come and enjoy our hidden Treasures. Featured image from visitpensacolabeach.com

Whether we spend time on beaches oceanside, at a lake or river, they provide recreation all summer long. Swimming, water sports, and sunbathing are just a few of the relaxing things that come to mind. We also enjoy playing Frisbee, volleyball and long walks. Floating along in the surf on a hot summer day with friends creates summer memories we remember for years to come.

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Sometimes, just packing a few icy beverages and a good book is enough to make a beach day perfect. However, we are responsible for caring for the beach, too. Not only should we pack out what we pack in, but it’s necessary to follow the beach rules, also. Safety and fun go hand in hand.

NATIONAL BEACH DAY HISTORY

In 1929, the Knights of Columbus out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin launched a National Beach Day as part of their convention plans. However, it never took root.

Then in 2014, Colleen Paige, pet and family lifestyle expert, created National Beach Day to celebrate beaches and the importance of keeping them clean.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalBeachDay

When it comes to swimming at the beach, the American Red Cross provides excellent tips.

1. Swim with a lifeguard present and only in designated areas.
2. Go with a buddy. Never swim alone.
3. Watch for currents, moving water, and riptides. These occur in oceans, lakes, and rivers.
4. Swim within your depth. Don’t swim longer than you are physically capable of doing.
5. Take swimming lessons.
6. Learn CPR.

Organize a group to clean up your favorite beach. Since it’s near the end of the season, your beach will appreciate it. Find out what the facility needs. Take up donations for supplies to keep the beach even cleaner next year. Donate garbage and recycling cans for your beach. Attend a seminar on water pollution and how to prevent it.

Share pictures of your favorite beach while enjoying the last days of summer!

Use #NationalBeachDay to share on social media.

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NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY

August 6, 2026August 2, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

Observed annually on August 7th, National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. At one time, the beacon of light could be found across almost all of America’s shorelines.

A lighthouse is described as a tower, building or any other type of structure that is designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

A lighthouse serves multiple purposes such as marking dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, and reefs providing safe entry to harbors. They also provide aerial guidance. Once lit by open fire and candles, they’re now brightly lit by electric or oil-fueled lamps. However, the number of lighthouses are declining. Maintenance is expensive and modern electrical navigation systems are replacing them.

Lighthouse Facts

Their style may differ depending on the location and purpose but they have standard components.
The lantern room is a glassed-in housing at the top of a lighthouse tower
Beneath the lantern room is the Watch Room or Service Room
Next to the Watch room is an open gallery.
Development accelerated in the 17th century with Britain’s Trinity House constructing its first in 1609.
In North America, St. Augustine, Florida built the first lighthouse. Printed on a 1791 map, it had been built by Menendez after his landing in 1586.
Boston Light built on little Brewster Island next in 1716.
The oldest existing lighthouse in the United States is the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey. Built in 1764, this lighthouse is still in operation.
At the end of the 19th century, the United States had the most lighthouses of any nation.
The 9th Act of the first Congress created the US Bureau of Lighthouses in 1789, which placed lighthouses under federal control.
The United States Coast Guard took over on July 7, 1939.
Hobbyists enjoy visiting and photographing lighthouses. They also collect ceramic replicas.

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY HISTORY

On August 7, 1789, the United States Congress approved an act for the “establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers.” It was two hundred years later that Congress designated August 7 as National Lighthouse Day.

Make sure you attend a tour of our Lighthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Not only is it a historical landmark, its been featured on National television as a haunted one. There seems to be a connection between the Lighthouse and their keepers that sometimes even death cannot sever. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as its a long climb to the you of the stairs.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalLighthouseDay

Tour lighthouses near you. Take a road trip. With lighthouses on every coast and the great lakes, one or more is surely worth the trip! As you celebrate, you can learn more about lighthouses, too.

Read Lighthouses of North America: Beacons from Coast to Coast by Sylke Jackson.
Watch a documentary about lighthouses. Give A Day in the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper a view from National Geographic. Or perhaps, Behind The Light: Lighthouse Keepers will interest you.
Share your experiences visiting lighthouses including visits to lighthouse museums around the country.

Share your photos of lighthouses and use #NationalLighthouseDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL GO FISHING DAY

June 17, 2026May 31, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Go Fishing Day on June 18th each year encourages us to drop a line – in the nearest stream, pond, lake, or river. Taking a break from our daily routine to bait a hook and catch some fish can be a relaxing endeavor.

In addition to providing food, fishing is a recreational pastime for many. Recreational fishing includes conventions, rules, licensing restrictions, and laws that limit the way in which fish may be caught. A rod, reel, line, and hooks with any one of the different forms of bait or lures, are the most common form of recreational fishing.

The practice of catching (or attempting to catch) fish with a hook is known as angling. Catch and release (returning the fish to the water to continue its life) is often the expectation or requirement by law. For others, this is a preferred form of fishing.

Hobbyists with knowledge of habitat, foraging behavior, and migration hone their fishing techniques for a successful fishing adventure. Some fishermen continue to follow fishing folklore by claiming the sun and the moon influence fish feeding patterns.

The earliest known English essay on recreational fishing was published in 1496.

Here in Florida fishing is also a sport. If just relaxing with some friends while attempting to catch fish is not fulfilling enough, try any one of the anglers events, and contests including deep sea. Marlin and Mullet are big ones here. Where else can you attend a Mullet Toss?

Teach the family. My brother and his wife enjoy it so much they now have a spot on a lake. They are diligently teaching the grandkids how it’s done. Make it part of your Family Fun Month this August.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, recreational fishing began to gain popularity. In 1653, Izaak Walton published a book titled, The Compleat Angler or Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Walton’s book is the definitive work championing the position of the angler who loves fishing just for the sake of it.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalGoFishingDay

Grab your rod and reel, some bait, and go fishing! Take a selfie while wearing this fishing t-shirt. Make sure to share it with your co-workers stuck back at the office.

Share your whopper using #NationalGoFishingDay on social media.

National Camping Month

May 31, 2026May 11, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Camping Month in June is an excellent time to pack up your gear and experience nature.

Whether you like roughing it or prefer to have a few modern conveniences when heading out to the trail, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

1. Make sure you have plenty of freshwater or a freshwater source.
2. Take a first aid kit and that it is stocked.
3. Pack waterproof matches.
4. Take non-perishable food such as granola bars, jerky, peanut butter, chocolate bars, and dried fruits, especially if you are not taking a cooler.
5. Pack fruits, vegetables, and meats separately and keep chilled in a cooler.
6. Include sunblock, even for cloudy days.
7. Rain gear, jackets, and blankets are necessary for cooler weather.

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Around the country, there are a variety of campsites available. The more modern campsite includes showers and recreational facilities. These often include water hookups and parking pads for RVs and campers and cabins to rent as well as more primitive sites with no electrical hookups designed for tent usage. Other parks only allow primitive camping and require everything you pack into the park to be packed out. So, seriously consider your needs if you are hiking into the park for your stay. These are not for the glampers.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCampingMonth

Gather family and friends, don’t forget the s’mores supply and go camping! Nature is calling and there are so many ways to enjoy a weekend or even more camping. Use #NationalCampingMonth to show us how you camp.

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Summer Fun Playlist

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 10 Comments

Summer is here and for most of us it comes with a soundtrack that inspires fun in the sun, beaches and cool memories. So grab your sunscreen, flip-flops, and beach towels, as these songs give you the perfect vibes of Summer. Tell me yours in the comments.