The sloppy spring is over, summer is just ahead. There are calm winds, summer sunshine, and fun for all just waiting for us. Fishing, hunting, shooting, archery, hiking, camping, exploring, and fun-filled outdoor adventuring await us all. There is always a new lane of outdoor culture that we can learn more about and new things, too. The outdoors is often called the greatest schoolhouse in the world because it engages our mind, body, and spirit. The one problem is choosing what to do when our calendar and Mother Nature allow it.

Whatever your plans, embrace flexibility over being too rigid. Stay weather aware – use reliable weather apps and tools to plan around storms, nasty heat waves, or cold fronts. Learn about NOAA, Windy App, AccuWeather, and other weather information sources. Have a backup plan. Prepare alternative options, switch from hiking to kayaking if the trails are muddy. Be opportunistic to take advantage of unexpected clear best days, even if they fall in the middle of the week – be friends with your boss. There’s a unique thrill in seizing these unexpected clear days, turning opportunity into impromptu adventures when possible. Learn to plan your activities and match them to current conditions the best you can.

After a rainy day, fishing often improves, especially in inland lakes, due to increased runoff and water movement. The fish generally feed well. Consider something new after a rainstorm, learn about mushroom foraging, and mushrooms thrive in damp environments. Avoid steep, muddy trails to reduce personal risk. Prioritize established trails and sites. Campers need to choose high ground or visit campgrounds that have good drainage. Common sense must always apply.

On hot and sunny days, lakes, rivers, and creeks are ideal for boaters (walleye and bass fishing), paddlers (kayaks and canoes), and swimmers (beach time). If you plan a hike, avoid the peak heat hours and go for an early morning hike. The shaded forest trails are cooler and less sun-exposed if you keep moving on the trails through the entire day. Families with children or newer adventurers should stick to predictable, safe options, whatever the weather.

If the weather closes off one option, again, be flexible. Consider wildlife watching in the rain – get a good pair of binoculars, a camera, and a tripod. Geocaching can be fun or meeting up with a professional outdoor guide to learn about survival skills. If you are a hunter, it might be a good time to ride out to that remote area to scout ahead for fall. If we stay flexible, we can enjoy the process as much as the destination. When we let the weather guide us instead of frustrating us, the adventure of a new choice becomes a new part of the fun. Maybe, no matter what, the daytime weather will just not work for our choices; that’s fine. Watching the stars and the night sky for meteorites is a great experience – if it clears for nighttime.

Stay hydrated if you are in a fishing boat all day on Lake Erie – it is walleye competition time. I was out on a 14-hour offshore fishing day down in Florida last month and became dehydrated. It sneaks up on you. The experience can be life-threatening, so go prepared. After the trip, I discovered a hydration-rejuvenating powder product called “Liquid IV.” It is supplied in a small paper tube carried in your pocket or backpack. Tear open one end and pour into a regular drinking water bottle, and shake it up. Many such products exist. Check that there is no conflict between your medications and get the doctor’s advice, but don’t forget this lifesaver.

With all that sun exposure, sunscreen is not to be missed. There is a lot of advice on which type is best, but broad-spectrum zinc-oxide products last the longest and cost the most. However, they work. Ask someone like me who has learned from too many dermatology visits. Use at least SPF30 or higher. Neutrogena, CeraVe, and Blue Lizard make oxybenzone-free liquid and spray variations. Specific geographic locations have banned the use of sunscreens with oxybenzone, as studies show it contributes to DNA damage in marine organisms and is toxic to coral larvae and other aquatic life, not to mention the potential ill effects for people as it is absorbed through the skin. We all learn more each day. Research it on your own to learn more. Remember, preventing sunburn and staying hydrated is a form of self-care, ensuring you can fully enjoy your outdoor adventures.

If hiking or camping, ensure you and your family stay protected from flying and crawling insects that can bite. Use an effective insect repellent; there are so many choices that it can be confusing. That’s the good part about living where we live, America. From my many decades of hitting the trails, the campsites, fishing tournaments, and a dozen other fun-adventure options, we have derived our best choice of repellent, which is made by Sawyer Products. This is not to say other brands will not work, but these are from my experience. Look for Picaridin spray or liquid for insect protection of your exposed skin and Permethrin spray for your clothes. The Permethrin must be sprayed onto your clothes the day before you head out and must be dry when you put on your pants, shirts, socks, and hat, but it is effective for six weeks and six washings. These two products will help protect you from mosquitoes, no-see-ums, deer ticks, and much more. Deer ticks can carry and deliver Lyme disease with their painless bites and are nearly imperceptible in visual size. Using these repellents will give you a sense of security, knowing that you’re protected from potentially harmful insects. Do read the labels.

Lastly, this weekend on Sunday, June 1, the 2025 New York State musky season will open for our inland waters. That includes Chautauqua Lake, Bear Lake, and the Cassadaga Lakes right here in Chautauqua County, as well as other inland waterways. On the New York portions of the Great Lakes, Niagara River, and St. Lawrence River, other places known for the giant freshwater apex predator, the musky season opens on Sunday, June 15. Muskies are managed as trophy fish in New York, with minimum size regulations of 40 inches for inland waters and 54 inches for Great Lakes waters. Additional special regulations may exist; always check the current fishing regulations for the water you plan to fish.

Gotta love the outdoors.