For many families, the arrival of summer brings the return of cherished traditions such as picnics in local parks, hanging out at the pool, camping and hiking.

As hard as it is to believe, in a region with so much natural beauty, many kids never experience the outdoors.

According to the National Parks Service, in 2006 one million fewer people visited our parks. That's 14.5 million fewer than in 1999.

Many studies and books, such as Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods," show that an increasing number of children spend little or no time playing outside.

In the greater Seattle region, there are many ways to get kids involved in the outdoors this summer-and many are free, inexpensive or offer financial assistance.

Here are some tips from the Highline YMCA on how to encourage more outdoor play and fewer hours in front of the TV this summer:

Day camp, resident camp and leadership development programs from the Highline YMCA and its sister branches offer kids and teens a chance to participate in fun, age-appropriate outdoor activities, including hiking, swimming and outdoor games.

Middle-school girls and boys can also participate in the YMCA's YBOYS or PCAL programs, which provide a unique environment in which to build leadership and outdoor skills. Financial assistance is available to the extent possible for all YMCA programs. Visit www.seattleymca.org or www.highlineymca.org.

Seattle Inner City Outings provides opportunities for Seattle-area youth to experience the outdoors and is coordinated by the local Sierra Club. Volunteers work through selected schools and agencies to reach kids ages eight to 20 from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Visit http://ico.sierraclub.org/seattle.

The Highline area is full of fun outdoor experiences.

Marine View Park and Eagle Landing Park have trails that offer beach access. Taking an afternoon stroll through a farmers market in Burien, SeaTac or Des Moines is an easy way to interest kids in fresh fruit and vegetables.

Mark Twain once wrote, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

"So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

This wise man knew that the child who experiences the outdoor world, who has a chance to see and do new things, is the child with a head start in life.

As summer arrives, seize the chance to give the gift of an outdoor experience to a child close to you.

Shelly Skaro is Senior Program Director at the Highline YMCA. A new 48,000-square-foot YMCA is being planned for the Highline/SeaTac area, with a groundbreaking scheduled for this summer. For more information on the project, or current programs at the YMCA, visit www.highlineymca.org or call 206-244-5880.