Looking for something fun to do with your family and friends this weekend? Wish you could get your kids away from the computer and TV and outside for some unstructured time, the kind we used to have so much more of when we were kids?

Join thousands of your neighbors, friends, and families across the country for National Wildlife Federation’s fourth annual Great American Backyard Campout this Saturday June 28.

We can help you make the most of your camping experience with packing lists, recipes, wildlife guides, activities, tips and more.

Register your campsite and share your experiences with campers across the country by posting your photos and videos to our Flickr group or adding your stories here.

Whether you go camping in your backyard or in the woods, you’ll be creating memories with your family and friends that will last a lifetime.

As so many grapple with catastrophic flooding in the central United States, my thoughts and prayers are with those in harm’s way.

The big picture is that global warming is making tragedies like these more frequent and more intense. Global warming is happening now. Our dependency on fossil fuels like oil and coal is causing the problem, and people and wildlife are witnessing the effects.

There are things we can do now to reduce floodplain risk, such as:

- Review all significant dams and levees for risks and public safety;

- Increase the nation’s commitment to updating and improving floodplain maps, and incorporating future conditions (including effects of urbanization and global warming factors), and creating stronger zoning rules and increasing wetlands protections that can reduce flooding to keep people and homes safe;

- Adopting policies that restrict new building and new levees that encourage development in high-risk and often environmentally-sensitive areas.

Although no single weather event can be attributed to global warming, it’s critical to understand that a warming climate is supplying the very conditions that fuel these kinds of weather events: it is a law of physics that warmer air is able to carry more water.

And many of our past solutions, such as basing predictions only on past flooding histories, instead of foreseeable future conditions and relying on levees that give occupants a false sense of security, must be rethought in light of increasing development and global warming.

Science tells us that we are experiencing trends toward more heavy precipitation events, especially in the eastern half of the continental United States during summer.

To get at the root of the problem and avoid continued catastrophes like this, we need to reduce global warming pollution that is fueling a warming climate.

Read more about the effects of climate change on extreme weather patterns in the U.S. Climate Change Science Program’s recent report Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate, Regions of Focus: North America, Hawaii, Caribbean, and U.S. Pacific Islands.

This week, we had a significant victory for getting kids outdoors. With significant bipartisan support, the House Committee on Education and Labor approved the No Child Left Inside Act. This bill is on track for becoming a significant new source of public funding for outdoor education for children and is an important step toward getting today’s overscheduled kids back outdoors to experience the wonders of nature.

Learn more about how you can help at https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=377

A new, landmark statement from the United States National Academy of Sciences and the science academies of 12 other nations was recently released.  The statement, entitled Joint Science Academies’ Statement: Climate Change Adaptation and the Transition to a Low Carbon Society, highlights the mounting urgency and the need for upfront investment in adaptation strategies to avert the worst impacts of climate change on human and natural systems around the world.

Thank you to everyone who worked so hard with us this week on the Climate Security Act.

I am pleased with all the new and important voices that joined together as never before to fight this war we must not lose. The future of wildlife looks a bit more promising as a result.

Today’s historic vote on the strongest global warming bill ever acted on by Congress creates momentum we need to continue the fight. In all, 54 senators spoke up for the need to debate solutions to global warming, far surpassing the 38 votes in 2005 and 43 votes in 2003 for legislation that was significantly weaker than this year's Climate Security Act. Supporters today included ten Senate converts who had not supported cap-and-trade legislation in prior votes in 2003 and 2005.

Go to National Wildlife Federation’s Climate Action Center to learn how your Senators voted, get the latest from the Hill from National Wildlife Federation’s Jeremy Symons, and learn what you can do to keep the momentum going.

The good news is that many senators who have previously buried their head in the sand and pretended global warming doesn't exist now acknowledge the problem is real. The bad news is they are now throwing sand in the gears to prevent Congress from actually doing anything about it.

How could any senator vote against advancing debate on global warming legislation? What were they thinking? If we don't tackle climate change soon, it will tackle us. It's that simple. Climate change is threatening our national security, our economy and the natural resources all Americans depend on.

Every senator who voted against continued debate on the Climate Security Act has voted against investing in a clean energy future that will energize our struggling economy, voted against safeguarding our families and voted against protecting and restoring America's natural resources.

Despite today's vote, the results are vital to our plans for passing strong global warming legislation next year. We now know which senators are paying attention to science and listening to the public, and which ones are instead listening to oil companies.

Today's vote was just round one. Round two will be when voters have their say in November. Round three will happen in 2009 when we have a new president and a new Congress who will listen to the vast majority of Americans who want real action.

I extend my deep gratitude to Senators Boxer, Reid, Warner and Lieberman, and other bill champions, who have been tireless leaders to address the urgent problem of climate change.

I have a note taped to my computer monitor with these simple words, "Keep your destination in view." It daily reminds me that climate stabilization must be our common destination.

All the extra effort from so many committed people this week has been deeply inspiring to me. Working together as never before, we will win this.

The Climate Security Act being debated today is the most important climate legislation our lawmakers have ever considered.

This bipartisan bill would reduce global warming pollution, recharge America’s economy by investing in clean energy technologies and jobs, protect consumers from rising energy costs by diversifying our energy choices, reduce our dependency on oil and other fossil fuels, and invest dedicated financial resources in restoring and protecting America’s natural resources threatened by global warming.

The American people have spoken. We have asked for meaningful climate action to put our country on the path to a bright energy future.

With so much at stake, I am profoundly disappointed by the response of some of our senators. Instead of leading our nation, some are more worried about scoring political points than in working with the Climate Security Act’s bipartisan sponsors to engage in meaningful debate.

A confidential memo outlines the strategy of these detractors. They plan to put their energies into obstructionist tactics and make it as difficult as possible to move forward for action.

The memo reads:

"The thinking right now is still to use as much of the 30 hours

post-cloture on the motion to proceed for debate on thematically-group

amendments. The goal is for a theme (e.g. climate bill = higher gas

prices) each day, and the focus is much more on making political points

than in amending the bill, changing the baseline text for any future

debate or affecting policy.

"After the 30 hours is consumed, GOP expects Reid to either fill the

tree or set up a procedure that allows him to control the flow of

amendments. GOP anticipates a struggle over which amendments are debated

and eventually finger-pointing over blame for demise of the bill. In

the GOP view, this will take at least the rest of the week, and

hopefully run into next week.

"At some point, Reid will have to move from the bill, and GOP plans to

oppose UC and potentially force debate on debatable motions, and vote

against cloture on any such motion. While Reid will eventually be able

to circumvent by moving to a privileged vehicle (e.g., budget resolution

conference report) or using some other parliamentary maneuver, the

bottom line is that the GOP very much wants to have this fight, engage

in it for a prolonged period, and then make it as difficult as possible

to move off the bill."

Confronting the climate crisis isn’t about right or left. It’s about right and wrong. Kudos to the brave Senators on both sides of the aisle who have stood up for our country’s future and supported this bill. They are showing us what true leadership is all about.

For those senators who are choosing instead to score political points, there will be an accounting.

Call your Senators today and urge them to "Vote yes for the Climate Security Act" and stop any further delays.

A yes vote is a yes to continue debate on the Climate Security Act. A no vote is a vote to kill the bill for this Congress and squash any chances to pass strong global warming legislation this year.

Even if you have already called your senators, call them again.

The president of Kiribati said today his country may already be doomed by climate change.

At international meetings on climate change this week, President Anote Tong listened in frustration while other countries argued that it would hurt their countries’ economic development.

In fact, the Department of Energy recently concluded that America's economy will grow by 74% by the year 2030 if the Climate Security Act is enacted. The legislation will also reduce spending on foreign oil by $1,650 per household over the next 20 years (cumulatively).

But for the citizens of Kiribati, it’s an issue of survival. Under the worst case scenario, Kiribati will be submerged by the end of the century, and its 92,000 residents will have to be resettled.

The Climate Security Act being debated today would set the stage for an effective global agreement and provide assistance to the most vulnerable nations that need assistance to deal with climate change damage.

The Senate is debating the Climate Security Act RIGHT NOW, with an expected vote Friday June 6, at 10 am EST.

The number one thing you can do to stop the worst impacts of climate change is to call your Senator today and ask him/her to strengthen the Climate Security Act.

We are getting the vote we have been looking for on the Climate Security Act (S. 3036) tomorrow morning, Friday, at about 10 am. There could be an agreement later today to move this bill forward to tonight. Either way, today is the big day for us, our allies and the public to weigh in.

Yesterday, our opponents overplayed their hand in stalling and obstructing debate on this bill on behalf of the oil companies. Senators Boxer, Reid and Warner have pounced to take them on and set the best possible context for the big vote. Today is our day to weigh in with Senators and ask them to: 

Vote Yes to break through the obstructionist and filibuster tactics of Republican leaders. Vote Yes to get to a real legislative process to amend and pass the Climate Security Act. Specifically, vote Yes on "Cloture" for the Boxer Substitute Amendment to the Climate Security Act, S. 3036. A "no" vote is a vote against prompt action on global warming and a clean energy future.

To keep up-to-date and access tools for calling your Senators, please visit National Wildlife Federation's Climate Action Center at https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?alertId=507&pg=makeACallhttps://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?alertId=507&pg=makeACall 

Republican leaders launched a series of irresponsible attempts to drag debate down yesterday, turning their back on senior Republicans like John Warner who have been working to advance legislation with the support of other Republicans including Senators Coleman, Dole, Snowe and Collins. The tactics include the highly unusual moves of requiring an 8-hour reading of the bill, word for word. They also created late night dramatics with a procedural move that caused Sen. Reid to send out the Sergeant at Arms to round up Senators in the dead of night to get sufficient Senators to proceed around midnight last night.

Debate today on the Senate floor will be from 11-4 today, although we expect a lot of finger pointing in the early hours as well when the Senate is on other business.

As we approach today's vote, we have an opportunity to make a new appeal to Senators who are supportive of the Climate Security Act but have told us they are not yet ready to vote for it because they hoped to offer up amendments to improve it. We need them in this key test of support for serious action on global warming in order to break through these delay tactics. This will likely be the only clear, accountable vote on global warming legislation this year.

To keep up-to-date and access tools for calling your Senators, please visit National Wildlife Federation's Climate Action Center at https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?alertId=507&pg=makeACallhttps://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?alertId=507&pg=makeACall 

Public interest groups and others have issued the joint statement below to urge the Senate to end the filibuster immediately and have productive debate on climate solutions.

Center for American Progress Action Fund -- Clean Water Action *

Defenders of Wildlife -- Earthjustice -- Environment America --

Environmental Defense Fund -- League of Conservation Voters -- League of

Women Voters -- National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good

Shepherd -- National Audubon Society -- National Wildlife Federation --

Natural Resources Defense Council * Oxfam America -- Pew Environment

Group -- Physicians for Social Responsibility -- Sierra Club -- Union of

Concerned Scientists * The Wilderness Society * The World Wildlife

Fund

PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS TO SENATE: END CLIMATE BILL FILIBUSTER;

AMERICANS DESERVE PRODUCTIVE DEBATE ON GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS

WASHINGTON (June 5, 2008) - The Climate Security Act of 2008 (S. 3036)

-- sponsored by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Ct.) and John Warner (R-Va.) --

potentially offers an opportunity to put our nation on the path to avoid

the worst consequences of global warming, but obstructionists in the

Senate are blocking debate. Leading U.S.environmental, conservation,

science, development, faith and grassroots advocacy organizations issued

the following statement:

*The opposition in the Senate must give up its strategy of denial,

delay and disinformation. Allies of the coal and oil industry are

hijacking the Senate floor at a time when an overwhelming majority of

Americans want our country to build a clean energy economy.

*The Senate should vote to end the filibuster immediately. Americans

deserve a productive debate on how we will address the climate crisis.*