The month of June helped me realize the amazing outdoor programs and resources that exist in our three-county coverage area.

Earlier in the month, I attended the Firefly Festival at High Bridge Trail State Park. I wasn’t working, and decided to go on a whim. I went last year and like many, was surprised by the hundreds of fireflies that light up the expansive landscape below the bridge.

The sun had already set and there were lights placed along the path to High Bridge. However, the path was filled with families, talking excitedly, eating ice cream and playing with glow sticks.

Supplemented by an informative presentation by Park Ranger Craig Guthrie, people picked spaces along the bridge to watch the fireflies. Rain the night before didn’t seem to deter the fireflies as they lit up the trees and river below.

Then, on Friday, I attended a portion of the Batteau Festival, in which dozens of people used vessels that transported goods in the 18th and 19th centuries, called batteaus, to float through the James River, stretching from Lynchburg to the Richmond area.

On Friday, the batteaus anchored at the area of the James River that runs underneath the Cartersville Bridge in Cartersville.

Those riding the batteaus, after a long day on the water, anchored their batteaus, enjoyed solid ground beneath their feet, and ate a homemade meal by the Lady Slippers group, the women-led batteau team.

Acclimating to the grounds took time for me, and I wasn’t even on the batteau. I got my car stuck in a ditch and still have a sore leg from a Charley horse, courtesy of clogs that weren’t quite right for the terrain.

Still, it was definitely an experience.

I got to ride with the captains of the batteau called Rosalee as they moved their boat further down the river. Leaving the shore, even for a few minutes, made me feel like I was transported into a world different from the one I knew. In this world, there wasn’t Wi-Fi or air conditioning. Instead, there was a light breeze, the sight of trees and rocks lining the edges of the river, and the reflection of the sky in the water as oars glided underneath the surface, keeping the batteau on its course. I could feel my rushed thoughts slowing down.

The Batteau Festival and the Firefly Festival are among the numerous outdoor activities that take place throughout the year in Prince Edward, Buckingham and Cumberland counties.

The firefly and batteau festivals were wonderful events. I really enjoyed meeting the people I did, and becoming aware again how important it is to protect our environment, the extensive work of organizers to make these events possible, and the necessity of supporting our state parks and community events.

Looking to shake things up this summer, to go on an adventure? Try one of the state parks, or an outdoor event in the Heart of Virginia.

EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH is a staff reporter for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Emily.Hollingsworth@ FarmvilleHerald.com.