That is one of many reasons programs that combine outdoor recreation and learning are so valuable.

It's no accident that some of the fittest and most interesting folks you will ever meet on a trail or in an outdoor town like Moab are seniors.

Utah is especially blessed with natural wonders and state and national parks, sure places to learn all kinds of things about the outdoors. Most park travelers stop at a visitor center where they can read the exhibits about the human and natural history of the area. Nature trails, with guidebooks or signs, provide another way to learn. There also are ranger-guided hikes and evening programs at most parks. Sometimes volunteers, who had to learn about the area before presenting a program, lead the hikes or slide shows.

It's a sad commentary on the state of the National Park Service that such popular interpretive programs are usually the first thing to get cut when budgets become tight.

Nearly every national park and many state parks also offer a Junior Ranger Program that allows kids to earn a badge while learning basics about the park. Sometimes, earning the badge involves a small project to help take care of a park, a good lesson in stewardship.

Park visitors looking for a more intense learning experience can often connect with a natural-history association. At the very least, these organizations sell interpretive books and gifts at visitors centers that add to the park's experience. Many go much farther, offering classes, field trips and workshops. In Utah, two leading ones are the Zion Canyon Field Institute for Zion National Park and the Canyonlands Field Institute.

Private contractors also work with the national parks that grant them permits to offer classes. One of the biggest is the ElderHostel program, which offers programs for all ages. A glance at www.elderhostel. org reveals dozens of Utah learning trips that include bicycling, hiking, river rafting and golf.

While many of us are more sedentary and watch more television than we should, so many outdoor learning experiences are available to keep our minds and bodies feeling young.

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* TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@ sltrib.com or 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to living editor@sltrib. com.