Put down the remotes and game controllers, and go outside to play. This is Great Outdoors Week and, starting Friday, there are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors in its full spring flowering, with a full slate of organized activities presented by local outdoors groups.

A major player in Great Outdoors Week activities is Venture Outdoors, which sponsors year-round outings designed to give participants a deeper appreciation of the environment and wilderness.

A major hub of activity is the Venture Outdoors Festival Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Point State Park. Whether you prefer to travel by land or water, and whether you are a seasoned outdoors type or a beginner, there is something at the festival for you, says Lora Woodward, Venture Outdoors public program coordinator. "There's a focus on beginner and moderate ability levels, with stuff for kids and their parents" as well as more challenging activities.

The wide sampling of outdoor activities at this year's festival includes fishing, kayaking, canoeing, dragon boat paddling and hydrobiking on the Allegheny River. There are two climbing walls and hourly yoga sessions.

There will also be a chance to try Capoeira, a form of martial arts that incorporates music and which was developed 500 years ago by African slaves in Brazil.

While festival-goers are at the Point, they can get free admission to the Block House and two-for-one admission to the Fort Pitt Museum on Saturday.

Saturday is also the eighth annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, which will feature dragon boat races, and a daylong schedule of Asian performing arts, cuisine and more.

Beginning rowers can test the waters Friday at Learn to Row Day at the Three Rivers Boating House in Millvale, where they can try sweeping and sculling in an indoor tank or on a rowing machine.

Bicyclers will have plenty of choices. They can tour city neighborhoods with Sunday's Pedal Pittsburgh, a six-course bike ride ranging from 6 to 60 miles, and Tuesday's Wheeling through History South Side Bike Tour. Also on Sunday, Venture Outdoors takes riders on a 22-mile Great Outdoors Week Bike Ride through the Great Allegheny Passage. The WYEP Urban Bike Tour on May 23 will tour the city's riverfront trails, starting at Riverfront Park in Millvale, and will include a visit to WYEP's "green" studios in South Side.

Hiking through familiar places can give one a new vantage point on the city and region, Woodward says. On Sunday, the Seldom Seen Hike Series will lead a seven-mile hike through the Grandview Scenic Byway Park circling Mount Washington and Duquesne Heights.

Several events are designed to replace some of the calories burned during Great Outdoors Week. The Sunset and Sushi Paddle on May 21 will combine kayaking and a sushi meal. Hike and Eat Locally in North Park on May 20 will combine hiking and cooking demonstrations. Pittsburgh WaterLimoBoat will have a Hike and Wine and Cheese Boat Cruise with hikes along the river trails on May 23. Rachel's Sustainable Feast on May 24 features locally grown foods at the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale. Perk Up Hikes on May 21 is a tour of city neighborhoods and coffeehouses.

For more details on Great Outdoors Week, see the following schedule, or visit wallsarebad.com and ventureoutdoors.org.

Corps of Discovery -- Living History Encampment -- 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Three-day encampment at Nichol's Field off Route 168 near Frankfort Springs highlights early pioneer life and skills.

Kinder Klimb Tyke Hike -- 10 a.m.-noon. Children ages 2 and up start at climbing wall at REI in SouthSide Works, then hike South Side Riverfront Trail. Snacks included ($6 per family up to four).

Strip District Trail Cleanup -- 5-8 p.m. Join Friends of the Riverfront to clean up Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Strip District and buffer zones along the riverfronts.

Learn To Row Day -- 6-7:30 p.m. Try sweeping and/or sculling in an indoor tank or on the rowing machine at Three Rivers Rowing's boathouse in Millvale. Reservations required: 412-231-8772 or threeriversrowing.org.

Spring Birding -- 6 p.m. Friday-3 p.m. Saturday. Supervised bird outings at McKeever Environmental Learning Center, 55 McKeever Lane, Sandy Lake.

The Venture Outdoors Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Point State Park and is sponsored by UPMC Health Plan. Free outdoor activities tailored to beginners include:

• Climbing walls for anyone age 5 or older.

• Fishing without a license on the Allegheny River.

• Maneuver a kayak, canoe and/or hydrobike on the Allegheny River.

• Team up to paddle a dragon boat, once every hour.

• Yoga sessions every hour starting at 11:30 a.m.

• Bike rides throughout the day on your bike or a borrowed one.

• Try Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art paired with music.

• Special admission fees for Fort Pitt Museum and Block House.

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Fly Fishing School -- 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at International Angler, 501 Freeport Road, Aspinwall ($175, 412-782-2222 or internationalangler.com).

Backpacking Essentials Overnight -- This two-part series is for beginners who participated in the May 6 classroom session at Venture Outdoors. The weekend hikes along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail with an overnight stay in a tent will take place this weekend and next weekend (412-255-0564 or ventureoutdoors.org).

Women's Fly Fishing Class -- 9 a.m.-noon at Ohiopyle, Fayette County.

Corps Of Discovery -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Living history encampment near Frankfort Springs.

Invasive Day -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn to control invasive plants at the Wildflower Reserve, Raccoon Creek State Park.

Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival -- 11 a.m.-7 p.m. stage performances, hands-on demonstrations, storytelling and face-painting in SouthSide Works.

Spring Birding -- Until 3 p.m. at McKeever Environmental Learning Center, 55 McKeever Lane, Sandy Lake.

Bluebirds of Raccoon Creek -- 2-3 p.m. guided program at Wildflower Reserve Interpretive Center at Raccoon Creek State Park.

Pedal Pittsburgh 2009 -- 6 a.m.-3 p.m. six courses ranging from 6 to 60 miles, all start and end at SouthSide Works ($30/rider pedalpittsburgh.org).

Girls on the Run 5K -- 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Magee-Womens Hospital's seventh annual event at Sandcastle in West Homestead.

Women's Fly Fishing Class -- 9 a.m.-noon at Ohiopyle, Fayette County.

Grandview Scenic Byway Park -- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 6- to 7-mile hike in Mount Washington and Duquesne Heights, part of the Seldom Seen Hike Series.

Great Outdoors Week Bike Ride -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Venture Outdoors' 22-mile round trip to and from Confluence on the Great Allegheny Passage (members/$15, nonmembers $20; bike rentals not included; www.ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).

Trek of Pittsburgh Demo Day -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. free test rides of road and mountain bikes at North Park's Devils Elbow pavilion.

Talk-n-Walk Series: Spring Wild Edibles -- 2-4 p.m. presentation and hike at Regional Environmental Education Center, 1571 Mayview Road, Upper St. Clair ($10/person; 412-838-0064 or regionaleec.org).

Beginner Paddle -- 6-8 p.m. kayaking for ages 12 and up at North Park Lake.

Wildlife Center Tour and Nature Trail Tyke Hike -- 10 a.m.-noon. Tour of Pennsylvania Wildlife Center, where orphaned wildlife are rehabilitated and released. Snacks provided; no strollers on nature trail. ($9/adult, $7/children ages 2 and up; pre-registration required 412-255-0564, ext. 21).

RiverQuest Teacher preview -- 4:30-7:30 p.m. RiverQuest Teacher Happy Hours earn participants three Act 48 hours, held onboard Explorer at Carnegie Science Center, North Side. (Register at www.eventbrite.com).

Wheeling Through History South Side Bike Tour -- 5:30-7:30 p.m. Begins at Tunnel Park, SouthSide Works, and ends with reception at OTB Bicycle Cafe, 2518 E. Carson St. ($10/rider, $5/reception only; newpittsburghcollaborative.org).

Medicinal Plants Hike -- 6-8 p.m. Frick Park program includes traditional and folk medicinal uses of common plants ($10/members, $14/nonmembers; ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).

Learn to Climb -- 6-8 a.m. Climbing basics plus knots, harness and belaying at Climb North, 2468 Wildwood Road, Wildwood ($20/non-gym members).

Carnegie Museum of Art Tyke Hike -- 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tour of museum, nature craft in art studio and snacks, hike to Flagstaff Hill, Oakland ($14/adult and children over age 3, $7/children 3 and under; 412-255-0564). ext. 21).

Lunchtime Fishing with Downtown TriAnglers -- 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Expert instruction, state fishing license required. ($5 covers bait and rods).

Disc Golf in Schenley -- 5:45-7 p.m. A weekly handicapped league for players of all skill levels. ($4 entry fee goes toward disc prizes; pfds.org).

Hike and Eat Locally -- 6:30-9 p.m. hikes, cooking demonstrations, eating in North Park ($15/members, $20/nonmembers; ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).

Intro to Bike Maintenance -- 7-8 p.m. Bring a wheel to learn how to quickly change a flat at REI, 412 S. 27th St., South Side.

Perk Up Hikes -- 6:30-7:45 a.m. Explore city neighborhoods and coffeehouses and our favorite bean. A cup of coffee is included in the fee ($9/members, $12/nonmembers; ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).)

Doggie Day Trek Lite -- 6-8 p.m. Hike with dog around Riverview Park ($6/members, $10/nonmembers; ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).

Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Tour -- 2-3:30 p.m. Program explains how Raccoon Creek State Park in Hookstown was created.

Dragon Boat Open Paddle --10 a.m.-noon. Paddle around Herr's Island with Pittsburgh Paddlefish team. (Register at pghpfish@gmail.com).

Forest and Lake Trail Hike -- 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 4-mile hike around Raccoon Creek State Park; bring water.

Jay Walk in the Park -- 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tour of National Aviary and Allegheny Commons, crafts and Flight Zone program ($5 per person; ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).

Moraine Monthly Disc Golf -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. One round of 18 holes, all skills divisions (members/$10, nonmembers $11; www.pfds.org).

WYEP Urban Bike Tour -- 1-4:30 p.m. Tour of riverfront trails starts at Millvale Riverfront Park and includes WYEP's "green studio" on the South Side (members/$15, nonmembers/$20, bike rental $8; ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).

Hike and Wine and Cheese Boat Cruise -- 5-8 p.m. Hike along river trails from South Side to North Side and refreshments on PittsburghWater­Limo boat (members/$44, nonmembers $66; ventureoutdoors.org or 412-255-0564).

Frankfort Mineral Springs Tour -- 2-3:30 p.m. Tour, history program on 200-year-old resort beginning in parking lot in the middle of Raccoon Creek State Park on Route 18, between park office and Office and Hozak Road.

Polymath Park Resort Walking Tour, Picnic -- noon-4 p.m. Tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Duncan House, Balter House and Blum House and lakeside catered picnic at Polymath Park, 1 Usonian Drive, Acme ($40/person; 1-877-833-7829 or polymathpark.com).

Rachel's Sustainable Feast -- noon-4 p.m. Third annual meal of local food made by Pittsburgh chefs at Rachel Carson Homestead, 613 Marion Ave,, Springdale ($10/person; 724-274-5459 or rachelcarsonhomestead.org).