Down (with) the tubes. (Tip-Off).

What are your plans for April 21-27? If you're like millions of Americans, you won't be watching TV. National TV-Turnoff Week has generated the support of more than 70 important national organizations, including NRPA, and will inspire millions of children and adults to lead a more active life.

This is a wonderful opportunity to help your community focus on all the outstanding park and recreation programs and services they could be doing daily--if they weren't sitting in front of the boob tube. On average, American schoolchildren spend more time each year (more than 1,000 hours) in front of the television set than in the classroom. The average American will watch more than nine years of television in his or her lifetime.

America's national television habit has significant negative impacts, especially on children. We can measure these impacts in academic underachievement, rising obesity and splintered families. Indeed, given these issues, it's small wonder that so many organizations support TV-Turnoff Week.

Turning off television gives us a chance to think, read, create and do; to connect with our families and engage in our communities; to turn off TV and turn on life.

Sound like fun? Organize a TV-Turnoff Week. For more information or to order an organizer's kit, visit TV-Turnoff Network at www.tvturnoff.org or call 202-518-5556.