It’s not always easy to get out in the winter. Until next weekend, that is.

The Maine Outdoor Coalition will hold its third Great Maine Outdoor Weekend Feb. 15-18, with more than 50 events and activities across the state.

The coalition, a network of nonprofits, governmental groups, businesses and private organizations “committed to supporting Mainers’ connection to the great outdoors,” includes partners such as L.L. Bean, Chewonki, the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Maine Audubon, among many others.

The coalition held the last Great Maine Outdoor Weekend in September, drawing, it says, more than 620 participants to 82 planned events, with 57 percent of the participants new to the organization or location and 62 percent new to the type of activity. The group is hoping for more of the same this winter.

“Great Maine Outdoor Weekend helps remind us of all the wonderful outdoor opportunities we have here – at a time of year when many people are starting to get cabin fever,” coalition member Scot Balentine of L.L. Bean said in the group’s release. “Participants can sample an activity they’ve never tried before or explore a place they’ve always wanted to visit. For many Mainers, it’s a great way for the whole family to share in a wonderful winter adventure outdoors.”

In Cumberland County, events include a Casco Bay cruise with Maine Audubon, hosted by two outdoor educators; the second annual Snowfest in Bridgton, including cross-country ski races and snowshoe runs; WinterKids FunFest in the Park, a free event in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park; and a kids winter camp at Wolfe’s Neck Farm in Freeport. For a full listing of events locally and around the state, go to greatmaineoutdoorweekend.org.

The wide variety of events, for all age groups and activity levels, is welcome, especially in the long, cold winter. Maine’s reputation as an outdoor-friendly state has not helped it avoid the obesity crisis that is gripping the United States. Maine’s self-reported obesity rate, which tends to be an underestimate, nearly doubled in the decade 2000-10, from 15-20 percent to nearly 30 percent, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth obesity is a particularly costly problem in Maine, with a price tag of $1.2 billion through the next 20 years, according to a study by the University of Maine.

There is also the matter of the state’s many lands and parks, which through much time, money and effort, have been protected and left open for use, year-round. As the coalition says in promoting the upcoming Great Maine Outdoor Weekend, those great assets could use a little more attention this time of year.

“The Great Maine Outdoor Weekend helps to showcase some of the spectacular parks and public lands around the state –which typically have far fewer visitors in winter,” said coalition member Gary Best of the Maine Division of Parks and Public Lands. “We hope people will use the weekend to discover the winter wonders offered by natural settings close to their homes.”

Ben Bragdon, managing editor