CANTON, Ohio, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Winter weather breaks and the sounds, smells and warmer temperatures of Spring are evident throughout Ohio, people who enjoy the outdoors will be glad to find a new free online resource that provides comprehensive information for outdoor activities around the state. The new Web site at www.ohiooutdoors.com features an abundance of useful information, events, merchandise and conversation about outdoor activities in the Buckeye State.

"The Web site is a central repository and meeting place for people who enjoy outdoor recreational activities. We built the main infrastructure of the site, but the real flavor comes from the outdoors-minded people themselves," said Russ Patterson, self-proclaimed outdoorsman and co-owner of the Web site.

OhioOutdoors.com is intended for avid outdoors enthusiasts and their families to find pertinent news and events, and perhaps discover some activities around the state they hadn't previously considered. The first phase of the site has been launched and the site administrators invite contributions from individuals willing to write articles, promote their events and share useful information about outdoor recreation in Ohio.

Users logging on to OhioOutdoors.com will get to know "Earl," the character developed to serve as a virtual tour guide for Ohio's avid outdoors people. Earl helps users navigate through content specific to camping, fishing, boating and hunting. For example, selecting the link for fishing leads to a menu offering links to Ohio's lakes and rivers, weather forecasts, maps and regionally specific events. Additionally, there are sections dedicated to commerce and conversation. As the seasons change and the traffic through the site grows, the users of the site will dictate new areas of interest that will be built.

"The Trading Post," a dedicated free classified advertising section offers users the opportunity to post advertisements for buying and selling pertinent items like outdoor equipment and collectables. It's a free service for users of the site. For events that appeal to the outdoors-minded individual, registered businesses, organizations and site users may post events specific to their area of Ohio. Searching for activities is quick and easy so interested persons can find out what's going on in a specific area or region in just a few clicks.

"We've also put up message boards for people to chat about their outdoors activities, brag about the size of a fish they caught or recommend a favorite camping or hunting spot," added Patterson. "This is the stuff people talk about over the backyard fence, so it's a nice way for people who have the same interests to chat about the things they enjoy."

OhioOutdoors.com is completely free to use and is advertiser-supported. Low-cost advertising packages are available to businesses that derive their revenue from people using the lakes, rivers, campgrounds and other outdoor areas. Most are seasonal businesses and the site's founders believe this focused audience will loyally support the merchants that make the site possible.

OhioOutdoors.com is owned by IP Strategies, Inc., of Canton, Ohio, a family-owned and operated Internet services firm.