In an era of video games and downloadable movies -- when even a casual chat involves staying at home with the computer --Venture Outdoors is making it easier than ever for Pittsburghers to get out.

Think of it as a nonprofit outdoors activities enabler. If its organizers haven't already planned a trip suitable for you, they can refer you to another group operating under the big V.O. umbrella that has. Venture Outdoors' Web site (www.ventureoutdoors. org) lists tons of outdoor recreational opportunities in dozens of categories.

Saturday's annual Venture Outdoors Festival is a free daylong family extravaganza that includes kayaking, canoeing, fishing (state regulations apply), outdoor yoga, biking, climbing and more for skill levels from newbie to seasoned vet.

This year the festival will be at two Pittsburgh locations linked by water taxi. Landside activities, including a climbing wall, fishing, food and live entertainment, will be held at Millvale Riverfront Park. Take a water taxi to Washington's Landing on Herr's Island for kayaking and canoeing, about 100 exhibitors, yoga, biking activities and even a bike valet.

"I think things are changing," said V.O. program manager Rob Walters. "People are turning to the organized events for various reasons. One is the social aspect of meeting people and trying something different. Another is security and safety -- they want to know they can show up at a place and time in the outdoors and be safe. And I think another is because of the time it takes to plan something on your own. We and the groups we work with handle all of that for you. You just show up, meet a bunch of good people who like what you like, and go."

The festival is sort of an outdoors sampler providing free access to participatory activities and instruction on how to do them. Walters calls Venture Outdoors a "clearing house" for outdoor recreational opportunities. Membership in V.O. activities isn't required, but in the past three years, he said, membership has grown from 1,200 to nearly 4,000.

Meet Post-Gazette outdoors writers Lawrence Walsh (11 a.m.-1 p.m.), Scott Shalaway (12:30-2 p.m.), Deborah Weisberg (2-4 p.m.) and John Hayes (4-6 p.m.) at the Post-Gazette booth at the Venture Outdoors Festival. Details at 412-255-0564, www. ventureoutdoors.org.