Family-Outdoors

Image via Wikipedia DES MOINES―Ring in the New Year by taking a hike in an Iowa state park . Three Iowa state parks are participating in the national First Day Hikes event held in all 50 states Jan. 1. America’s State Parks First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on Jan. 1, 2012, at a state park. “This is a good opportunity for Iowans to start the year off by reconnecting with their state park during a time of year when most of our visitors are staying inside,” said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau. “Parks offer a completely different experience in the winter, from hiking or skiing on our trails, to ice fishing and even winter camping.” The DNR has events planned at Walnut Woods, near Des Moines, Dolliver in Webster County and Mines of Spain near Dubuque. Participants should dress for the weather and may wa...

Image via Wikipedia (*Saturday) indicates events with a Friday school day Mississippi River Visitor Center , Quad Cities December 31 and January 14 - February 12, Weekends Only Combination eagle watches and clock tower tours Saturday and Sunday times are 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Reservations required. Group size is limited. Call  309-794-5338 Clinton Bald Eagle Watch Saturday, January 7 Outdoor viewing Lock and Dam 13, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Live Bird and Nature Programs Clinton Community College, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Exhibits Clinton Community College from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Free bus service from college to the outdoor viewing area. For more information call  815-259-3628 Quad Cities Bald Eagle Days *Saturday and Sunday, January 7-8 QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois Hours: Friday 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Live eagle and bird of prey programs by The World Bird Sanctua...

Image via Wikipedia Attend the free training to beome a certified fishing instructor AKRON, OH -- Any adult, group, or conservation club who has a sincere interest in taking kids fishing should consider becoming a certified Passport to Fishing instructor, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. A free workshop is available on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will take place at Wildlife District Three, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron. Passport to Fishing is a one-day instructor training program that qualifies individuals to become Division of Wildlife certified fishing instructors, similar to a hunter education instructor.  Passport to Fishing was developed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and adopted by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.  Workshops teach volunteers the basics of fishing and how to run a four-station fishing program with a fishing event. These instructors then go back to their communities, with a wr...

Image via Wikipedia First Baptist Childcare Center to host workshop Alliance, OH – Both formal and non-formal educators who work with children ages three to seven are invited to attend a Growing Up WILD workshop in Stark County on Thursday, February 9th. The workshop, which will be facilitated by personnel from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, will be held at the First Baptist Childcare Center from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them.  Workshop participants will take home an easy-to-use book containing nearly 30 field-tested activities focusing on wildlife and nature . These activities blend social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive skills to help foster learning and are correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards and the Head Start Domains. There is no fee for the w...

Image via Wikipedia With “First Day” events scheduled in all 50 states, state park directors are encouraging Americans to start off the New Year off getting outside with family and friends on Sunday, Jan. 1. Minnesota State Parks and Trails Director Courtland Nelson invites Minnesotans to participate in the national effort by visiting one of the state’s 75 state parks and recreation areas that day. Special “First Day” events are scheduled at these Minnesota state parks on Jan. 1: Wild River State Park (Center City), 1-3 p.m.: Nelson will give a short welcome at the trail center, and then participants will embark on a trek over the prairie, through the woods or along the St. Croix River. Guided options will include a two-mile walk to the visitor center and back, an easy one-mile ski through Amador Prairie, and a three-mile moderate snowshoe hike to the St. Croix River and back. Skis and snowshoes are available to rent at the park or participants can bring their own. For rent...

Image via Wikipedia Those planning to pitch a tent or park an RV at a Minnesota state park have just a few days left to book their favorite campsites for 2012, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR advises campers to act now and avoid the rush for reservations in March when the DNR launches its new state park reservation system. Now through 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, reservations can be made by visiting stayatmnparks.com and by calling 866-85PARKS. Reservations will be accepted for arrival dates up to a year in advance. As announced earlier this month, the existing reservation system is being upgraded and will be temporarily unavailable Dec. 27-Feb. 29. Overnight stays at Minnesota state parks and recreation areas totaled 985,374 in 2010, up from 942,381 in 2009 and 863,075 in 2008. Related articles Minnesota Snowshoeing for beginners at Lac qui Parle State Park, Jan. 21 (family-outdoors.blogspot.com) Gooseberry Falls State Park [Minne...

Image via Wikipedia The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey starts Jan. 5 and gives wildlife enthusiasts and their families an exciting way to kick off the New Year.             Attracting birds and maintaining backyard feeders for wintering birds is popular in both urban and rural areas of Oklahoma. People in both places can help the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation by participating in the survey while also getting close-up views of a number of unique birds.             Any Oklahoman with a backyard bird feeder can participate by choosing any two days between Jan. 5-8 to count birds at their feeders and record their observations. And according to Rachel Bradley, wildlife diversity specialist for the Wildlife Department, attracting birds to backyard feeders is not difficult.       ...

Image via Wikipedia PIERRE, S.D. – Start the New Year off right with a nature hike. Four South Dakota State Parks are hosting hikes on New Year’s Day as part of  America's State Parks First Day Hikes  initiative. America’s State Parks First Day Hikes offer individuals and families opportunities to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking healthy hikes on Jan.1 at a state park close to home. First Day Hikes offer a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family. “We are excited to host First Day Hikes as part of this national effort to get people outdoors and into our parks,” said State Parks Director Doug Hofer. “The First Day Hikes are a great way to cure cabin fever and burn off those extra holiday calories with an invigorating walk or hike in one of our beautiful state parks.” “What better way to kick off the New Year than with a hike at a state park?” said Ruth Coleman, Pr...

Image via Wikipedia Crosley Fish & Wildlife Area will host its fourth annual youth squirrel hunt Jan. 7. The event, a joint effort with the Hoosier Tree Dog Alliance and Clifty Creek Coonhunters, matches youths with experienced hunters and their squirrel dogs on a guided hunt. The youth hunt is open to ages 17 and younger. Children 12 and younger must have an adult with them. Older youth are also welcome to bring their parents or another adult. Participants of all experience levels are welcome, especially those looking to try hunting for the first time. Squirrel hunting with a dog is a great way to get interested in hunting and the outdoors. The youth squirrel hunt requires either a youth license, which requires completion of a hunter education course, or an apprentice license for youth who have not completed a hunter education course. Youth attending the squirrel hunt are encouraged to bring their favorite squirrel rifle or shotgun. Firearms will be provided to thos...

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Looking for a way to stay in shape when a favorite trail is covered with snow? This winter, try snowshoe running. Avid snowshoe runner Jim McDonell will teach people how at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at Afton State Park in Hastings. McDonell is an avid trail runner and triathlete in the summer who morphs into a snowshoe runner in the winter. He has been running for 35 years and snowshoe running for almost 20 years. He still runs competitively at age 58. After about 45 minutes of discussion and questions about gear, clothing and the local and national racing scene, participants will head out on the trail to do some running on snowshoes until about 3:15 p.m. (or longer for those who want more of a workout). People who don’t have their own snowshoes, can rent them from the park for $6. McDonell will also have some running snowshoes to try. “Snowshoe running is a great, low-impact form of exercise,” said McDonell. “I enjoy the c...

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Learn to make a pair of traditional wooden snowshoes during a snowshoe-lacing workshop at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The workshop will be Jan. 21-22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Participants must call 218-834-3855 to register by Thursday, Jan. 5. Workshop presenters will teach attendees how to string laces on pre-built wooden snowshoe frames and demonstrate how to use them. The $75 fee includes instruction, a snowshoe kit and other materials. Class size is limited to 12 people. The workshop is designed for ages 10 and up. Attendees should meet at the visitor center theater, bring a sack lunch, and register in advance so the appropriate quantities and sizes of snowshoe kits may be ordered. Snowshoeing is beginner-friendly outdoor activity and is a great way to explore Minnesota’s winter wilderness, according to the DNR. Once participants finish their snowshoes, they can attend one of the learning to snowshoe progra...

Image via Wikipedia Women seeking the opportunity to improve their outdoor skills are invited to register for the 12th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) winter program in the Upper Peninsula. The program will be held in Big Bay on Feb. 24-26. Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, this program offers instruction in more than a dozen kinds of indoor and outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing, fly tying, wilderness first aid, wood burning and more. Instructors provide basic and advanced instruction that is tailored to each participant's individual ability. The program takes place at Bay Cliff Health Camp, a universally accessible facility, located in a picturesque wooded setting overlooking Lake Superior approximately 30 miles north of Marquette. The $180 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies, except as noted in the registration materials. Participants wi...