Family-Outdoors

The Game, Fish & Parks Department is reminding campers that the end of the summer doesn’t mean the end of camping at South Dakota state parks as the parks will continue taking camping reservations throughout the winter months. “We now take reservations for stays year-round,” said state park director Doug Hofer. “In the past, camping was on a first-come, first-served basis after Labor Day.”   Campsites and cabins at Custer State Park can be reserved up to one year in advance, and up to 90 days prior to arrival at all other campsites and cabins. Group campsites located at Custer State Park and Lewis and Clark Recreation Area can also be booked one year in advance. Group lodges that can be reserved one year ahead of time include: •    Lake Thompson Recreation Area near Lake Preston •    Mina Lake Recreation Area near Aberdeen •    Newton Hills State Park near Canton •    Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre...

King and Queen Rock on Split Rock Creek, Palisades State Park, South Dakota Three state parks are hosting nature day camps for kids ages 7-12. The camps are a great way for kids to explore the surrounding recreation area and focus on the outdoors. Kids’ fishing will be held at  Lake Poinsett Recreation Area  near Arlington from  10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, June 11  and at  Angostura Recreation Area  near Hot Springs from  9:30 a.m. to noon MDT on Wednesday, June 12 . Call 605-627-5441 to register for the Lake Poinsett camp and 605-745-6996 to register for the Angostura camp. Kids will learn all about trees at  Palisades State Park  near Garretson on  Thursday, June 13 , from  9 to 11 a.m. CDT . Participants will enjoy a hands-on lesson, craft project, hike and games. Call 605-594-3824 for more information or to register. While the camps are geared for kids ages 7-12, younger children may attend if accompanied by...

 (Photo credit: Ann Arbor District Library) Families will learn how to pitch a tent, hook a fish, paddle a kayak or canoe, scale a cliff and shoot a bow at nearly 200 “I Can!” programs offered this summer at Minnesota state parks and on state water trails. The newly expanded “I Can!” series of outdoor programs are designed to introduce kids to camping, fishing, paddling, climbing and archery. “We created the ‘I Can!’ series in response to research that showed declining participation in outdoor recreation by young families,” said Courtland Nelson, DNR Parks and Trails Division director. “These popular programs are designed to introduce the next generation to the outdoors.” Since the series launched in 2010, thousands of people have been introduced to outdoor recreation and Minnesota state parks and trails. Participation in “I Can Camp!” totaled 877 in 2012, up 51 percent from the 582 who participated the first year. “I had to drag my kids there, and now they won’t stop e...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Reservations 9 percent ahead of previous year – electrification improvements underway MADISON – The attraction of  Wisconsin State Parks  as family friendly, affordable and fun places to visit for a day, a weekend, a week or longer continues to grow with advanced camping reservations up 9.3 percent over the same period in 2011. “State parks and trails have always offered a great experience at a great value and we welcome the surge in visitors,” said Kimberly Currie, of the Wisconsin State Parks program. Overall advance registrations are up and the number of campers taking advantage of Wisconsin’s online campsite reservation continues to grow also. Advanced online reservations are up 11.5 percent over 2011. The online reservation service allows camper to reserve a site up to 11 months in advance making vacation planning a little less stressful and makes it possible, with a little luck, to reserve that special campsite you love. A...

(Photo credit: The U.S. Army ) Six-day camp teaches youngsters outdoor skills from fishing, swimming, and star-gazing to canoeing, archery, and wingshooting; registration deadline May 28 JUNCTION CITY — The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) and the K-State Cooperative Extension Service are sponsoring the 24th Annual Outdoor Adventure Camp (OAC) June 3-8 at the Camp WaShunGa area of Rock Springs 4-H Center , near Junction City. Youngsters ages 10 through 12 who enjoy the outdoors and want to learn more about it are encouraged to attend. Participants will spend mornings exploring the grounds at Rock Springs with instructors, observing Kansas animals and plants close-up. Session subjects include insects, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish management, wildlife management, wetlands, birds, and stream ecology. Afternoons will be spent learning about birds of prey, skins and skulls, bats, streams, and more general topics, including ecology, wetlands, riparian area...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Missouri State Parks is teaming up with The North Face’s Explore Your Parks Program this summer to teach families how to have an enjoyable and safe camping experience in its Learn2 Camp program.   Some families may want to go camping but are uncertain how and what equipment is needed. The new Learn2 Camp Program answers all those questions with camping experts who will lend a hand with every aspect of the adventure. This summer, 40 families will have the opportunity to participate in the program, which will be held at five different Missouri state parks during June. Workshops will be held at the following locations: June 2 – Watkins Woolen Mill State Park , Lawson. June 9 – Sam A. Baker State Park, Patterson. June 16 – Stockton State Park , Stockton. June 23 – Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Wildwood. June 30 – Thousand Hills State Park , Kirksville . “It’s hard to imagine an activity that brings famil...

Iowa Department of Natural Resources logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Camping kickoff weekend is May 4, 5 and 6, in Iowa state parks, and has often been the first weekend trip for many campers, but the mild winter and summer-like spring has many campers already in mid-season mode. “Camping kickoff weekend is our way of saying let’s dust off the tent and camper and enjoy some camaraderie in a state park, but after this unseasonably warm weather, it seems like a lot of our campers already have a month of camping under their belts,” said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau.  Campers can reserve a site for camping kickoff weekend using the reservation system online at http://iowastateparks. reserveamerica.com/   or select a non-reservable site. “This time of year is really nice in the parks because the bugs are typically not out in force yet and fishing is good,” Szcodronski said.  In the past, the DN...

A unique outdoor camp that introduces 12 to 15 year old girls to the fun of the outdoors is being offered three times this summer. The three day, two night Outdoor Journey for Girls camp teaches girls canoeing and water safety, basic orienteering, fish and wildlife identification, firearm safety and basic shooting, camping and outdoor survival, fishing and more. Camps are offered June 20-22 at the Conservation Education Center at Springbrook State Park, north of Guthrie Center, July 10-12 at Black Hawk County Conservation Board’s Hickory Hills Park, near Dysart, and Aug. 1-3, at Springbrook.  Camps fill quickly so early registration is recommended. The $100 registration fee covers food, lodging and equipment use. Pheasants Forever is a camp sponsor and local chapters often provide scholarships to help offset the cost for campers. For a camp brochure, registration form and more information on the camps, go to www.iowadnr.gov/Education/ CampsWorkshops/ OutdoorJourneyforGirl...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The people have spoken: Missouri is the No. 1 state for camping in the U.S. About.com, a reference website maintained by the New York Times Company, announced Friday the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite State for Camping , and Missouri took top honors. Missouri took the website’s gold award, silver winner Montana and bronze winner, Colorado, in an online vote. “The First Lady and I are proud that Missouri has been selected as a renowned camping destination,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors, so plan to experience our quiet hills, deep woodlands, wide open prairies, and clear Ozark streams on your next camping adventure, and you'll see why the readers picked Missouri as their favorite camping state." “This is yet another solid indicator that Missouri State Parks is the ultimate destination for your next camping experience,” said Bill Bryan, director ...

Image by Nick Chill Photography via Flickr September 24-25 at Camp Kateri just south of York Bring the whole family for a weekend of boating, fishing and shooting sports followed with outdoor cooking, camping and a whole lot more!  Camp Kateri located just south of York, Nebraska near McCool Junction.  Cost is $99/family of six and includes all supplies, meals, cabins, etc.  For more information or to register contact Christy Christiansen at 402-471-5547 or christy.christiansen@nebraska. gov .

Image via Wikipedia Safe Kids Kansas offers families important outdoor safety tips TOPEKA — Sleeping bag? Check. Hiking boots? Check. Safety guidelines? While the preparations for a family camping, boating, or hiking trip usually include a review of the necessary gear, parents should also review safety guidelines with their children, paying special attention to potential hazards specific to outdoor recreation. Campfires, portable stoves, heaters, and fuel-burning lanterns all produce carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless and odorless gas that can poison a child very quickly. About 30 campers each year die of CO poisoning in the U.S. Never use any of these devices in an enclosed area, even a tent. In addition, make sure these devices — as well as campfires — are clear of flammable material, from paper napkins to dry grass. Safe Kids Kansas recommends these safety guidelines around campfires and portable heating devices: keep matches and lighters out of the reach of childre...

Image via Wikipedia An overnight “I Can Camp!” program at Wild River State Park, a guided canoe trip on the Rum River, and a bicycle safety and maintenance clinic at Fort Snelling State Park are among the many programs and special events resuming this weekend at Minnesota state parks and trails. Visitors are encouraged to check the online calendar for a complete schedule. Families and individuals seeking outdoor fun will have the rest of summer to learn new skills and create lasting memories by participating in a variety of free or low-cost naturalist-led programs. Examples include: I Can Camp! programs, which provide participants with equipment and expert instruction on how to camp in a tent. Twelve programs remain between now and Sept. 3. Registration required; fee is $35 (one-night) or $50 (two nights). I Can Climb! provides opportunities to try rock climbing—safely—on real rock at Tettegouche (July 30 and Aug. 27), Blue Mounds (Aug. 13) and Interstate (Aug...

(Released May 26, 2011) As part of its ongoing effort to get more people outdoors, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a series of skill-building workshops that will introduce camping, fishing, paddling, climbing and archery to the next generation this summer.  The DNR Division of Parks and Trails created these programs in response to recent research that points to declining participation in outdoor recreation by young families. After hearing parents say in focus groups that they lacked outdoor skills, the DNR created a series of workshops with a focus on outdoor adventure made easy for beginners. The workshops were made possible with funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. I Can Camp! Participants will camp overnight, get hands-on experience, and learn basic outdoor skills from an expert I Can Camp! crew. All camping equipment is provided (including tents, air mattresses and cook stoves). Participants just bring their own food and bedd...