Family-Outdoors

Lake Superior shore at Presque Isle Park in winter (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Women seeking the opportunity to improve their outdoor skills are invited to register for the 13th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) winter program in the Upper Peninsula. The program will be held in Big Bay the weekend of  Friday, Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 2 . Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, this program offers instruction in more than a dozen types 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...

Anyone eager to get out cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling will find an abundance of opportunities at many Minnesota state parks and trails, thanks to this week’s heavy snowfall. “The recent heavy snowfall and the forecast for sustained cold temperatures offers prospects of substantial, enduring snow cover deep into the month,” said Greg Spoden, state climatologist at the Department of Natural Resources. “It will be the best start to the winter recreation season since 2010.” Staff from the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division and local clubs will be busy grooming trails in preparation for the upcoming weekend, but the DNR advises prospective park and trail visitors to check the website for trip planning tips before heading out to a winter recreation destination. Snow depth and trail conditions are updated every Thursday after 2 p.m. throughout the winter months at  www.mndnr.gov/snow . Many Minnesota state parks rent snowshoes, and several rent cross-country...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department will stock approximately 15,000 trout below Ft. Randall Dam. If weather permits, the first stocking of trout in the boat basin below Ft. Randall Dam will occur on Friday, March 15. “About 7,500 trout will be released on March 15 with the remaining 7,500 arriving on March 22,” Jason Sorensen, GFP Fisheries Biologist in Chamberlain said. Trout are stocked annually below Ft. Randall Dam to provide a unique fishing opportunity in addition to other excellent fishing opportunities available in the area. Crews from McNenny State Fish Hatchery in Spearfish will stock brown trout and two strains of rainbow trout below Ft. Randall Dam. “There are 5,000 each of brown trout, Shasta strain rainbow trout and McConaughy strain rainbow trout scheduled to be stocked below Ft. Randall Dam,” Sorensen said. One strain of rainbow trout has been marked with a fin clip to aid in differentiating them. An on-going research proj...

Locator Map of South_Dakota, United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) PIERRE, S.D. – On Memorial Day weekend, visitors to South Dakota state parks can take part in special family activities. The programs are excellent opportunities to experience the outdoors with children. Friday – Monday, May 25-28 Memorial Day Patriotic Campsite Decorating Display, Oakwood Lakes State Park near Volga and Lake Poinsett Recreation Area near Arlington. Info: 605-627-5441 Crazy Mixed-up Holiday Weekend, Roy Lake State Park near Lake City. Info: 605-448-5701 Friday, May 25 If Only Seaman Could Talk, Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton , 8 p.m. CT. Info: 605-668-2985 Saturday, May 26 Bird’s Paradise Walk in the Park , Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon. 10 a.m. CT. Info: 605-582-7243 Kids’ Fishing Derby , Lake Poinsett Recreation Area near Arlington, 10 a.m. CT. Info: 605-983-5085 History Hike, Newton Hills State Park near Canton, 10 a.m. CT. Info: 605-...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) FINDLAY, OH – Anglers interested in learning the art of fly-fishing and practicing their skills on a half-mile section of Cold Creek at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery are encouraged to enter the lottery for beginning fly-fishing clinics. Seventy-five slots are available for the popular program, and the deadline for submitting a lottery entry is Aug. 1. In addition to fly-fishing instruction by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife staff and members of Trout Unlimited, attendees will be able to test their newly acquired skills by fishing for the abundant rainbow trout found in Cold Creek. Anglers may also encounter an occasional brown trout. Instruction will be provided on Fridays from 1-5 p.m. on Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Oct. 5, Oct. 12 and Oct. 19. To apply, applicants must submit a postcard listing their name, address and phone number. The applicant may bring one guest, but the guest’s name must be lis...

Department of Natural Resources Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Getting more adults to take young wild turkey hunters into the field is the goal of a $10,000 grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Grant funds were used to create a 30-second radio promotional spot and purchase air time during prime drive time on country music radio stations in Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Lake City, Mankato, Rochester, Wadena and St Cloud. The radio spots aired on the two Thursdays and Fridays preceding the April 18 opener. The spots let hunters know that youth can buy a turkey license for any date or area without being part of the lottery and encourages them to take a youth hunting. An email message sent to 9,800 past licensed turkey hunters older than 18 also was part of the campaign. Like the radio spots, the email encouraged adults to help teens buy a license and take them into the fiel...

Image via Wikipedia (*Saturday) indicates events with a Friday school day Mississippi River Visitor Center , Quad Cities 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 Quincy Bald Eagle Watch Saturday, January 28 Outdoor viewing at Lock and Dam 21 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information call  217-228-0890 Muscatine Bald Eagle Watch Saturday, January 28 Outdoor viewing from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Illinois Boat Club Live eagle programs at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Pearl City Station For more information call  563-263-7913 Des Moines Lunch with Eagles Friday, Feb. 24 Scott St. Dam, 303 Scott Ave., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Outdoor viewing in downtown Des Moines For more information call  515-865-6564 Prairie du Chien Eagle Watch Saturday, Feb. 25 Outdoor viewing from 9 a...