Family-Outdoors

MADISON – Entries are now being accepted for  Wisconsin’s Great Lakes photo contest , with the winning entries to be featured in a beautiful four-color calendar available at the Wisconsin State Fair and for download. “We invite people to give us their best shot,” says Steve Galarneau, who leads the Department of Natural Resources Office of the Great Lakes, which sponsors the contest. “Show us what you love and appreciate about the Great Lakes with your photos and your writing.” Photos of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior as well as their tributaries, wetlands and harbor towns are eligible for the contest; all entries must be received by Feb. 2, 2014. Photos in all seasons are needed and will be accepted in the following categories: Natural Features and Wildlife; Cultural and Historic Features; People Enjoying Wisconsin’s Great Lakes; and Lake Protection Activities, according to Jo Temte, the communication specialist who coordinates the contest. Last year, DNR received mo...

Storms move across the central part of the state midweek dropping up to 2 inches of rain in some locations, with strong winds knocking down trees and power lines. Fortunately only minor damage was reported at state parks in Door County and other areas that were in the path of the storm. The weather is looking great this weekend to enjoy DNR Park at the Wisconsin State Fair. Kids can go on a scavenger hunt and stop and create a wearable souvenir of at the t-shirt printing tent. A new outdoor pier gives everyone a better look at big rainbow trout in the stream. And be sure to check out live native animals at the Natural Heritage Conservation display. Except for the storm, most of the state remained dry much of the last week and water levels on river systems continue to drop. This was the first time this summer that conservation wardens had to caution boaters on the Mississippi River to watch out for wing dams, with several interactions between propellers and the rock dams report...

Instructor offers lessons learned from 40,000 students HORICON - Mark Baldock was 3 years old when he started fishing. His parents put a rod in his hand when they went to a cabin on a lake for vacation. "I caught a yellow perch, and I was hooked!" Baldock recalls. Now he gets other people hooked on fishing. Baldock has taught nearly 40,000 kids about fish and fishing during his eight years working for Wisconsin's fisheries management program. As the Department of Natural Resources urban fishing coordinator in 2005 and 2006, Baldock worked with school and scout groups, conducted kids fishing clinics and events, and ran DNR's fishing activities at the Wisconsin State Fair and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Sportshow. Now a fisheries technician-advanced at DNR's Horicon office, Baldock still takes several school groups fishing each year, helps out with fishing events at the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center near Poynette, and serves as fishing camp director fo...