07-28-2013, 10:10 PM
PIERRE, S.D. -- Several state parks and recreation areas in South Dakota are hosting outdoor events and educational programs at the end of the month for visitors. The activities are a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
Christmas in July Campsite Decorating Contest, Lake Thompson Recreation Area near Lake Preston, July 26-28. Celebrate Christmas in July! Bring along your Christmas lights, trees, wreaths and inflatable snowmen to decorate your campsite. Prizes will be awarded Saturday night at 7 p.m. CDT to the campsites with the most holiday cheer. Info: 605-847-4893
Christmas in July, Lake Herman State Park and Walker’s Point Recreation Area near Madison, July 26-28. Join these parks for a festive weekend of Christmas fun! Info: 605-256-5003<br />
Halloween in July, Lake Poinsett Recreation Area near Arlington, July 26-28. Get in the spooky mood with a Halloween campsite decorating display, costume parade and even trick-or-treating! Be sure to bring candy for your guests. Sign up at the welcome center to take part in the fun! Info: 605-983-5085<br />
Walk in the Woods, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 26, 10 a.m. CDT. Join us for a wonderful walk in the woods and a mosaic craft. All ages welcome and children and their parents are especially invited to join. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
Christmas in July, Chief White Crane Recreation Area near Yankton, July 27. It's Christmas in July! Pack an extra set of lights and decorate your campsite or a neighboring Ponderosa Pine and participate in our contest. Even Santa likes to camp at South Dakota State Parks! Info: Chief White Crane, 605-668-2985<br />
Tee Walk and Leaf Bookmarks, Newton Hills State Park near Canton, July 27, 10 a.m. CDT. Join us in the parking lot by the double shelters on Sargeant Creek Road to take a hike and learn about the trees in Newton Hills State Park. We will end at the Interpretive Shelter at the end of Sargeant Creek Road where we will make bookmarks from leaves collected along the way. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
The Dam Program, Pali
es State Park near Garretson, July 27, 2 p.m. CDT. Learn how nature, animals and humans build dams, and just why they are so important. Info: 605-594-3824<br />
Hug a Tree, Newton Hills State Park near Canton, July 27, 2 p.m. CDT. Bring a friend and come hug some trees. We are going to see how well you can use your senses. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
Lantern Tour, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park near Lake City, July 27, 9:30 p.m. CDT. Come and tour the Fort by lantern light. Lanterns provided. Info: 605-448-5474<br />
Constellations and Stories, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 27, 9:30 p.m. CDT. Learn constellation stories from cultures around the world while looking at the Good Earth night sky through a telescope. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
Umonhon Culture, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 28, 2 p.m. CDT. Join Verna and learn the history of this culturally rich site where several thousand American Indians settled between the 12th and 17th Centuries, told from the Umonhon (Omaha) tribe perspective. Samples of pottery and tools used in this Indian Village will be available. Info: 605-987-2263 or newtonhills@state.sd.us Pre-register: 605-362-2777 or www.outdoorcampus.org<br />
Outdoor Cooking and Nature Hike, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 31, 7 p.m. CDT. Join the naturalists around the campfire to learn some simple outdoor cooking, and take a guided hike through the park. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
There is no cost to participate in any of the programs, but park entrance licenses are required for all vehicles entering the park.
For more information on activities in South Dakota state parks, visit www.gfp.sd.gov , contact the individual park office, or call 605-773-3391.
Christmas in July Campsite Decorating Contest, Lake Thompson Recreation Area near Lake Preston, July 26-28. Celebrate Christmas in July! Bring along your Christmas lights, trees, wreaths and inflatable snowmen to decorate your campsite. Prizes will be awarded Saturday night at 7 p.m. CDT to the campsites with the most holiday cheer. Info: 605-847-4893
Christmas in July, Lake Herman State Park and Walker’s Point Recreation Area near Madison, July 26-28. Join these parks for a festive weekend of Christmas fun! Info: 605-256-5003<br />
Halloween in July, Lake Poinsett Recreation Area near Arlington, July 26-28. Get in the spooky mood with a Halloween campsite decorating display, costume parade and even trick-or-treating! Be sure to bring candy for your guests. Sign up at the welcome center to take part in the fun! Info: 605-983-5085<br />
Walk in the Woods, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 26, 10 a.m. CDT. Join us for a wonderful walk in the woods and a mosaic craft. All ages welcome and children and their parents are especially invited to join. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
Christmas in July, Chief White Crane Recreation Area near Yankton, July 27. It's Christmas in July! Pack an extra set of lights and decorate your campsite or a neighboring Ponderosa Pine and participate in our contest. Even Santa likes to camp at South Dakota State Parks! Info: Chief White Crane, 605-668-2985<br />
Tee Walk and Leaf Bookmarks, Newton Hills State Park near Canton, July 27, 10 a.m. CDT. Join us in the parking lot by the double shelters on Sargeant Creek Road to take a hike and learn about the trees in Newton Hills State Park. We will end at the Interpretive Shelter at the end of Sargeant Creek Road where we will make bookmarks from leaves collected along the way. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
The Dam Program, Pali
es State Park near Garretson, July 27, 2 p.m. CDT. Learn how nature, animals and humans build dams, and just why they are so important. Info: 605-594-3824<br />Hug a Tree, Newton Hills State Park near Canton, July 27, 2 p.m. CDT. Bring a friend and come hug some trees. We are going to see how well you can use your senses. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
Lantern Tour, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park near Lake City, July 27, 9:30 p.m. CDT. Come and tour the Fort by lantern light. Lanterns provided. Info: 605-448-5474<br />
Constellations and Stories, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 27, 9:30 p.m. CDT. Learn constellation stories from cultures around the world while looking at the Good Earth night sky through a telescope. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
Umonhon Culture, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 28, 2 p.m. CDT. Join Verna and learn the history of this culturally rich site where several thousand American Indians settled between the 12th and 17th Centuries, told from the Umonhon (Omaha) tribe perspective. Samples of pottery and tools used in this Indian Village will be available. Info: 605-987-2263 or newtonhills@state.sd.us Pre-register: 605-362-2777 or www.outdoorcampus.org<br />
Outdoor Cooking and Nature Hike, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls, July 31, 7 p.m. CDT. Join the naturalists around the campfire to learn some simple outdoor cooking, and take a guided hike through the park. Info: 605-987-2263<br />
There is no cost to participate in any of the programs, but park entrance licenses are required for all vehicles entering the park.
For more information on activities in South Dakota state parks, visit www.gfp.sd.gov , contact the individual park office, or call 605-773-3391.