State Park News
Becky Graff, Custer State Park

Happy New Year to all of you outdoor enthusiasts out there! If you are looking for ways to help burn off those holiday calories, the SD State Parks are a great place to get that done. You can attend a scheduled activity or just get out on the hiking trails, cross-country ski trails and snowmobile trails and enjoy things at your own pace. Let's all pray for enough snow this winter to get out and play in. The following is a list of scheduled activities and special events taking place in some of your favorite state parks.
WITP = Walk In The Park, min. of a 1 mile hike.

2007 State Park Events January – March

January
27th – Kool Kids Ice Fishing Derby, Oakwood Lakes, starts at 11:00 AM. 627-5441
27th – Snowshoing through the Sylvan Lake Area WITP, Custer State Park. 255-4828.
           1:00 PM Start, meet in the General Store parking lot.

February
3rd – Eagles & Bagels WITP, Oahe Downstream, starts at 9:00 AM. 223-7722
3rd – Snowshoe Shuffle WITP, Mickelson Trail, TBA. 584-3896
3rd – Ice Bowl, Richmond Lake, starts at 10:00 AM. 626-3488
4th – Ground Hog Cross Country Ski Event, Oakwood Lakes, starts at 12:30 PM. 627-5441
10th – Animal Signatures WITP, LaFramboise Island, starts at 1:00 PM. 773-2886
10th – Cabin Fever Reliever, Ft. Sisseton, starts at 1:00 PM. 448-5474

March
10th – Officers & Their Duties, Ft. Sisseton, starts at 1:00 PM. 448-5474

Mark Calendar for Pheasant Fest
By Berdette Zastrow
Special to the Aberdeen American News

Pheasant Fest combines a national consumer show, a habitat seminar series and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns and art.  National Pheasant Fest 2007 promises to be the country's largest event for upland hunters, sport dog owners and wildlife habitat conservationists.  The Fest will also be home to PF state meetings for Iowa's 103 PF chapters.
more

Home Remedies for Solving Wildlife Conflicts
By The Humane Society of the United States

Conflicts with squirrels, skunks, raccoons, birds and other wildlife are a reality for many homeowners. The Humane Society of the United States receives thousands of phone calls annually from people who are freaked out about common situations that can easily -- and humanely -- be resolved with the use of basic items most people already have in their homes.
According to Laura Simon, field director of urban wildlife for The HSUS, ``There are many common household items that can serve homeowners well in their conflict with wildlife. It is relatively simple to put these `recipes` and remedies to use. The best part is that these are humane and often have long term results.  more

News from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
December 2006

Free Workshop and Information to "Celebrate Urban Birds!"

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology invites you to join in a nationwide "Celebrate Urban Birds!" event next year, May 10-13, 2007. If you'd like to participate or help organize activities in your community, please visit www.urbanbirds.org/celebration  for information, ideas, and free
registration. It's a great event for youth groups, bird clubs, garden clubs, libraries, museums, businesses, senior centers, and others. You or your group can spend as much or as little time as you like participating in science, art, and gardening activities for birds and habitat improvement.  more

Wild Game on the Menu at Outdoor Campus
Thea Miller Ryan

SIOUX FALLS , S.D. -- The Outdoor Campus is stirring a few things up from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, for a wild game cooking class.

Allene Flora will be teaching how to cook game, and then participants will have a chance to indulge on the finished products.

"Come for a fun and tasty experience and leave with a recipe booklet," Thea Miller Ryan, director of The Outdoor Campus, said.

All ages are welcome, minors if accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for the class, but pre-registration is required. For more information call (605) 362-2777 or go online to register at http://www.outdoorcampus.org/  <http://www.outdoorcampus.org/> . 


Outdoor Campus Plans Photography Class
Thea Miller Ryan

SIOUX FALLS , S.D. -- Learn to improve your photography skills at The Outdoor Campus from 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 18, in a basics of photography class.

Volunteer instructor Ken Starkenburg will teach all aspects of photography including equipment, lighting, exposure and composition.

"This class will cover both film and digital cameras, as well as include plenty of time for questions," Thea Miller Ryan, director of The Outdoor Campus, said.

The class is for ages 12 and up, minors are welcome if accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for the class, but pre-registration is required. Call (605) 362-2777 or go online to register at http://www.outdoorcampus.org/.

SD Plein Aire Artists Meet at Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls
Thea Miller Ryan

Landscape painters like nothing better than to set up an easel outside and paint in the fresh air.

The South Dakota Plein Aire Artists (SDPAA) will gather at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls June 16 to 18, 2007, to paint the variety of landscapes found in Sertoma Park.

"Sertoma Park may be blocks from the mall, but this 100-acres is filled with prairie grasses, eastern South Dakota trees, wildlife, flowers, and scenic bridges," Thea Miller Ryan, director, said. "We're excited to host the artists, and we're looking forward to sharing the beauty of the
park."

The informal event is open to all artists and there is no fee to participate. Any artist of any skill level with an interest in painting is welcome to participate.

The public is also invited to observe the artists while they are working, Ryan said. "Watching an artist paint can give you a whole new way of looking at the landscapes around you."

En Plein Air (French for "in the open air") is a term used to describe art done on location, Steve Randall, SDPAA coordinator, said. "The idea of painting on location was introduced in Italy, but made popular by the impressionists in the late nineteenth century."

Pre-registration is not required, but organizers would appreciate knowing how many are interested in attending the event. To sign up to attend, please go to http://www.outdoorcampus.org/,  or contact Steve Randall at (605) 367-8893 or srandall@siouxfalls.org. 

Thea Miller Ryan
Director, The Outdoor Campus
SD Game, Fish & Parks
(605) 362-2777
http://www.outdoorcampus.org/  <http://www.outdoorcampus.org/> 
Discover Your Own South Dakota!

North to Alaska!

Greetings to all,

Registration for the International BOW Destinations adventure, North to Alaska!, is now open. Visit www.uwsp.edu/cnr/bow/  and click on North to Alaska for a description and registration information. This trip will fill quickly and is on a first-come, first-served basis. For your convenience, there is an on-line form for registering directly through the website.

Peggy Farrell, Associate Director
Int'l BOW Program
UWSP-College of Natural Resources
715/346-4681


S.D. Parks and Wildlife Foundation Elects New Board

The South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation elected officers for 2007 at its recent board meeting in Yankton. Officers elected for 2007 are: Kitty Kinsman, Rapid City, president; Ron Schreiner, Pierre, vice president; and Jay Frink, Beresford, secretary/treasurer.

Other board members include: Bob DeMersseman of Rapid City, Morris Radack of Yankton, Nettie Myers of Sioux Falls, Everett Hoyt of Rapid City, Tom Lillibridge of Bonesteel and Duane Thurow of Aberdeen. Ex-officio members of the board include Game, Fish and Parks Department Secretary John Cooper of Pierre and Dick Brown of Sioux Falls, representing the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.  more
 

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