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Archive by tag: CampReturn
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Get ready for camping kickoff weekend, May 3-5

Get ready for camping kickoff weekend, May 3-5

  • 4/16/2019 2:52:00 PM
  • View Count 3118
DES MOINES ⎯ As Iowans eagerly anticipate warmer temperatures, state park staff are preparing for the start of the 2019 camping season. The first weekend of May marks the official launch of the summer camping season with Iowa State Parks’ annual Camping Kickoff celebration.
Outdoors skills classes offered at Olofson shooting range

Outdoors skills classes offered at Olofson shooting range

  • 1/8/2019 12:34:00 PM
  • View Count 4144
Polk City, Iowa - The Olofson Shooting Range, at Big Creek State Park, has scheduled more than 70 outdoor skills programs open to the public in 2019, including hunter education, hand gun basics, taxidermy, Dutch oven cooking, how to use a trail camera and more. Programs begin on Jan. 16 with a course on cleaning and storing guns.  
4 things to know before packing a cooler

4 things to know before packing a cooler

  • 8/27/2018 1:50:00 PM
  • View Count 7756
Packing a cooler may seem pretty simple – just throw in ice, right? But it’s a science and an art, one that will help any camping trip go smoother and safer. With a little preparation, packing a cooler is quite simple.
Fish kill north of Runnells appears limited to five miles

Fish kill north of Runnells appears limited to five miles

  • 7/25/2018 8:47:00 AM
  • View Count 2316
PLEASANT HILL - A fish kill that began in Camp Creek east of Pleasant Hill and about five miles north of Runnells in Polk County appears to be limited to less than five miles of Camp Creek, DNR investigators said today.
Popular hunting camp for boys still has space available

Popular hunting camp for boys still has space available

  • 7/10/2018 2:06:00 PM
  • View Count 3096
POLK CITY – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Hunting and Conservation Camp, designed to introduce a variety of outdoor skills to young men ages 12-15, is still accepting registrations.
Hands-on outdoor programs brings wildlife up close

Hands-on outdoor programs brings wildlife up close

  • 7/3/2018 11:39:00 AM
  • View Count 2969
MADRID - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Wildlife Center are partnering in three events focusing on living with Iowa wildlife.  The events are free and open to all ages.
Get Ready for Camping Kick-Off Weekend, May 4-6

Get Ready for Camping Kick-Off Weekend, May 4-6

  • 4/24/2018 12:23:00 PM
  • View Count 4210
As Iowans excitedly anticipate warmer temperatures, state park staff are getting ready for the start of the 2018 camping season. Iowa State Parks will officially launch the camping season during the first weekend in May with its annual Camping Kick-Off Celebration.
7 things to know before you go tent camping

7 things to know before you go tent camping

  • 8/28/2017 12:51:00 PM
  • View Count 13441
The ability to successfully go tent camping in Iowa is a rite of passage for many. Roughing it without air conditioning or electronics doesn’t need to be hard, though. This list will prepare tent campers young and old, experienced or novice, with the knowledge to have a pleasant and well-prepared for adventure.
North Raccoon Wildlife Area is building a recreation reputation

North Raccoon Wildlife Area is building a recreation reputation

  • 8/1/2017 11:44:00 AM
  • View Count 4461
The North Raccoon Wildlife Area just might be the biggest playground in Greene County. But rather than teeter-totters and swings, this playground offers excellent deer hunting, turkey, dove and rabbit hunting, river access and sandbar camping, bird watching, hiking and more.
Glamping: Decoration and Recreation Gone Wild

Glamping: Decoration and Recreation Gone Wild

  • 6/8/2017 11:19:00 AM
  • View Count 20052
Glamping is a marriage between the words “glamour” and “camping.” Original glampers coveted the escapism of camping with the amenities and comforts of home. It has since become a popular term among women who turn vintage campers into personalized, stylized retreats.
Memorial Day weekend is nearly here

Memorial Day weekend is nearly here

  • 5/18/2017 8:36:00 AM
  • View Count 3940
Iowa campers, picnickers and outdoor enthusiasts are gearing up for the Memorial Day weekend and the official start of summer. If weather continues as it has been, Iowa’s state parks will be busting at the seams. 
State parks Camping Kickoff is this weekend

State parks Camping Kickoff is this weekend

  • 5/2/2017 12:17:00 PM
  • View Count 4580
It looks like the cold rainy weather is breaking just in time for the weekend when state park campgrounds will celebrate Camping Kickoff, Saturday, May 6.
Time to register for popular U of Iowa wildlife camps at six state parks

Time to register for popular U of Iowa wildlife camps at six state parks

  • 5/2/2017 12:11:00 PM
  • View Count 5786
Looking for a fun, enriching adventure for the kids this summer? Six Iowa state parks will host the popular University of Iowa Wildlife Camps for local families. The conservation education day-camp program will be offered at Maquoketa Caves, Mines of Spain, George Wyth, Springbrook, Viking Lake and Ledges state parks.
Let the camping season begin

Let the camping season begin

  • 4/11/2017 12:28:00 PM
  • View Count 5678
Warming temperatures and other signs of spring have state park staff busy preparing for the start of the 2017 camping season.
Six Iowa state parks to host University of Iowa wildlife camps

Six Iowa state parks to host University of Iowa wildlife camps

  • 3/7/2017 12:11:00 PM
  • View Count 9054
This summer, six Iowa state parks will host University of Iowa Wildlife Camps for families living near the parks. The popular conservation education day camp program will be offered at Maquoketa Caves, Mines of Spain, George Wyth, Springbrook, Viking Lake and Ledges state parks.
State park campgrounds in need of hosts

State park campgrounds in need of hosts

  • 3/7/2017 12:09:00 PM
  • View Count 4887
The opportunity to spend the summer in an Iowa state park is available for individuals who serve as campground hosts.
Memorial Weekend campsites soon available for reservation

Memorial Weekend campsites soon available for reservation

  • 2/21/2017 3:11:00 PM
  • View Count 7137
The three-month window to reserve a state park campsite for a Friday arrival on Memorial Day weekend opens this Sunday, Feb. 26. More than a few campers will plan their arrival for the weekend before Memorial Day and stay through the holiday, which means their window is open now.
Be bold and try winter camping

Be bold and try winter camping

  • 1/11/2017 8:47:00 AM
  • View Count 17307
Let’s face it—winter camping has some initial challenges, but the rewards are silence, serenity and having big places to yourself. Create active daytimes with hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, then be prepared for winter’s long nights with good lighting gear to illuminate camp. Breaking into winter camping isn’t hard, but you’ll rely on good gear and solid skills. Here’s a  few basics.
Iowa State Parks offer great winter cabin getaways

Iowa State Parks offer great winter cabin getaways

  • 12/7/2016 10:23:00 AM
  • View Count 5289
The quiet solitude that makes a perfect winter getaway is waiting for you in beautiful, comfortable year-round cabins at several Iowa state parks. It’s a great time to take advantage of trails for hiking, skiing, snowmobiling and wildlife watching. And many of the parks have great ice fishing lakes.
State parks peak season winding down

State parks peak season winding down

  • 9/27/2016 2:23:00 PM
  • View Count 4421
Another busy year in Iowa’s state parks will be coming to an end and soon staff will be preparing for the first freezing temperatures of the fall.
6 tips for cool-weather camping

6 tips for cool-weather camping

  • 9/23/2016 1:06:00 PM
  • View Count 15595
Campers don’t have to pack up the tent and park the camper just because the calendar flips to September (or wait for it to hit June, either!). These off-peak seasons can be some of the best times to go, with cooler temperatures and in the fall, gorgeous fall colors at the campground. As the temperature dips, here are some tips to stay cozy at the campground.
Wapello campground reopens

Wapello campground reopens

  • 9/20/2016 1:28:00 PM
  • View Count 6282
Wapello State Park, in southeast Iowa’s Davis County, will open its newly renovated campground on Sept. 30, just in time for the fall camping season.
5 DIY camping hacks and projects for a smoother trip

5 DIY camping hacks and projects for a smoother trip

  • 9/16/2016 1:16:00 PM
  • View Count 6842
Get that fire started faster - because no one likes waiting for s'mores. Use these tips to make sure your next camping trip goes smoothly (even if something goes wrong).
Sometimes Procrastination Pays Off

Sometimes Procrastination Pays Off

  • 8/23/2016 1:43:00 PM
  • View Count 12119
Have you been intending to get away with summer, but never quite found the time, or didn’t get a reservation far enough in advance? If you can find time this weekend, eight Iowa state parks have cabins available, including the brand new modern cabins at Lake Darling, and popular CCC cabins at Pine Lake and Backbone.
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