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.
State park campgrounds will feature special hikes, demonstrations, fishing clinics and much more to celebrate the start of the season. A full schedule of programs is available at www.iowadnr.gov/campingkickoff. Campers will also receive a free May/June issue of Iowa Outdoors magazine.
“We are looking forward to this season opener and to welcoming visitors and campers to our parks,” says Todd Coffelt, chief of state parks for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Last year, Iowa’s state parks welcomed more than 15 million visitors, and more than 900,000 of these were overnight stays.
Those wanting to join the Camping Kickoff celebration can make advanced reservations through this Wednesday, May 3 at www.iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com or by calling 1-877-427-2757. Phone center hours are 7 AM to 7 PM CST. After Wednesday, campers will need to use walk-in camping.
Iowa’s Camping Kickoff is in conjunction with the national Let’s Camp America! initiative when state parks across the country will celebrate the start of the camping season.