Post by Steve Sutton on Jun 23, 2010 8:31:34 GMT -5
JEFFERSON CITY, MO., JUNE 22, 2010 - Enjoy a night under the stars and connect with your friends and family in the great outdoors June 26 during the Great American Backyard Campout in Missouri state parks.
The Great American Backyard Campout is a nationwide initiative by the National Wildlife Federation to encourage families and communities to leave the electronic games inside and experience playing outdoors. In Missouri, the Department of Natural Resources, along with the Conservation Federation of Missouri, is offering special programs and activities to help make this night one to remember.
"For many kids, play has moved entirely indoors and they are missing the fun they can have outdoors. We hope this one night outdoors will show them what it is like to catch a firefly and sit around a campfire eating s'mores," said Bill Bryan, director of the department's Division of State Parks. "We hope it will lead to more outdoor adventures," he said.
To help you enjoy the fun of camping, families with children under the age of 17 camping in any Missouri state park campground the night of June 26 will receive a free camping coupon for a future campout.
Special programs will be held in eight state parks and historic sites to help families connect to the outdoors. All events are free unless specified. Call the specific parks and historic sites for more details or visit mostateparks.com:
* Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Arrow Rock. Arrow Rock. 7 p.m. 660-837-3330. Enjoy an evening of s'mores and storytelling around the campfire.
* Sam A. Baker State Park, Patterson. 8 p.m. 573-856-4411. Learn camping skills and how to make camping a family fun adventure at this evening program.
* First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, St. Charles. 636-940-3322. Take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to camp overnight on the lawn of this historic site. 6 p.m. Families must register; there is a $25 fee per family with $5 for each additional person.
* Knob Noster State Park, Knob Noster. All day event. 660-563-2463. Start the fun in the morning for a day of photo scavenger hunts, games and campfire demonstrations followed by an evening of s'mores around the campfire. Preregistration is preferred.
* Prairie State Park, Liberal. 3 p.m. 417-843-6711. Learn about camping, including how to do it safely, followed by a campfire with s'mores.
* St. Francois State Park, Bonne Terre, 8:30 p.m. 573-358-2173. Playing outside during the day is fun but exploring at night is a real adventure. Bring a flashlight and experience the park after dark.
* Van Meter State Park, Miami, 8:30 p.m. 660-886-7537. Learn about the history of fire and listen to Native American legends around the campfire.
* Washington State Park, De Soto, 8:30 p.m. 636-586-2995. Enjoy telling camping adventure stories under the stars around a campfire.
Enjoy the outdoors and so much s'more! For information on state parks, visit mostateparks.com or call the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).
The Great American Backyard Campout is a nationwide initiative by the National Wildlife Federation to encourage families and communities to leave the electronic games inside and experience playing outdoors. In Missouri, the Department of Natural Resources, along with the Conservation Federation of Missouri, is offering special programs and activities to help make this night one to remember.
"For many kids, play has moved entirely indoors and they are missing the fun they can have outdoors. We hope this one night outdoors will show them what it is like to catch a firefly and sit around a campfire eating s'mores," said Bill Bryan, director of the department's Division of State Parks. "We hope it will lead to more outdoor adventures," he said.
To help you enjoy the fun of camping, families with children under the age of 17 camping in any Missouri state park campground the night of June 26 will receive a free camping coupon for a future campout.
Special programs will be held in eight state parks and historic sites to help families connect to the outdoors. All events are free unless specified. Call the specific parks and historic sites for more details or visit mostateparks.com:
* Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Arrow Rock. Arrow Rock. 7 p.m. 660-837-3330. Enjoy an evening of s'mores and storytelling around the campfire.
* Sam A. Baker State Park, Patterson. 8 p.m. 573-856-4411. Learn camping skills and how to make camping a family fun adventure at this evening program.
* First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, St. Charles. 636-940-3322. Take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to camp overnight on the lawn of this historic site. 6 p.m. Families must register; there is a $25 fee per family with $5 for each additional person.
* Knob Noster State Park, Knob Noster. All day event. 660-563-2463. Start the fun in the morning for a day of photo scavenger hunts, games and campfire demonstrations followed by an evening of s'mores around the campfire. Preregistration is preferred.
* Prairie State Park, Liberal. 3 p.m. 417-843-6711. Learn about camping, including how to do it safely, followed by a campfire with s'mores.
* St. Francois State Park, Bonne Terre, 8:30 p.m. 573-358-2173. Playing outside during the day is fun but exploring at night is a real adventure. Bring a flashlight and experience the park after dark.
* Van Meter State Park, Miami, 8:30 p.m. 660-886-7537. Learn about the history of fire and listen to Native American legends around the campfire.
* Washington State Park, De Soto, 8:30 p.m. 636-586-2995. Enjoy telling camping adventure stories under the stars around a campfire.
Enjoy the outdoors and so much s'more! For information on state parks, visit mostateparks.com or call the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).