Minn. State Parks offer fun activities for kids

Minnesota State Parks
Junior Park Naturalist patches

If traveling to Minnesota, its state parks offer a variety of programs for children. By participating, you’ll find your children not only come away with great memories but also learn something about nature.

Minnesota state parks (where I’m currently traveling) offer:
g Junior Park Naturalist patches/certificates – Download a nature activity booklet about pinelands, prairies or hardwoods; when children complete them, they can attend a program at the park and receive a free patch and certificate.
g Park Explorer patches – Kids who’ve completed the Junior Park naturalist program can purchase activity books about nature, history and the earth, at the park gift store. Completing the activity book earns the child a Park Explorer patch.
g Project Learning Tree – A number of nature-oriented family games and puzzles are available online via the Minnesota DNR. Volunteers and park rangers sometimes offer nature programs at park visitor centers as well.

Walking events frequently are held at many state parks. Some focus on birdwatching, others on wildflowers or wildlife, and few on the geological sites.

Be sure to check out the park system online for a full list of activities in the state where you’re traveling.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Check out kid activities at state parks

Wisconsin state park and trails. Illustration courtesy
of Wisconsin DNR.

The next time you visit a state park, look for park-sponsored activities that can enhance the hike. You’ll find the kids not only come away with great memories but also learn something about nature.

For example, Wisconsin state parks offer:
g Wisconsin Wildcards – Kids can collect pocket-sized cards that tell about native species, dangerous plants, and unique spots.
g Wisconsin Explorer patches – Booklets can be downloaded from online that kids complete when they visit a park or trail. They then can receive patches for completing the book.
g Special programs – Rangers and volunteers at many parks often offer programs ranging from meeting animals to stargazing at night, from campfire stories to scavenger hunts.

Parks in all states offer some kind of kid-oriented activities, usually unique to that area. Activities typically vary from park to park, with those that receive the largest number of visitors sponsoring the most options.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

This year, explore your state park system

State parks make for fun and easy to reach alternatives
to national parks. Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

With spring approaching, the time has arrived to think about where you might hike. While many people think mainly about national parks or national forests where outdoor recreation is concerned, most states’ parks offer wonders just as impressive, albeit on a smaller scale. The possibilities range from fantastic waterfalls and ocean beaches to billion-year-old gorges and lush jungles.

You can find out about the parks in your state or one you’re visiting simply by typing the state’s name along with “state parks” into a search engine (i.e. “Wisconsin state parks”). Entry fees also are listed there. Most state park passes can be purchased at the park itself or online through the state.

As I’m currently traveling through the upper Midwest, let me pass on state park pass info for two states where I recently purchased passes.

Wisconsin
Anytime a vehicle enters a state park or recreation area, a vehicle admission sticker is required. A sticker can be purchased as a daily or an annual pass; the former expires at midnight of that day while the latter is only good for the calendar year, expiring on Dec. 31. Some parks and state forests offer one-hour passes as well. Towed vehicles don’t need stickers. The cost of the sticker varies based on the vehicle driver’s age (seniors receive a discount) and state of residence (non-Wisconsin residents pay more). State trails don’t require passes if hiking (walking), but you’ll likely have to pay an additional fee if horseback riding, using an ATV, or camping. For more information, go to dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/admission.html

Minnesota
As with Wisconsin, anytime a vehicle enters a state park or recreation area, a pass is required. There are fewer options for passes, however. The main two categories are daily or annual; the advantage of the annual pass is that it’s good for the next 365 days. Discounted permits are given for vehicles with handicap license plates, to disabled veterans, and to active-duty military personnel. For more information, go to dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/permit.html

The best for your money in any state is to buy the annual pass (especially if early in the calendar year). If you visit state parks at least twice in a calendar year, in most states you’ll save money over buying a daily pass each time.

A final note: Funding for most states’ parks always is in jeopardy, so show your support as a hiker by visiting them.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Keep family dog in shape with a day hike

Taking the family dog with you on a day hike can be lots of fun. Running about and sniffing, your pet likely will enjoy being outdoors as much as you and the kids. As a member of the family, your dog likely will help create experiences that make the hike memorable for your children.

Perhaps most importantly, hitting the trail also is good exercise for your dog – and all too often our pets are overfed with too little physical activity, leading to obesity and associated illnesses later in Rover’s or Queenie’s life.

When deciding if the family dog should go on a day hike, though, consider these variables:
g Location – Most national and state parks don’t allow dogs on trails. National forests and county parks usually are more lenient, through there may be restrictions such as the dog must be on leash.
g Age – Young dogs shouldn’t go on long hikes until they’re at least a year to 15 months old, as the distance will overtax their growing and developing bones and muscles.
g Size – Likewise, smaller dogs shouldn’t go on long hikes. Larger dogs, however, need longer trails to really get a good workout.
g Surface – Avoid trails with hard surfaces as they can damage dog’s joints, especially on young pets. If the trail surface is asphalt or concrete, ensure that there is grass parallel to the trail for your dog to run on.
g Temperature – Be wary of cold weather. While you can dress up, your dog cannot. If you need a jacket or gloves, then the hike may be too cold for your dog if it’s small or short-haired.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.