·        State Parks Plan for Fun-Filled Weekend

·        Fort Sisseton Celebrates Anniversary with Family Fun, Education

·        Oahe Downstream Hosts Disc Golf Tournament

·        Visit GFP Booth Aug. 7-12 at the Sioux Empire Fair

·        A Day in the Life of Erik Richter

 

 

State Parks Plan for Fun-Filled Weekend

 

PIERRE, S.D. – No time to get away? Take a mini vacation at a South Dakota State Park. Several special events that offer activities for the entire family will take place across the state on Saturday, Aug. 11.

 

“Coffee Club Heart Walk” Walk in the Park, 8:30 a.m. at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre. This two-mile walk is a great opportunity to get some fresh air, socialize and take part in some heart-healthy exercise. Coffee will be available following the walk courtesy of the Oahe Downstream Marina and Resort. Participants should meet at the marina parking lot. Info: (605) 223-7722

“Befriending Bats” Walk in the Park, 9 p.m. at Farm Island Recreation Area near Pierre. Chad Tussing, education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife, will lead this educational walk about bats. Tussing will also have an echo locater so participants can hear and listen to bats in the area. Info: (605) 773-2885

“Finding Your Way” Walk in the Park, 7 p.m. at West Whitlock Recreation Area near Gettysburg. Visitors will be lead on a journey around the park. This nature walk will include exploring trails and searching for wildlife. Info: (605) 765-9410

4th Annual Street Masters Car Show and Ice Cream Social, 7 p.m. at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre. Come out to the park for a night of classic cars, custom cruisers and chrome. Visitors can check out their dream vehicle then cool off with some ice cream. Ice cream and root beer floats are sponsored by Beck Motors. Info: (605) 223-7722

Star Party and Meteor Watch, 10 p.m. at Palisades State Park near Garretson. Visitors are invited to cast their eyes to the sky to catch a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Showers, which occurs each August. Visitors will also learn about the stars, planets, constellation and other celestial sights. Info: (605) 594-3824

“Owl Moon” Walk in the Park, 10:30 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton. The setting sun may be your signal to head to bed, but these critters are just getting started. On this guided walk, participants will listen for owls and learn to identify them by their sounds. Info: (605) 668-2985

South Dakota Bat Festival, 5 p.m. at Custer State Park near Custer. This fun, family-friendly event will start with bat information on display and experts available to answer questions and give educational presentations. An evening program from 8:30 to 10 p.m. will include demonstrations of bat research methods and survey equipment. Info: (605) 255-4464

Steady Eddie Disc Golf Tournament, 8:30 a.m. at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre. Enjoy a day outside while testing your disc golf skills. Player’s meeting is at 8:30 a.m. with tee off time at 9 a.m. Entry fees do apply. Info: (605) 223-7722

Adams Homestead Celebration, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve near North Sioux City. Programs, presentations, music and crafts will be available for the entire family to enjoy and take part in. Visitors can learn about the history of the area, take in South Dakota’s heritage and explore the outdoors. Info: (605) 232-0873

Fort Anniversary Party, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11 and 12 at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park near Lake City. Celebrate Fort Sisseton’s 143rd anniversary. Visitors can enjoy kite flying, canoeing on Kettle Lake, horse-drawn wagon rides and croquet at the park. Costumed staff will highlight life at the 19th-century military outpost. Info: (605) 448-5474

 

All activities are free except for the Steady Eddie Disc Golf Tournament, which requires an entry fee. A park entrance license is required to enter all parks, accept Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve. Participants are encouraged to wear suitable shoes, dress for the weather and apply insect repellant.

 

The four Walk in the Park programs are part of a series of educational, guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota state parks, recreation areas and nature preserves. Park staff and volunteers lead the programs, which are co-sponsored by the S.D. Department of Health.

 

For more information on any of the above activities call the individual park office. For more information on the Walk in the Park program or South Dakota State Parks, please visit www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391.

 

- GFP -

 

Fort Sisseton Celebrates Anniversary with Family Fun, Education

 

LAKE CITY, S.D. – To celebrate its 143rd anniversary, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park near Lake City is hosting the annual Fort Sisseton Anniversary Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11 and 12.

 

During the weekend, visitors can enjoy kite flying, canoeing on Kettle Lake, horse-drawn wagon rides and croquet at the park. Costumed staff will highlight life at the 19th-century military outpost. Activities will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

 

In addition, special demonstrations will be held on both Saturday and Sunday. Guests can have their silhouette drawn by fort staff or visit with the post carpenter and assist him in making rope. Visitors can also enjoy a tasty treat of homemade ice-cream, cake and coffee. 

 

There is no cost to participate in the weekend’s events, although a park entrance license is required. For additional information, contact Fort Sisseton State Historic Park at (605) 448-5474 or email FortSisseton@state.sd.us.

 

The Fort Sisseton Anniversary Celebration is one of many special events held throughout the year at the fort. Upcoming events include Women in the Outdoors on Aug. 18, Fall Foliage Hike at Sica Hollow on Sept. 22, the Great September Getaway on Sept. 28, 29 and 30, the Witch House on Oct. 27 and the Frontier Christmas on Dec. 8 and 9. The park is open year-round and features guided interpretive tours and a number of historical displays.

 

Fort Sisseton Historic State Park is located 10 miles southwest of Lake City off US Hwy. 10.  For more information on Fort Sisseton Historic State Park or for a calendar of events, visit South Dakota State Parks online at www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391.

 

-GFP-

 

Oahe Downstream Hosts Disc Golf Tournament

 

PIERRE, S.D. – Test your disc golf skills at the 5th Annual Steady Eddie Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 11. People of all ages are invited to soak up the sun and play in this fun event.

 

“The tournament will give disc golfers the opportunity to test their skills on two courses in the Pierre area, Oahe Downstream and Steamboat Park,” said Dana Garry, park manager at Oahe Downstream. “Some of the holes played in the tournament will be played during the disc golf state championship in September.”

 

The tournament starts at 8:30 a.m. with a players’ meeting at the Oahe Downstream course followed by a shotgun tee-off at 9 a.m. The entry fee varies by the division entered: $30 for open, $20 for advanced masters, advanced, women and intermediates and $10 for juniors. Participants also have the option to play in distance and putting contests for an additional fee. The entry fee includes a player’s package, 36 holes of golf (18 holes for juniors) and prizes for top performers.

 

Oahe Downstream Recreation Area is located five miles north of Ft. Pierre on Highway 1806, on the south side of Oahe Dam. For more information on Oahe Downstream, contact the park office at (605) 223-7722.  

 

For more information on the disc golf tournament or to pre-register, contact Art Smith at (605) 945-0606 or Jay Blount at (605) 280-8898. For more information on South Dakota State Parks, visit www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391.

 

- GFP -

 

Visit GFP Booth Aug. 7-12 at the Sioux Empire Fair

 

PIERRE, S.D. - Outdoor enthusiasts can visit with Game, Fish and Parks officials and get the department’s latest publications at the 68th Annual Sioux Empire Fair.

 

Division of Wildlife Communications Manager Chuck Schlueter said staff members from both the Wildlife Division and the Parks and Recreation Division will be represented at the fair, which will be held Aug. 7-12 at the W. H. Lyons Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls.

 

"Department staff will be available to discuss fishing, hunting, camping and other outdoor-related topics as well as ask general questions of our professional staff," Schlueter said. "It is a great opportunity to find out what has been happening and what is new in South Dakota's outdoors."

 

The Wildlife Division will have copies of its 2007 S.D. Fishing Handbook, public Fishing and Hunting Areas booklets, application deadlines and back issues of the Conservation Digest, the department’s popular bimonthly magazine.

 

The Parks and Recreation Division will also have many free publications available, such as the 2007 Park Times, the Tatanka and many other outdoor recreation publications, from birding to disc golf to horse trails brochures.

 

Hunting, fishing, camping and other information for enjoying South Dakota’s outdoors can be found on the Game, Fish and Parks website at www.sdgfp.info.

 

-GFP-

 

A Day in the Life of Erik Richter

Assistant Park Manager, Lake Herman and Walkers Point

 

by Linda Sandness

 

A Thursday seemed like a good day to spend with assistant park manager Erik Richter as he did his work at Lake Herman State Park and at Walkers Point Recreation Area. Most campers arrive on Friday, so I thought I would beat the rush and visit with him a day before. Having hosted several large events myself, I should have realized how busy it can be getting ready for the crowd the day before they arrive.  Luckily, Erik didn't seem to mind.

 

I honestly don't think that I've ever seen Erik without a smile and this day was no different. With a wide grin, Erik left his task of writing responses to email questions and welcomed me to the park. 

 

Before saying more about our time together, this would be a good time to share with you descriptions of the two parks where Erik works.  Lake Herman, one of the first parks in the South Dakota state park system, encompasses 227 acres and has 72 campsites, 2 camping cabins, 2 comfort stations, 2 picnic shelters, a beautiful trail system, 9-hole disc golf course, fishing dock and a new visitor center.

 

The second park is Walkers Point Recreation Area which is located on the south side of Lake Madison, a few miles from Lake Herman.  Walkers Point covers 41 acres and has 43 campsites, 2 cabins, a comfort station and a picnic shelter.  Later as we toured both parks, I kept thinking about all the daily maintenance work that needs to be done to be as clean and inviting as these areas are.  Erik also works at several lakeside use areas, but we will save trips to those areas for another day.

 

When asked about his job responsibilities as an assistant park manager, Erik listed the following duties:

·        Hire, train and supervise seasonal employees and campground volunteers

·        Pay bills, make deposits and handle other office procedures

·        Assist with maintenance on the grounds and help clean facilities

·        Sell park entrance licenses

·        Do security checks around the park

·        Interact with the public and answer questions

 

When we left the visitor center to go meet the park volunteers, Erik's mentor, friend and supervisor district park supervisor Vicki Seger drove up. She had just been checking on campers to make certain all was well. From the warm interaction between the two, it was obvious that Vicki and Erik work well together. In fact, Erik said that the thing he most likes about his job is the people with whom he works. This includes both Vicki and Conservation Technician Scott Gustaf who work full-time, their 11 seasonal staff members and several volunteers. "Everyone works for common goals, from the staff based out of this office, to our region and across the state," said Erik.

 

Having worked at other parks in the state, Erik knows this is true. Following his senior year of high school in Waverly, SD, Erik worked two summers doing maintenance at the Sandy Shore and Pelican Lake Recreation Areas. He worked the next two summers at the park entrance booths in those parks. Then after graduating from SDSU with a Park Management degree in May 2005, Erik worked again that summer at Sandy Shore and Lake Pelican before beginning to work full-time in his present position.

 

Erik isn't the only Richter who has worked in the state park system. Erik, his sister Emilie and their brothers James and Brian have a combined 15 summers working seasonally at Sandy Shore and Pelican Lake. In addition, Emilie worked for several years as the information specialist in the division. That is quite a family tradition!

 

All that background makes Erik a logical person to ask what advice he would have for someone who is considering a job in the state parks. "Listen and be patient," he said. Then he shared a favorite quote by Ronald E. Osborn, "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."

 

I had a meeting to attend and Erik had Thursday tasks to attend to so I didn't stay the whole day. But before leaving I asked him what besides working with the excellent staff does he most enjoy about his job and what does he least enjoy. "I like to see everyone enjoy the park. The Fourth of July here was extremely busy. Seeing the park full of people enjoying the park, playing games, grilling food and talking with friends, reminded me of why I do what I do. It was like a Norman Rockwell painting," he said.  "The hard parts," he added, "are when we have to turn away campers because we are full and on a rare occasion dealing with loud campers who have had too much to drink."

 

As I drove out of the park, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw Erik's consistent, broad smile as he stood on the steps visiting with a park visitor.

 

Erik and his wife live in Madison and recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary.