SD GFP NEWS FOR 9-15-09
New State Park Entrance Licenses Available Oct. 1
PIERRE, S.D. – The 2010 annual park entrance license for South Dakota's state parks and recreation areas will be available for purchase Oct. 1.
The 2010 park entrance license is $28 and is valid from Oct. 1, 2009, through May 20, 2011. Purchasers of one license can also buy a second at half price for $14. The license is required for entrance into designated state parks, recreation areas and lakeside use areas, although it does not cover camping costs or additional fees.
Entrance licenses can be purchased at local state park offices or by calling the SD Division of Parks and Recreation at (605) 773-3391. Licenses can also be purchased online using a credit card. To place an order, visit http://www.sdparks.info/ and click on "Shop GFP Online.”
The 2010 annual entrance license features a picture of two girls sledding. The image is the first winter scene ever used on a park entrance license and is a reminder of the many activities available in the state parks during the winter months.
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Custer State Park Hosts Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival
CUSTER, S.D. – A one-of-a-kind western weekend awaits you at the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival Sept. 26 through 28.
The Buffalo Roundup begins at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, near the corrals along the Wildlife Loop Road. The parking areas open at 6:15 a.m. and close at 9:00 a.m. For safety reasons, spectators are asked to remain in the viewing areas until all the buffalo are corralled, around noon. The public is then invited to take free shuttles into the corral area where testing, branding and sorting of the buffalo will begin at 1 p.m. in preparation for the Nov. 21 auction. Food and arts and crafts booths will also be available near the corrals on Monday.
“The Buffalo Roundup brings over 10,000 spectators to Custer State Park to see the park’s herd of 1,500 buffalo,” said Craig Pugsley, Custer State Park visitor services manager. "In addition, the weekend arts festival features lots of entertainment and activities as well as over 100 arts and craft exhibitors, including western and Native American artwork and a number of food vendors."
To alleviate traffic problems, spectators will need to decide upon the viewing/parking area they plan to watch the roundup from prior to Monday morning. Visitors who want to watch from the North viewing area should travel down the Wildlife Loop Road from the State Game Lodge side. Those wishing to view from the South viewing area should travel down the Wildlife Loop Road from the Blue Bell side.
In addition to Monday’s Buffalo Roundup, Custer State Park will host a weekend of entertainment, craft and art booths and fun for the entire family at its annual Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27. Both days start at 8 a.m. with a pancake feed, entertainment kicks off at 8:30 a.m., and the arts and crafts booths will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Arts Festival takes place near the State Game Lodge.
There is no cost to attend the Buffalo Roundup or Arts Festival. A South Dakota state park entrance license is required to enter the park on Saturday and Sunday. A park entrance license is not required on the Monday of the Buffalo Roundup.
To learn more about the roundup and arts festival or to request a brochure, contact Custer State Park at (605) 255-4515 or e-mail CusterStatePark@state.sd.us. More information can also be found online at www.CusterStatePark.info.
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Two Custer State Park trails closing for the winter
CUSTER, S.D. – Hikers will need to find an alternate route to Harney Peak during the winter months. Trail nine, the Sylvan Lake trailhead to Harney Peak, and Trail number four, the Little Devil’s Tower Trail, will be closed to hikers for much of the winter.
Trail four will close to the public on Sept. 15, and trail nine will not be available after Oct. 1. “We are conducting two projects in the area,” said Custer State Park superintendent Richard Miller. “Both will help mitigate the infestation of mountain pine beetles.”
One project includes a logging effort and timber sale. The other is the removal of beetle-infested trees by helicopter. Thinning the area will help slow the spread of the beetles into the park. “Combating beetles has been an ongoing operation,” noted Miller. “We have been cutting and removing or chopping up trees for the last 4 years to try to slow them down.”
Custer State Park borders the Black Elk Wilderness Area that is heavily infested with mountain pine beetles. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of the Black Elk Wilderness Area will be lost to beetles in 2-3 years.
Trail closure is necessary as heavy equipment will be using the trails as access roads and landing sites during the logging project.
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Public input sought for Angostura sewer project
HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – The public is invited to an open house concerning a feasibility study of the sewer systems at Angostura Recreation Area. The meeting will be held Oct. 6 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs, S.D.
South Dakota state engineer and South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks are conducting a study that looks at the feasibility of central sewer systems for the private lease trailers and cabins at the Angostura Recreation Area.
The Study includes:
No formal presentation will be made; an open house format will be utilized with comment cards available. The open house will be staffed for two hours with various displays that outline the details of the study. Consultants will be available for discussion during the open house period.
If you can not attend, written comments may be sent to HDR Engineering, Inc, 3820 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57702 and will be accepted if received by Oct. 9, 2009.
For more information, contact Mike Coleman at (605) 977-7740.
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3rd annual Take A Child Outside Week, Sept. 24-30
PIERRE, S.D. —Please join South Dakota state parks as they celebrate Take A Child Outside Week, a national initiative spearheaded by the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, which kicks off Thursday, September 24 and runs through Wednesday, September 30. Designed to help break down obstacles that keep children from exploring the natural world, the week encourages children and adults to spend time together outdoors. It was inspired by Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods,” which identifies the benefits of outdoor experiences for children and addresses some of the problems of what he terms “Nature Deficit Disorder,” such as increased feelings of stress, trouble paying attention and feelings of being disconnected from the world.
On the Take A Child Outside web site (http://www.takeachildoutside.org/), adults are encouraged to make a pledge to take a child outside during the week and chart their location on a digital map. The web site also offers a link to interesting outdoor activities, a list of other participating organizations. "By arming parents, teachers and caregivers with resources on outdoor activities, children will become reconnected with nature and spend more time outdoors," says Liz Baird, Director of School Programs at the Museum.
Currently, all 50 US states and four foreign countries actively participate in Take A Child Outside Week. This initiative attracted 109 partners its first year and now over 300 organizations participate nationwide including parks, museums, science centers, and many other organizations interested in reconnecting children and nature.
“Fall is an excellent time to enjoy activities in South Dakota’s state parks,” said Lynn Spomer, visitor services coordinator for South Dakota state parks. “Hiking, biking, fishing, geocaching, and disc golf are all activities that families can enjoy outside.”
Examples of Take A Child Outside activities
For more information about South Dakota state parks, call (605) 773-3391 or visit http://www.sdparks.info/. For more information about the national effort or to join us as a partner please contact Liz Baird at Liz.Baird@ncdenr.gov or call 919-733-7450, ext 601.
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