June 2015 Newsletter from Georgia State Parks

Georgia Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 06/02/2015 02:49 PM EDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

June 2015
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites

> IN THIS ISSUE: Summer Vacations, Get Outdoors Month, Junior Rangers
chattahoochee bend

Summer Vacations in the Great Outdoors

Ah, summer! Time for lightning bugs, s’mores and sleeping under the stars. Georgia’s State Parks make great vacation destinations thanks to a variety of accommodations and activities. Right outside your door (or tent!) you’ll find hiking, fishing, boating, ranger programs, golf, geocaching, archery and more. Our modern campgrounds have hot showers and our cozy cottages have kitchens and screened porches. For a “glamping” experience, stay overnight in a yurt, which is like a cross between a cabin and a tent.  Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-800-864-7275.

Go

Park Activities
camping s'mores

#CampGaStateParks Instagram Contest

Show off your Georgia State Park campsite this summer for a chance to win a $50 gift card from Bass Pro Shops. Tag your best camping pics with #CampGaStateParks, #GaStateParks and the park name. Weekly winners will be chosen on Mondays, June 8 – August 17.

Go 		tugaloo state park

Top 100 Fishing Spots

Four of Georgia’s State Parks have been recognized among the “Top 100 Family Friendly Places to Boat and Fish in the U.S.,” according to Take Me Fishing. Those selected include Tugaloo on Lake Hartwell, High Falls near Jackson, Fort Yargo in Winder and Georgia Veterans in Cordele. Try your luck at one of these hot spots, and for more fishing opportunities, visit GeorgiaStateParks.org.

Go 		hooray

Gold Medal Award

Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites was recently named a finalist for the 2015 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management -- the most prestigious accolade a recreation agency can achieve. The award is sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. The winner will be announced in September.

Go

Upcoming Events
ft yargo fishing

June is Great Outdoors Month

Celebrate our beautiful state with a variety of events designed to get you outdoors. National Trails Day is June 6, with ranger-led hikes planned all across Georgia. (For an easy walk, join Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier at 10 a.m. For a challenging trek, try Black Rock Mountain State Park in the northeast Georgia mountains.) National Get Outdoors Day is June 13, and the Great American Backyard Campout is June 27. Where will you go this summer? 

National Trails Day, Backyard Campout
View Event
junior rangers

Junior Ranger Programs

Children ages 6-12 will have fun learning in the outdoors as they work toward earning a Junior Ranger badge. Through our free Junior Ranger Activity Book, they will experience nature first-hand, explore Georgia's fascinating history and work off energy during recreational activities. Badges can be earned while visiting parks or even while exploring your own back yard. A few state parks and historic sites host Junior Ranger camps as well.

Earn Your Own Junior Ranger Badge
View Event
cloudland canyon

Father’s Day is June 21

Since Father’s Day falls on the first day of summer this year, treat Dad to a day of fun in the sun. Pack a picnic of his favorite goodies and head outdoors. F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain has planned a Father’s Day corn-hole tournament, while Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge invites dads to a leisurely evening paddle. You'll find plenty of places for a family outing at GeorgiaStateParks.org.

Treat Dad to a Day of Fun in the Sun
View EventView More Events

Featured Deal
save

Check Online for the Latest Specials

Who doesn’t love a deal? Packages and discounts on golf, cabins, group facilities and more are posted on GeorgiaStateParks.org, with last-minute discounts announced on Facebook. George L. Smith State Park’s picnic shelters are only $25 during the week (great for clubs outings in middle Georgia). Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course at Richard B. Russell State Park has a 10-round players card for $300. 

View More Deals