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May 27, 2016
Contact: Elissa Buck, 989-313-0000 or Stephanie Wirtz, 989-686-2790
Enjoy the spring weather with events in northwestern Michigan state parks
Residents looking to better connect with Michigan's great outdoors will have plenty of June opportunities at state parks and recreation areas in northwest Michigan. The Department of Natural Resources offers a variety of outdoor recreation events, all designed to take advantage of the warmer weather.
 Turkey Thursday with Smokey Bear
Ludington State Park (Mason County)
Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17
Join National Wild Turkey Federation members as they teach children how to hunt wild turkeys in Michigan and how to shoot a BB gun. On Friday, the NWTF will give participants another chance to practice shooting skills. For more information, contact the park at 231-843-2423.
Day on the Canal
Mitchell State Park (Wexford County)
Saturday, June 18
Families and friends are invited to celebrate the park's 7th annual Day on the Canal event. Activities include an arts and craft show, food provided by the North American Snow Festival committee, a cardboard boat regatta and a visit from Smokey Bear and his firefighting friends. Regatta registration will begin at noon and racing begins at 1 p.m. For more information, contact the park at 231-775-7911.
Free ORV Weekend
The DNR invites off-road enthusiasts to enjoy the first Free ORV Weekend of the year, June 11-12. That weekend, Michigan residents and nonresidents legally can ride DNR-designated routes and trails without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit. Operators younger than 16 must have a valid safety training certificate. For more information on ORV riding in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/orvtrails.
ORV Safety Class
Silver Lake State Park (Oceana County)
Saturday, June 11, and Saturday, June 25
Join park staff for an ORV Road Vehicle Safety course in order to earn a Michigan ORV safety certificate. In Michigan, all riders younger than 16 years of age are required to complete the course. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, contact the park at 231-873-3083.
 Free Fishing Weekend
Michigan residents and nonresidents can fish without a license June 11-12 on both inland and Great Lakes' waters. In addition, a number of FREE special events will take place in parks and across the state. For more information and to view a list of statewide events, visit michigan.gov/freefishing.
Kids Fishing Tournament
Young State Park (Charlevoix County)
Saturday, June 11
Celebrate Free Fishing Weekend with a kids fishing tournament on Mirror Pond. Prizes will be awarded in age categories. For more information, contact the park at 231-582-7523.
Recreation 202: Intro to Walleye Fishing
Silver Lake State Park (Oceana County)
Sunday, June 12
Join Captain Ken Clark of Fishmas Charters to learn seasonal habits of the elusive walleye and proven techniques for finding fish. Sign up for a chance to win an hour out on Silver Lake with Captain Clark. For more information, contact the park at 231-873-3083.
MI Big Green Gym
The MI Big Green Gym program is a partnership among the DNR, mParks (Michigan Recreation and Park Association), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and local fitness instructors. The goal of the program is to put the “out” back into workout by hosting fun outdoor programs like yoga, Pilates, strength training, cardio and more in parks across Michigan. This program also promotes fitness-focused events like 5Ks, sporting tournaments and bicycle rides. For more information and to view a list of statewide events, visit www.mibiggreengym.org.
Foster Care 5K Fitness Fun Run Walk
William Mitchell State Park (Wexford County)
Saturday, June 11
The Wexford/Missaukee Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the DNR have partnered to help raise funds for local foster care children and foster parents. The event will start at 10 a.m. and consist of a 5K fun run and walk, lunch, race challenges and giveaway items donated by local businesses and agencies. Participants may register the day of the event for $10 per family. For more information, please contact Jim Snyder at 231-342-4861 or Mary Hicks at 231-779-4505.
Beach Yoga
Charles Mears State Park (Oceana County)
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays June 20-Sept. 5
Join Cindy Beth from the Kalon Arts and Yoga Company for Vinyasa flow beach yoga. Classes begin at 9:30 a.m. and will consist of poses focused on flexibility, strength and balance, as well as breath work. She also will host classes the first Saturday of July, August and September at Little Point Sable Lighthouse within beautiful Silver Lake State Park. For more information, email Cindy Beth at Shawneechild@gmail.com.
For more information about these and other events, visit the online calendar of events at www.michigan.gov/gogetoutdoors, call the park, or contact Elissa Buck, recreation programmer, at 989-313-0000.
Many of these events are free to attend, but a Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry. Learn more about how the Recreation Passport gains you access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
Inside Michigan’s Great Outdoors subscribers are always the first to know about reservation opportunities, state park events and other outdoor happenings. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnr to subscribe now.
/Editors’ note: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Suggested captions follow.
DayonCanal and DayonCanal2: Racers of all ages are invited to build their own cardboard boats and take part in a family-friendly race, part of Day on the Canal at Mitchell State Park June 18.
FreeFishing: Free Fishing Weekend offers a variety of fun events (such as Recreation 101/202 programs and kids fishing tournaments) for fishing enthusiasts to get outdoors and take part in one of Michigan's biggest outdoor activities./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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