STATE PARKS

Missouri Headwaters State Park hosts a Junior Ranger Program on reptiles, Lewis & Clark Headwaters Arrival Breakfast featuring guest speaker John Phillips, and a volunteer weed pull. Madison Buffalo Jump State Park will hold a Kite Festival with Native American art vendors, flint knapping demonstrations, Vintage Nana's Indian Tacos, and a bison program by Billy Maxwell.

Lewis and Clark State Park in Onawa, Iowa reopened July 17 for day-use and camping after completing the first phase of hazardous tree removal. The park removed hundreds of dead cottonwood trees, though shaded campsites remain limited. The Visitor Center and Keel Boat Exhibit remain closed for HVAC renovations.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled multiple August events including birding programs at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Nature at Nightfall at Platte River State Park, a family event with Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery, kayak cleanup at Zorinsky Lake, virtual science webinars, a Fossil Discovery Workshop with the University of Nebraska State Museum, and Becoming an Outdoors-Woman birding activities.

Lone Pine State Park is offering B.A.R.K Ranger Hikes on select Saturdays throughout summer and fall, starting July 25. The program, developed by the National Park Service, teaches responsible pet ownership on public lands. Participants receive an official dog tag and can enter a photo contest for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks social media.

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park near Ulm hosts its annual Mammoth Hunt event on August 8-9, where visitors can practice using atlatls and primitive weapons with instructor Jim Ray, cultural anthropologist Billy Maxwell, George Bryce, and veterinarian Don "Doc" Woerner demonstrating traditional First Peoples hunting and survival skills.

Eastern portions of Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area are closed during a campground improvement project funded by Capital Maintenance Funds and Nebraska Game and Parks fees. The project will add electrical campsites and a shower house to the eastern campground.

Fort Robinson State Park will host Creatures of the Night: Bats on July 17, a free family-friendly program in partnership with wildlife biologists from the Pine Ridge Ranger District on the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. Attendees will learn about bat ecology and conservation efforts while observing bats in their natural habitat.

Michigan state parks host diverse July events including dune interpretation walks at Muskegon State Park, wellness retreats at Port Crescent State Park, Pheasants Forever habitat education at multiple locations, adaptive recreation activities at Interlochen State Park, and orienteering challenges, horseshoe tournaments, and Christmas in July celebrations across the state.

Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala state recreation areas remain open as staff clean up storm damage from June 30. Visitors should exercise caution around downed trees, debris, standing water, shifted boat docks, and eroded shorelines.

Nebraska's largest state park, Fort Robinson State Park, has reopened trails and rangelands to the public following closure due to the South Fork Fire. Visitors are advised to use caution, avoid weakened trees, and stay on established trails while the park continues recovery efforts and prepares for Fourth of July weekend activities.

Fort Robinson State Park opened a new state-of-the-art aquatic facility featuring a 310-foot waterslide, zero-entry pool, and Old West-themed attractions. The facility replaces a 46-year-old pool and was funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Nebraska Game and Parks Capital Maintenance Fund, Robert B. Daugherty Foundation, and an anonymous donor.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources offers numerous July 4th celebrations across state parks, including fireworks displays at Patoka Lake, Pokagon State Park, Cecil M. Harden Lake, and Versailles State Park, plus activities like patriotic bike parades, historical walks, and cornhole tournaments at various locations.

Author Jeff O'Donnell will present two programs on July 11 at Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, featuring discussions on the North Brothers and Pawnee Scouts, plus stories from his book "Amazing Tales of the Old West." O'Donnell has authored nine books about Nebraska and appeared on national television networks.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permits fireworks at three state recreation areas on July 4: Branched Oak SRA at Lieber's Point, Pawnee SRA Area 1 beach, and Wagon Train SRA beach from 8 a.m. to midnight. Only state fire marshal-approved fireworks are allowed, and visitors must supervise children and properly dispose of used fireworks.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission operates nine state historical parks showcasing the state's diverse heritage, from Fort Atkinson and Fort Hartsuff military posts to Buffalo Bill Ranch and Ashfall Fossil Beds. Many parks offer living history events and special programming for America's 250th anniversary celebration.

Arkansas State Parks partnered with Apple Seeds, a nonprofit nutrition-education organization, to establish a Central Arkansas Teaching Farm at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. The two-acre farm will serve thousands of students annually through field trips, camps, and community events, with Apple Seeds aiming to reach 15,000 students per year by 2029.

Bannack State Park celebrates the 50th anniversary of Bannack Days on July 18-19, featuring re-enactments, music, wagon rides, gold panning, and artisan demonstrations at Montana's first territorial capital. Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family, with tickets available online at montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com.

Giant Springs State Park in Great Falls is hosting free Trivia Nights every Tuesday evening from July 7 through August 25, featuring family-friendly questions in four rounds. Teams of seven or fewer can compete for prizes, with registration available on-site before 7 p.m.

Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced that Salamonie River State Forest and Frances Slocum State Forest will transition to Indiana State Parks management effective July 1, adding over 1,400 acres of forestland in northern Indiana while maintaining recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department prohibits fireworks on state wildlife management areas ahead of Independence Day, as they conflict with wildlife production and recreation objectives. The department will temporarily lift Tuesday-Wednesday no-camping restrictions for the Fourth of July holiday week.