Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

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Enjoy Iowa State Parks Your Way!

Kick off summer with your family in an Iowa state park or forest! The weekend of June 9-11, 2023, dozens of state parks will host family-friendly activities such as fireside chats, kayaking demonstrations, guided hikes and more! You also can find fun activity sheets on this web page to bring to the park and explore on your own. Enjoy your summer in Iowa state parks!

Naturalist Activities for the Family

Coloring Pages

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Iowa State University professor Paula Streeter, is an artist in the 20 Artists, 20 Parks program. She has created Iowa state park centennial coloring pages free to download!


Find Peace, Pick up a Piece!

When visiting state parks to exercise and spend time outdoors, bring a trash bag and gloves with you to pick up a piece of trash! We appreciate our volunteers and litter pick-up is an easy way to lend a hand. Please take any trash home with you to throw away.


volunteer clean up, three kids with garbage collecting bags


Iowa Outdoors

Iowa PBS State Park Videos Looking for your next TV show? 

Watch special editions of Iowa Outdoors featuring state parks. 

Also enjoy"Trail in a Minute" videos with one-of-a-kind views of state parks on Iowa PBS.




Iowa Wild Video Segments

Explore Iowa’s wild places with DNR Conservation Officer Erika Billerbeck and her family:



Wild Things: Introduction

Wild Things, Ep 1: Maps
Wild Things, Ep 2: Fossils
Wild Things, Ep 3: Mystery Animal
Wild Things, Ep 4: Frogs

Recipes

Download these Kid-Friend Recipes and find more on the DNR's Dutch-Oven cooking recipe page.

  • Kids' Recipes
    Bread on a Stick, Butter in a Baby Food Jar, Fudge in a Ziploc Bag, Ice Cream in a Ziploc Bag, Bubbles, Eggshell Sidewalk Chalk


S'mores Nachos

  1. Layer the bottom of a pie pan with marshmallows. 
  2. Sprinkle chocolate chips and other candy over the marshmallows, such as your favorite candy bars. 
  3. Let marshmallows melt completely over the fire.
  4. Remove from heat and line sides of pan with split graham crackers (be sure to add graham crackers as last step so they don't burn). 
  5. Enjoy!

smore nachos