Kick Off Summer

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!

• Check out the complete list of park programs and activities.

Download these activity sheets to explore the park and enjoy nature on your own or with your family!

• Coloring Pages, Owl
• Coloring Pages, Deer
• Coloring Pages, Girl and Salamander
• Coloring Pages, Camping
• Coloring Pages, Gull Point State Park Lodge

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.

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.

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

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

• 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 Layer the bottom of a pie pan with marshmallows.  Sprinkle chocolate chips and other candy over the marshmallows, such as your favorite candy bars.  Let marshmallows melt completely over the fire. 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).  Enjoy!