Free Admission, Activities At State Parks For Nat'l Get Outdoors Day

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota's 75 state parks are all offering free admission this coming Saturday to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day. All of the state's parks have special activities planned.

The DNR hopes to introduce a new crowd to all Minnesota's parks have to offer. It also hopes to get current park-goers to look for new experiences at parks they've never visited.

"These are your parks, this is your place," said Krista Jensen, the lead naturalist at Fort Snelling State Park.

"All throughout the state there are all sorts of fun activities, traditional activities, non-traditional activities that families can go check out and try," she added.

Jensen said there is a state park within 30 miles of every Minnesotan.

From fishing to swimming, canoeing to nature trails, families can enjoy the outdoors for free.

"You don't need to buy your permits for the park, you can come out and explore them and kind of get a preview of what you can do for the rest of the year," Jensen said.

Madeleine Vanecek, a young mother, said the memories made outdoors last a lifetime.

"Sitting by the lakes and seeing the water, seeing the birds, seeing the bugs ... the kids love it," she said.

Vanecek plans to answer the DNR's call and explore, or do something she and the family have never done before.

"We might try another state park, since it's free," Vanecek said.

And admission isn't all that's free. You'll be able to borrow fishing and birding kits, too. GPS kits and kid's discovery kits are also available.

To check out all Saturday's free state park activities, click here.