The winter winds are blowing. There’s plenty of snow on the ground. What a perfect time to start thinking about — camping. The Iowa Camping Kickoff Weekend is scheduled for May 2nd through 4th. Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa State Parks Bureau, says it’s never too early to start planning a camping trip.
Szcodronski says, "We like to have campers begin thinking that the season is just right around the corner and this weekend is a good opportunity to come out and join us, get their equipment cleaned up and tested in good order and ready to go for the summer." He says it’s also a good chance for the D.N.R. to say "thanks" to the campers for using the park system throughout the year.
This year, the Camping Kickoff Weekend is open to everyone, not just Iowans, and Szcodronski says an added bonus is the gift basket you’ll get when you arrive at the park. It will include a camping coupon good on another night’s camping during the rest of the season, an issue of "Iowa Outdoor" magazine, in addition to other tidbits like camping recipes.
Szcodrinski says the weekend, in particular, is good for fishermen traveling to the Iowa Great Lakes. He says that’s also walleye kickoff weekend at the Iowa Great Lakes. Reservations in Iowa’s state parks can be made up to three months in advance at the reservation website .