Daily Archives: September 21, 2017

Sign your kids up for Southwest Kansas Youth Day

A flurry of fun activity will be had at the upcoming 2017 Southwest Kansas Youth Day at Historic Lake Scott State Park in Scott City and youth ages 16 and younger are invited to attend. During the Oct. 1 event, taking place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., youth can enjoy a snake presentation, shotgun and BB gun shooting, and a 3D archery shoot.

Lunch will be provided, and registered participants will get a free event t-shirt.

A variety of prizes will be given away at the event, including mentored hunts, shotguns and pellet guns for youth ages 9-16, and a separate set of prizes for youth 9 and younger.

For more information and to register for this event, contact Manuel Torres at (620) 966-8570 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Kansas State Parks Director elected to national post

Linda Lanterman, director of the Parks Division for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), was elected president of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) at their annual meeting held September 5-8 in Missoula, Montana. Lanterman has worked for KDWPT for 25 years and has been Parks Division director since 2010.

Lanterman oversees a staff of 120, 26 Kansas state parks and an annual budget of $12 million. She began her service with the department in the Human Resources Section, then served as the assistant chief of the Licensing section and assistant director of the Parks Division. She graduated from Wichita State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Administration degree in Accounting. The Kansas Recreation and Park Association named her a distinguished fellow in January 2015.

“I feel honored to be chosen President of NASPD,” Lanterman said. “America’s state parks are part of the fabric of our nation’s quality of life. Close to home, state parks in every state offer outdoor opportunities that provide lasting memories for our visitors to share with subsequent generations. America’s state parks are staffed with passionate and competent employees who work tirelessly to help create those memories. We want to support our staff and give them the tools to execute their jobs in the most efficient and passionate way.”

“Linda brings a diversity of state park experiences, from daily operations and grants administration to innovative budgeting strategies that help make state parks more fiscally sustainable,” said Lewis Ledford, NASPD executive director. “Her energy and resourcefulness will serve America’s state parks well in continuing to forge public and private partnerships and secure corporate support.”

About NASPD

The NASPD helps state parks effectively manage and administer their systems. Its mission is to promote and advance the state park systems of America for their own significance, as well as for their important contributions to the nation’s environment, heritage, health, and economy.

Duck hunters invited to free breakfast in Great Bend

Duck hunters and friends hitting the marsh on Oct. 7 are invited to stop by the Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) – located at the southeast corner of Cheyenne Bottoms along K-156 Highway – from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a free Hunter Appreciation Breakfast. Biscuits and gravy, coffee, and juice will be served. New this year will be a free dog retrieving demo with a hunt test training scenario for dog owners to try with their dog.

After filling up on a warm breakfast, hunters can explore Cheyenne Bottoms’ history through exhibits and displays at the education center, peruse through items in the Cheyenne Bottoms Ducks Unlimited Chapter raffle and silent auction, practice their marksmanship with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Laser Shot game, as well as share hunting stories with fellow hunters and KDWPT staff.

“Hunters and hunting is such an important part of the past, present, and future of Cheyenne Bottoms,” stated Curtis Wolf, KWEC director. “It is an honor to celebrate this tradition.”

The free breakfast is sponsored by the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau, and organized by the KWEC, KDWPT, and Ducks Unlimited.

For more information about the breakfast, call the KWEC at (877) 243-9268.

Relive history at 15th annual Fall River Rendezvous

Step back in time to when mountain men and American Indians roamed the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase territory. A time when the success of Lewis and Clark’s “Corps of Discovery” had others clamoring to follow in their footsteps, anxious to explore the unknown. Relive this time and more at the 15th Annual Fall River Rendezvous at the Fredonia Bay area of Fall River State Park. The days’ reenactments will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and visitors of all ages are invited to attend.

The one-day event aims to interpret the 1800s to 1840s with a traditional rendezvous when Native Americans and mountain men camped together to trade for supplies and furs. Activities will include exploring Native American and mountain men encampments, interacting with historical traders, a black powder shoot, tomahawk throw, skillet throw for ladies, and a kids’ gold rush.

For more information, contact park manager Kimberly Jones at (620) 637-2213. Find more information about Fall River State Park at KSOutdoors.com.