PIERRE, S.D. - Does your family want to learn new outdoors skills? If so, take a look at the annual Becoming an Outdoor Family workshop hosted by the Division of Parks and Recreation. The workshop focuses on teaching families the skills to create enjoyable outdoor adventures.

Oakwood Lakes State Park near Bruce is hosting the 2005 workshop on June 10-12, Friday night through Sunday afternoon. Registration is only $35 per family and covers camping fees, participation and some materials. Workshop participants will also need a park entrance license, tent or camper, sleeping bags and other basic personal items, detailed in the registration packet. For information on possible financial assistance, please call (605) 773-3391.

Workshop topics cover basic camping skills like setting up a tent, starting a campfire and cooking in the outdoors. The three-day workshop also allows participants a chance to try canoeing, archery, fishing, disc golf and using a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) unit.

"Not only can families learn and test new outdoor skills, they have a chance to create memories that they will share for years," said Lynn Spomer, program specialist with the Division of Parks and Recreation. "Staff will be on site the entire weekend of the event to help where needed. This is an excellent opportunity for single-parent families as well as two-parent families to learn about the outdoors."

The workshop is limited to 20 families. Enrollment is taken on a first-come, first-served basis. All ages are welcome to attend the weekend, but some individual sessions do have age requirements.

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