Families and children of all ages will have the opportunity to experience Michigan's natural wonders firsthand when they visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park during the 2006 Michigan State Fair in Detroit Aug. 23 through Sept. 4.

A green oasis within the fairgrounds, the two-acre Pocket Park becomes the exciting, activity-filled "Outdoor Zone" during the 13-day fair, inviting families to have fun while experiencing outdoor recreation and learning about Michigan?s wild animals.

"The Pocket Park is a substantial effort to bring Michigan's hunting, fishing and outdoors heritage to the residents of our state?s largest urban area," said Kevin Frailey, DNR education and outreach manager. "Through this exhibit, we hope to entice families and individuals to visit our state parks and forests, learn more about fishing and hunting, and seek out more ways in which they can participate in Michigan's great outdoors."

A top destination at the fair, the Outdoor Zone is a partnership between the DNR and the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. The Metroparks have served the Detroit metropolitan area for many years, and the opportunity to work together, sharing knowledge with our fair visitors, is a welcome addition.

The centerpiece of the site is a fishing pond shaped like the Lower Peninsula, holding more than one million gallons of water and stocked with more than 5,000 hybrid sunfish ready for catch-and-release fishing. The program is designed to give everyone the chance to have fun learning how to fish. DNR and HCMA volunteers will be on hand to help bait the hook, untangle fishing lines and even take a fish off the hook and release it back to the pond.

Although many of the children who try their luck at the fishing pond may have fished before, that's not the case with the majority of youngsters who will get their first lesson in shooting at the DNR archery and pellet gun ranges. Most have never held a gun or bow, so the emphasis is on safety. The DNR wants all kids to learn the safe handling of guns and bows by providing a supervised shooting experience at the fair.

Visitors also will be able to enjoy a wide variety of activities and displays, geared toward families and children. HCMA interpreters will be stationed in the activity tent to help youngsters try their hand at several interactive exhibits aimed at introducing kids to wildlife.

In the Critter Cabin, DNR and Metroparks interpreters will host daily programs on Michigan wildlife, featuring live animals, birds or reptiles.

On weekends, from 1 to 6 p.m., the Outdoor Zone welcomes several live animal exhibits presented by Jim McGrath's Nature Discovery, the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Organization for Bat Conservation and Joe Rogers' Wildlife Recovery Association.

Admission to the Outdoor Zone and all the activities are free with admission to the fair. Located on the fairgrounds near the Big Stove, the Outdoor Zone will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day.