Once again, we will be having a winter camping tent village at Lake Maria State Park's (near Monticello, MN) Winter Family Fun Day on January 26th, 2013, with free camping (with the group) on Friday, Jan. 25th and Saturday, Jan. 26th. Hot tents, cold tents, tipis and other shelters are welcome, and there will be snow piled to build a quinzees. We will also provide free firewood. In return, we ask that you spend some time around your camp to explain that style of camping equipment to the park visitors who come through. (We usually have 250-400 people attend, but not all of them check out the winter camping area.) You and your children are welcome to take part in the guided snowshoe hikes, newly revised USFS Jr. Snowranger program, SAR Dog Demonstration, and other fun activities. We will even supply free (approved) firewood cut to fit in Snowtrekker or 4-Dog style woodstoves.

Since this year's FFD is once again, the day before the start of the John Beargreese Sled Dog Marathon, we may not have any dog sled teams there as in past years, so we are open to suggestions as to activities (Chili cook-off, etc.) that we can present to visitors. If you have any thoughts let me know. Official information can be found at the Lake Maria State Park page at www.mndnr.gov. Please RVSP if you plan to be part of this activity, or PM me if you have any questions.

Think snow!
Hans

Hans

New member here and new to winter hot tenting, I've got all the gear finally and ready to test it out. I'm checking with family and schedules and will RSVP if I or we can attend. Thanks for putting the offer out there.

Michael

Welcome to the site and thanks for the info. We don't have winter camping gear so we won't be camping with you but we don't live far from there and it looks like a great event to bring the kids to. Hope to see you there.

Thank you both. Hope to see you there!

Ranger Hans

So what will this be like with no snow on the ground to speak of?

Bummed that we're going to miss it. Didn't originally put two and two together that we already have 2 things going on on Sat. Daughter's dance recital and then a wedding. Hope you still have fun w/out any snow.

We have some hard pack snow, and it looks like we are going to get up to 3 inches tonight, which would be enough to re-groom. My boss and I have gone over both eventualities, and we will plow and groom if we can and have too. Last year with NO snow, we still had over 150 people attend. At least this year we have some. The show must go on.

Our volunteers decided not to camp this year; we will set up the tents for the winter camping demo, Saturday AM. Tony, if you are coming, let me know. We hae one location picked if it's 2 tents and another if it's 3.

Think snow!
Ranger Hans

Sorry I was unable to attend this event, but, was curious as to how things went?