Lake Sakakawea State Park
Activities
Amphitheater Programs
Amphitheater programs, children's Dakota Explorers activities and nature hikes are held every weekend throughout the summer. Information is posted on the campground bulletin boards; and a schedule will also be posted on this web site as program information becomes available.
2008 Special Events
May 26—MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY. Free admission to any state park on Memorial Day, in honor of past and present servicemen and women.
June 7—SAKAKAWEA TRAILS FEST. Multi-agency event highlighting the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and the North Country National Scenic Trail. Click here for Additional details.
July 12—VISITOR APPRECIATION DAY. Free entrance to Lake Sakakawea State Park.
July 12—SAFE BOATING DAY. (CANCELLED)
August 16—GREAT PLANERS SALMON DERBY. Join the Great Planers for their premiere salmon derby. Weigh-in schedules will be posted in the park and derby headquarters will be located at the park's special events shelter near the marina.
Interpretive Activities
Weekend interpretive activities, including hikes, campfire programs and Dakota Explorers, are held every weekend during the summer. Information is posted on the campground bulletin boards
June 20-22 – Not What You’d Expect.
Friday, June 20
- 9:30pm CT – More Fish in the Sea. It’s not just fish in the sea; get to know more about those other aquatic animals at the amphitheater.
Saturday, June 21
- 9am CT – Dakota Explorers: Are You up Yet? Nocturnal, diurnal, crepuscular… what do all these words mean, and how can they help you find the animals you want to? Find out at the amphitheater.
- 3pm CT – It’s Not Just for the Birds. Some animals, besides birds, have found their way into the skies; get to know more about them at the amphitheater.
- 9pm CT – Night Fliers. Join us at the amphitheater to find out more about everyone’s favorite nocturnal flying mammal.
Sunday, June 22
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
June 27-29 – Feathered Friends
Friday, June 27
- 9:30pm CT – Let’s Go Flying. How is it that birds, and some other animals, can take to the air? Find out at the amphitheater.
Saturday, June 28
- 9am CT – Birding Basics. Meet at the amphitheater to learn the basics of birding and go for a hike along the Shoreline Trial and put your new skills to the test.
- 3pm CT – Dakota Explorers: Let’s Build a Home. Not all nests are the same, find out how, why, and where birds build their nests and make your very own at the amphitheater.
- 9pm CT – Hoo Gives a Hoot. Owls have a great many adaptations putting it at the top of the nighttime food chain, learn more at the amphitheater.
Sunday, June 29
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
July 4-6 – Circle of Life
Friday, July 4
- 9:30pm CT – Animals Babies. What are all those cute cuddlies called again? How long do they stay with Mom and Dad? Find that out and more at the amphitheater.
Saturday, July 5
- 10am CT – Dakota Explorer: Incredible Journey. Learn about the Water Cycle through some fun games at the amphitheater.
- 3pm CT – Flutter-By. Ever wonder how a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly? Learn how and design your own butterflies at the amphitheater.
- 9pm CT – Break it Down: Decomposers. Come to the amphitheater for some fun times with some fungi.
Sunday, July 6
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
July 11-13 – Animal Tracks and Traces
Friday, July 11
- 9 pm CT – Who’s There? How can you tell when an animal has been around when the animal isn’t there anymore? Get some tips at the amphitheater.
Saturday, July 12
- 9am CT – Dakota Explorers: Tracking Hike. Starting at the amphitheater for review of what traces animals leave behind, then a walk along the shoreline trail and see what animal signs we can find.
- 3pm CT – Bone Heads. Join us at the amphitheater and get some time leaning about skulls, and the clues they can give you about the animals they belong to.
- 9pm CT – Fur Bearers. The fur trade caused some major changes in the wildlife of North America, find out (and feel) why at the amphitheater.
Sunday, July 13
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
July 18-20 – Fields and Meadows
Friday, July 18
- 9pm CT – Great Plains. What makes them so great? Come to the amphitheater and find out about the amazing diversity of the Great Plains and how the stay so… plain!
Saturday, July 19
- 9am CT – Bug-A-Boo. Grab some magnifying glasses and take a hike along the shoreline trail to see what bugs we can find starting at the amphitheater.
- 3pm CT –Mud Pies. Not all dirt is the same; different soils can support different plants. Get to know why LSSP has the plants it does at the amphitheater (don’t worry, we’ll keep it clean!)
- 9pm CT – The Garrison Dam. Come to the amphitheater to find out why the Garrison Dam is here and what it does for Lake Sakakawea.
Sunday, July 20
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
July 25-27 – Before the Times of North Dakota
Friday, July 25
- 9pm CT – Sakaka-Who? Get to know some more about the girl who gave LSSP its name and about her journeys with Lewis and Clark at the amphitheater.
Saturday, July 26
- 9am CT – Guided Hike. Starting at the amphitheater we’ll go on a hike and try to imagine what the land was like before settlers came.
- 3pm CT – Wide Open Spaces. Local plants and animals have changed over time, find out how and why at the amphitheater.
- 8:30pm CT – Hidatsa. Before Lewis and Clark made their way through North Dakota there were the Hidatsa, learn more about them at the amphitheater.
Sunday, July 27
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
August 1-3 – Waters’ Edge
Friday, August 1
- 9pm CT – Here Fishy Fishy. Get to know more about North Dakota’s fishy friends at the amphitheater.
Saturday, August 2
- 9am CT – At Waters’ Edge. Shorelines are ever changing, especially the ones of Lake Sakakawea, find out why and how starting at the amphitheater.
- 3pm CT – Dakota Explorers: Wild Waters. Come to the amphitheater and find out what all is living in out lake? Fish, turtles, frogs, even things the eye can’t see.
- 8:30pm CT – The Garrison Dam. Come to the amphitheater to find out why the Garrison Dam is here and what it does for Lake Sakakawea.
Sunday, August 3
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
August 8-10 – Industrious Animals
Friday, August 8
- 8:30pm CT – Amazing Monarchs. Get to know more about the butterfly that migrates from here all the way to Mexico at the amphitheater.
Saturday, August 9
- 8:30am CT – On a Hunt. Join us at the amphitheater where we’ll set off on a hunt for some industrious animals!
- 3pm CT – Dakota Explorers: Bee Hive, You Hive. Learn about bee hives with some hands on fun at the amphitheater.
- 8:30pm CT – Leave it to Beavers. Get to know more about nature’s architect at the amphitheater.
Sunday, August 10
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
August 15-17 – Pioneer Olympics
Friday, August 15
- 8:30pm CT – Opening Ceremonies. Kick off the games at the amphitheater with a ceremonial lighting of the fire with an introduction to pioneer living – and the games.
Saturday, August 16
- 10am CT – Trail Food. Pioneers had to eat too! Find out what they ate; maybe get a few new recipes, and a taste for yourself at the amphitheater.
- 4pm CT – Pioneer Games and Toys. Join us at the amphitheater and compete in a mixture of modern games and pioneer games, you’ll be able to get some hands on time with the games and toys the pioneers played with.
- 8:30pm CT – Award Ceremonies. Come to the amphitheater to find out the final results of the Olympics, followed by a movie!
Sunday, August 17
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
August 22-24 – Ecologically Speaking…
Friday, August 22
- 8:30pm CT – The Endangered Epidemic. Come to the amphitheater and lean why some animals are on the verge of extinction and what is being done to help them along with a few stories of success as well as a couple of failures.
Saturday, August 23
- 9am CT – Dakota Explorers: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Bring your digital cameras to the amphitheater and we’ll snap some priceless shots of nature (If you don’t have a camera, we have a few to share). After the hike you’ll even get a chance to print your favorite photo!
- 3pm CT – How Big is your Footprint? Learn what a carbon/ecological footprint is, how big yours is, and a few things you can do to shrink it at the amphitheater.
- 8pm CT – Eco-Jeopardy. What do you know about LSSP and its environment? Put it to the test at the amphitheater.
Sunday, August 24
- 9am CT – Guided Hike and Nature Journaling. Come to the Visitors Center and build a nature journal, then put in your first entries during a guided hike.
