Get your bingo card — then head out to state parks

By Jacqueline Palfy, for Pigeon605

Headed out to a state park this summer? Don’t forget your bingo card.

The South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department wants visitors to remember that the outdoors provide “Year-Round Fun.” To that end, it has created seasonal bingo cards for park visitors to use during their visits.

The cards feature family-friendly suggestions like “have a picnic” or “go on a bug hunt,” as well as more formal options, such as “apply for a hunting or fishing license.” Any five activities make a bingo.

You can download your bingo card here. Some state parks have a printed bingo card on their message boards, so you can snap a photo of it, said April Larson, marketing coordinator with GF&P. The program began earlier this year, and the department has received more than 80 submissions for the winter and spring cards.

“We are expecting as more families get outside this summer, we may see more,” she said. “There still is time to play and win prizes.”

The summer cards are available until Sept. 1. Share your photo with GF&P to be entered into the prize drawing, Larson said. To be eligible for prizes, take a selfie or another photo of having fun in the outdoors and submit it to this site. Summer cards are due by Aug. 31.

Prizes include a seasonal outdoor item and a two-night stay at a state park. Have you already been playing this year? You could be eligible for the grand prize, which could include a 2023 park entrance license, two tickets to the 2023 Governor’s Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park and a two-night stay at a state park cabin.

“The bingo idea was inspired to showcase all the fun things families can do outside year round and encourage families to visit South Dakota state parks,” Larson said, noting that “no matter what time of year, nature is always open and ready for us to go outside and explore.”