Outdoors digest: Shawnee Mission Park to host Great American Campout

Families will soon be pitching tents and sleeping under the stars at a Johnson County park not usually open to camping.

Shawnee Mission Park will become a bustling campground on July 30-31 when visitors take part in the Great American Campout.

Part of a national program, the event is put on by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District as an effort to get more families outside.

The temporary campground will be located near the Theatre in the Park. Participants will have plenty to do.

For a registration charge of $30 for a family of up to four or $10 per individual, campers will receive free passes to the park’s beach, pedal-boat rentals, and tickets to the Theatre in the Park’s production of “Mary Poppins.”

The event will get under way at 2 p.m. July 30 when participants set up their campsites. They must provide their own tents, sleeping bags and food. They then can take part in activities sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, or visit the beach, hike the trails, fish or take pedal-boat rides.

They will be able to attend the theater production at 8:30 p.m., then sit by the campfire and prepare s’mores after the show. The following morning, they will receive bagels, donuts and juice before tearing down their campsites.

Campers must register in advance. Call 913-831-3359 to sign up. For more information, contact Rob Knaussman of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District at 913-826-3023.

Learning the paddle sports

Beginning canoeists or kayakers can get instruction Saturday when the Platte County Parks & Recreation puts on a special event at Guy B. Park Conservation Area, located three miles north of Platte City.

The clinic, which will be from 9 a.m. to noon, will provide on-the-water instruction on paddle techniques, boat basics and safety. The free event is open to people of all ages.

Boats and gear will be provided, but participants can bring their own if they choose to do so. There will be a maximum of 120 participants allowed. Paddlers will be assigned to groups of up to 30 people, and each session will last 45 minutes on the water.

Registration is required. Go to the website www.platteparks.com to register or call 816-858-3337.

Time to go frogging

Frogging is a summer tradition for many in Missouri and Kansas.

And the Missouri Department of Conservation wants to help beginners get involved. That’s why it is putting on a Discover Nature clinic from 6:30 p.m. to midnight July 29 at the Blind Pony Fish Hatchery near Sweet Springs.

The clinic is open to children ages 7 to 17 and their parents or adult mentors. Participants will have a classroom session to learn the basics, safety, equipment, identification and regulations. Department of Conservation staff also will show how to clean their catch and take it home to cook.

The highlight of the event will be a hunt, where participants will be guided by staff representatives.

Interested parties must register by July 27. To sign up, call conservation agent Chase Wright at 660-641-3345 or email him at chase.wright@mdc.mo.gov.

This story was originally published July 14, 2016 at 6:42 PM with the headline "Outdoors digest: Shawnee Mission Park to host Great American Campout."