Conservation & Outdoor Skills Park at the North Dakota State Fair

The Conservation and Outdoor Skills Park at the North Dakota State Fair is located near the north-central edge of the fairgrounds. The two-acre park is surrounded by mature cottonwood and box-elder trees, providing one of the best shaded areas on the grounds. Most prominent feature is a fishing pond. Several rustic buildings house activities and exhibits.

Visitors stop by to fish or to try their hand at the BB-gun range, others just to simply enjoy the ample shade.

Yearly, during the 10-day state fair, more than 10,000 youngsters and adults participate in the free-of-charge activities. An estimated additional 30,000 persons also visit the park to see the exhibits or to find a cool spot out of the sun.

Most activities in the park are designed to give the visitor a hands-on experience under the tutelage of a volunteer instructor. They include:

• Fishing Pond - Visitors receive a quick lesson on fish biology; learn some basic knots, test their casting skills, and are then taken to the dock where they are given a cane pole. Volunteers stand by to help youngsters bait their hooks and release fish.
• Air Rifle Gallery – After a brief lesson in safe gun handling, visitors are escorted to the range to shoot air rifles. A coach/safety mentor is on hand for each shooter.
• Archery Range – A short archery safety lesson is given to participants and bows are matched to the individual. The visitor is allowed to shoot, accompanied by a coach/safety instructor.
• Information Cabin – A Game and Fish biologist is available to answer wildlife related questions.
• Furbearer Exhibit – Visitors learn about furbearers and how trapping is the best tool for managing them.
• Fish Exhibit – Aquariums stocked with live fish show the species found in our waters.

The Conservation and Outdoor Skills Park at the North Dakota State Fair is a great place for young and old to visit with Game and Fish Department personnel and volunteers and to try their hand at many outdoor activities.

For more information, contact Minot Area Outreach Biologist Greg Gullickson at 701-857-7748

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