North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department

🌟 We're thrilled to announce that our Miles & Moments video series has been nationally recognized! 🌟 A huge congratulations to Maxine Herr, strategic communications specialist, for earning the LWCF Advocacy Award at the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers (NASORLO) conference in Maine! This award honors Maxine's exceptional storytelling and dedication to showcasing how communities across North Dakota are expanding access to outdoor recreation with the help of the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This inspiring series is a collaborative effort, with Maxine working closely with Char Langehaug, our grants coordinator, and many others who bring these impactful stories to life. From the heartwarming Ellendale Baseball Grandstand Renovation in our very first episode to Turning Lemons into Lemonade—a powerful story about a small community’s drive to create an accessible park—each video illustrates how outdoor recreation projects empower communities and transform lives. Whether it’s a small town or a big vision, these stories show that with determination, every community can make a difference in outdoor access and enjoyment. Catch up on these inspiring stories and support our mission by subscribing to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/ndparkrec Don't miss an episode of Miles & Moments, where local dreams are turning into outdoor realities across North Dakota. #AwardWinning #MilesAndMoments #OutdoorRecreation #LWCF #NorthDakota #NDStateParks #NDParks #VibrantCommunities

“We are incredibly excited to continue to not only enhance health and wellbeing by maximizing the impact of outdoor recreation in North Dakota, but to also responsibly develop our resources as a driver of economic and workforce development,” said Cody Schulz, Director of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. 

Thanks to an eight-week park ranger internship at North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Jamestown (ND) High School senior Olivia Maulding uncovered a love for working in the outdoors - ultimately changing her plans for college and a future career. Maulding, now a freshman majoring in crop and weed science at North Dakota State University in Fargo, says the internship found through Golden Path Solutions was an opportunity to step out on her own, assume more responsibility, and help define her future career plans. Read more https://lnkd.in/gjqszn32 about how Golden Path connected Maulding with this opportunity and what she gained from the experience.

We are thrilled to announce that North Dakota Parks & Recreation, along with numerous partner agencies and organizations, has been awarded the 2024 Roaming Bison Award at the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Public Service! This recognition is extra special because it marks our third consecutive year being part of a Roaming Bison Award-winning team! This year’s award celebrates the incredible success of the S’mores World Record Team, which came together in an extraordinary display of collaboration to achieve the Guinness World Record for the Most S’mores Made at Fort Stevenson State Park on May 18! Our partners – including the Thank you to the North Country Trail Association, North Dakota Department of Water Resources, North Dakota Department of Commerce, and ND Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation, community volunteers, generous sponsors and more – helped make this historic event a reality! Congratulations and thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing achievement. Together, we’ve shown how the power of partnership and community spirit can accomplish record-breaking success! #TeamND #NDParks #partnerships #RoamingBison

On #WorldRangerDay, we salute the incredible park rangers of North Dakota! From maintaining our beautiful trails and educating visitors to restoring habitats and enforcing laws, our rangers wear many hats and perform countless roles. They are the heart and soul of our state parks, bringing nature closer to everyone and preserving it for future generations. First organized by the International Ranger Federation, World Ranger Day also honors the brave rangers worldwide who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Next time you’re exploring North Dakota's state parks, take a moment to thank a ranger. Their passion and hard work make all the difference! #NDParks #ThankARanger #WorldRangerDay #TeamND

Join Our Team as a Merchandising and Procurement Specialist! Are you a detail-oriented, motivated go-getter with a knack for maximizing business operations? North Dakota Parks and Recreation is looking for YOU to join our Business Services team! As our Merchandising and Procurement Specialist, you'll be at the forefront of enhancing visitor experiences across our beautiful state parks. Here's what you'll do: - Manage & optimize retail and concession operations - Ensure timely delivery of high-quality products - Conduct research and recommend pricing strategies - Identify and control new product life cycles - Facilitate procurement of materials, equipment, & public improvements If you are ready to make an impact, we want to hear from you! Apply now at bit.ly/NDParksJobs and become a key player in our mission to connect people and places in North Dakota's state parks. #JobOpening #JoinOurTeam #NowHiring #ParksAndRecreationJobs #MerchandisingSpecialist #TeamND #NorthDakotaJobs

Today, we gathered at Lake Sakakawea State Park to honor the memory of Deputy Paul Martin, an 18-year veteran of the Mercer County Sheriff's Office who was tragically killed in the line of duty on December 6, 2023. Paul was not only a beloved brother in law enforcement but also a dedicated husband, father, and grandpa. He will be remembered not just as a hero but as someone who spread love, courage, and a sense of home through his service. In a heartfelt tree-planting ceremony, we paid tribute to Paul's passion for the outdoors. This tree will stand as a living tribute to his legacy, offering shade and sanctuary to future generations. We are honored to help celebrate his life and remember the incredible impact he had on his community.

What a monumental day for North Dakota as we celebrated the groundbreaking of our 14th state park on May 31! Local youth joined the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Governor’s Office, community partners and others to celebrate this historic milestone last Friday at the future site of Pembina Gorge State Park. The Gorge is already a must-see gem in North Dakota and we are excited to develop a year-round destination for visitors. We’re paving the way for endless outdoor adventures and memories to cherish for generations! Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible and further investing in outdoor recreation. #Groundbreaking #NDStateParks #NDParks #RendezvousRegion

Fort Stevenson State Park has been a Guinness World Records title holder for nearly a week now! As we reflect on the incredible efforts that made this achievement possible, we'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors, partners and the amazing community that supported us! A special shoutout to Krause's Market for providing all the delicious s'mores ingredients and Scheels for donating the roasting sticks – you made our s'mores roasting a hit! We also had amazing support from many of our partner agencies and organizations. Thank you to the North Country Trail Association (NCTA in ND), North Dakota Department of Water Resources, North Dakota Department of Commerce, and ND Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Join us in also thanking these wonderful sponsors: Garrison Area Improvement Association McLean Electric Cooperative, Inc. CHI St. Alexius Health Highway 83 Lawn & Leisure Hwy83 Manufacturing Farmer's Union Oil Cenex TruCommunity Bank BNC National Bank Dairy Queen Grill & Chill 4 Seasons Restaurant Basin Electric Power Cooperative Otter Tail Power Company We're so grateful for your support! #NDSmoresRecord

WE MADE HISTORY! Fort Stevenson State Park is the new Guinness World Records holder for the Most People Making S'mores Simultaneously! The official participant count stands at 1,150. A huge thank you to each and every one of you for being part of this monumental achievement! Whether you joined in as a participant, cheered us on from the sidelines, lent a helping hand as a volunteer, or generously supported us as a sponsor, your contribution has been invaluable. And to our exceptional team members, your dedication has been the driving force behind this success – thank you for your unwavering commitment! Shout out to our sponsors: Garrison Area Improvement Association, McLean Electric Cooperative, Inc., CHI St. Alexius Health, Highway 83 Lawn & Leisure, Hwy83 Manufacturing, Farmer's Union Oil Cenex, TruCommunity Bank, BNC National Bank, Scheels, Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, Krause's Market, 4 Seasons Restaurant, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Otter Tail Power Company. Here's to more memorable milestones together! #NDSmoresRecord