Grahams Island State Park
Activities & Special Events
2009 Special Events
May 25
Military Appreciation Day
Free admission to the Park on Memorial Day, in honor of past and present servicemen and women
June 21
State Park Day
Free daily vehicle admission to the Park
June 20
National Trails Day
Take a hike on the trails with one of the interpreters, starting at 2pm and again at 7pm.
June 27-28
Devils Lake Chamber Walleye Fishing Tournament
150 teams competing in a two day tournament
July 18
Adult / Child Fishing Tournament
Contact the Lake Region Anglers Association of Devils Lake
Kids Fest, Starting at 10am at the Sivert Thompson Center
July 25 - 26
Cabelas National Team Walleye Championship
August 15
Christmas in August
Come decorate your campsite and win prizes
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 12-14 Into the Woods…
Friday, June 12
- Nature Hike. Come on this 1.5 mile hike and learn about the island’s plants and history. Meets at the Sivert Center Trailhead.
Saturday, June 13
- Treemendous Trees! They’re not just our biggest plants. They’re everything from food to a home. Come play games and learn some facts of the forest at the Sivert Center.
- Creatures of the Forest. Forests are full of life! Stop in at the Sivert Center to see furs, skulls, and other remains of our friends of the forest.
June 19-21 Tracks and Traces
Friday, June 19
- Animals of North Dakota. See some the remains of North Dakota animals by visiting the Sivert Center. You’ll get to touch real furs and learn about some creatures that call our state home.
Saturday, June 20
- Dakota Explorers: Track Art. Look at some tracks, and learn who makes them. Then make your own to take home. Join us at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
- Nature Hike. Come on this 1.5 mile hike and learn about the island’s history and its. We’ll start from the Sivert Center Trailhead.
- Nature Hike. Come on this 1.5 mile hike and learn about the island’s history and its. We’ll start from the Sivert Center Trailhead.
Sunday, June 21 (Father’s Day)
- Track Art. Look at some tracks and learn who makes them. Then make your own to take home. Join in at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
- X Marks the Spot. Meet at the picnic shelter by the bait shop to learn old trail signs and follow them to a special treasure.
- S’more Storytelling. Come hear stories of the trappers and explorers who blazed trails West. Then make some s’mores and share your stories. S’more supplies provided.
June 26-27 Happy Camper
Friday, June 26
- Campfire Cooking. Learn some campfire cooking from beginning to end. Mixing, packing, cooking, and then the best part… eating!!!
Saturday, June 27 (5th Annual Great American Backyard Campout)
- Dakota Explorers: Fire-Starter Making. Come make your very own fire starters at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
July 3-5 Prehistoric America
Friday, July 3
- Prehistoric Monsters. Come to the picnic shelter by the bait shop to look at some dinosaur fossils and learn about the creatures that left them behind.
Saturday, July 4 (Independence Day)
- Dakota Explorers: Dinosaur Dig! Become paleontologists and organize your own dig at the picnic shelter by the bait shop. It’s not as easy as you might think!
- 4th of July Crafts and Games. Come celebrate Independence Day at the Sivert Center.
July 10-12 Fields and Meadows
Friday, July 10
- Prairie Preservation. Most people think of it as big, flat, and empty, but the prairie is more important than you might think. Come learn about this vanishing habitat, and what you can do to save it at the Sivert Center.
Saturday, July 11
- Dakota Explorers: Buggy Creations. Learn about the insects of the prairie and make your own to take home. Get buggy with us at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
- Saved by Soil! It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it. Join Soil Scientist Alan Gulsvig and play with soil at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
July 17-19 Kids Fest
Saturday, July 18
- Dakota Explorers: Explosion Science! Enter the world of fantastic fountains and home-made volcanoes, where chemistry = cool at the Sivert Center.
- Kids Fest. It’s time to celebrate being kids! We’ll have crafts, games, contests, and prizes at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
July 24-26 Ecology Weekend
Friday, July 24
- Web of Life. In nature, all creatures are connected. Come make your own web of life and learn how humans impact it at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
Saturday, July 25
- Dakota Explorers: Wildlife of North Dakota. Come learn about some native animals and make a craft at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
- Un-nature Hike. There’s something un-natural taking over Graham’s Island! Come help save us from this man-made menace. Meets at the Sivert Center Trailhead.
July 31-August 2 Native Peoples of the Prairie
Friday, July 31
- Native American Storytelling. Come hear some Native American stories and make s’mores.
Saturday, August 1
- Dakota Explorers: Traditional Crafts. Make some Native American crafts and learn about the peoples of the prairie. Join us at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
- Grahams Island – Ancient? Did you know that Grahams Island had slaughtering grounds, burial mounds, and entire villages? Come to the shelter by the bait shop to learn all about them and see real island artifacts.
August 7-9 Many Waters
Friday, August 7
- Wild about Wetlands. Go wild about wetlands through games and hands-on activities at the Sivert Center.
Saturday, August 8
- Dakota Explorers: Something’s Fishy… Meet at the picnic shelter by the bait shop to learn about the fish of Devils Lake and some of its history and composition.
- Fishing Fun. Come have some reel fun and learn about fishing.
- How to Clean a Pike. Learn how to get nice boneless Pike fillets by joining us at the fish cleaning station.
August 14-16 Xmas in August
Saturday, August 15
- Decoration Crafting. Come to the Sivert Center and make some homemade Christmas decorations to get your site ready for the evening judging.
- Elf Christmas. Fast forward four months and celebrate Christmas today! There will be food, games, a scavenger hunt, and loads of fun at the Sivert Center.
- Christmas Decorations Contest. Show your Christmas spirit by decorating your site and win cool prizes.
August 21-23 Amazing Animal Adaptations
Friday, August 21
- Bird Beak Frenzy. Pretend you’re birds and fight to survive. Join us at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
Saturday, August 22
- Leave it to Beaver. Come play beaver dress up, build your own lodges, and learn about these crafty aquatic engineers at the picnic shelter by the bait shop.
- Creatures of the Night. Learn about bats and other creatures of the night at the Sivert Center.
- Night Hike. Venture into the dark of Grahams Island and see how well you can adapt to the night. Meet at the Sivert Center for this evening adventure.
