Free app offers gateway to outdoors

Published 10:10 am Thursday, April 26, 2012

Southwest Michigan families have an additional tool to use when planning their outdoor activities this year: the “MI Camping and Recreation Locator” mobile application.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) app makes it easier for residents and out-of-state visitors to get out and enjoy our state’s wonderful natural resources.
I encourage outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of this app to locate information about our state parks, campgrounds and other state outdoor activities. It is easy to use and free of charge.
The app allows users to search for forest campgrounds, state parks and boat launches by region, city or proximity. Features include camping, lodging and boating information; maps showing the location of each state park, forest campground and boat launch; distance between you and each recreational opportunity; and touch-to-call phone numbers to easily contact the facilities.
You can also find state park and forest information like the size and description of the park, park rules and available activities. Information about boat launches like name and size of a lake, river or pond; facts about the ramp; and number of parking spaces, are all available through the app.
To learn more about the app, visit www.michigan.gov/campandreclocator. The site includes links for downloading the app.
Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents the 21st District, which includes Berrien and Cass counties and most of Van Buren County.