There's more to do at this state park than just catching a mess of fish. Like taking a ride with a Bike Mounted Ranger.
As part of "A Day By The Lake", an event scheduled for May 2 at Lake Warren State Park, Park Manager and BMR Robert Dinkins saddles up his cycle to lead the youth of Hampton County in a first-ever Bike Rodeo.
"Lake Warren is not only about fishing and family gatherings," said Dinkins. "Have a bike ride, bring a canoe, go bird watching - there are so many other recreational activities that can be enjoyed at Lake Warren State Park."
In addition to being a Bike Mounted Ranger, Dinkins is also a National Certified Bike Instructor, and he hopes to pass on some of his biking skills at the rodeo and encourage more young riders to visit the park in the future.
"Biking is yet another family oriented event to get kids interested in the great outdoors," said Dinkins. "This is all part of the Last Child Initiative designed to get young people out from in front of the televisions and the video games."
The Bike Rodeo is free to any child ages 4-12 who wishes to participate. Children must bring a parent, a good bike, a helmet, and any safety pads.
The Bike Rodeo will include an obstacle course, with several stations, and Dinkins will guide the riders through a series of drills.
Dinkins will also show young riders how to conduct a proper inspection of their bike equipment as well as offer biking safety tips.
No matter what your idea of outdoor fun is, Dinkins and Park Ranger David Baker invite all of Hampton County to attend A Day By The Lake, or just come anytime for some good, natural family fun.
"We want to encourage people to come out and enjoy the beauty of Lake Warren State Park," added Dinkins. "Whether it be to fish, view wildlife, take pictures, hike, walk the trails, or picnic - get that family experience out here at Lake Warren."
More about "A Day By The Lake."
If you like having fun in the great outdoors, then come enjoy "A Day by the Lake".
This first-ever event, sponsored by Lake Warren State Park and The Guardian in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the S.C. State Park Service and to raise awareness of our natural resources, will begin with a guided Nature Walk led by Carroll Richards and the state park staff at 9:30 a.m. on May 2 at the local state park.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the Nature Walk is encouraged to bring binoculars to view birds and other wildlife as well as a bottle of water and comfortable shoes.
A Day By The Lake also features photo, art, and essay contests (see Community Calendar for more details) and after the walk there will be a presentation of awards and prizes for the day's contests at 11 a.m. After the awards the Bike Rodeo will begin as well as demonstrations provided by various organizations, including Hampton County 4-H, the Hampton County Recreation Department, Hampton County Recycling, the Hampton County Soil and Water Conservation District, and more.
See next week's Guardian for a full schedule of events.
Partners in the event include Jerry Hatcher Framing, Freeman's Awards, Southern Girl Studio, Joanne Phillips, and Murphy Winn.
In the event of a rain out, the event will be rescheduled for the following Saturday, May 9.
Call The Guardian at (803) 943-4645 or Lake Warren State Park at 943-5051 for more details.