WiFi keeps you connected in Missouri State Park campgrounds

 Missouri state parks and historical districts administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On your summer camping trip, you can get away from it all and still stay connected with free WiFi in Missouri state park campgrounds. Eleven state parks campgrounds currently offer free wireless Internet access for guests and visitors and the service will be added to more campgrounds throughout the summer.

“State parks are great places to get away from a hectic schedule but our campers also requested the ability to stay connected. We listened to our customers and are adding complimentary WiFi to the many services we already provide in our state park campgrounds,” said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Campgrounds with wireless access are located in the following state parks: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon; Montauk State Park near Salem; Roaring River State Park near Cassville; Table Rock State Park near Branson; Meramec State Park near Sullivan; Sam. A. Baker State Park near Patterson; Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park in Wildwood; Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park near Middlebrook; Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg; Long Branch State Park near Macon; and Finger Lakes State Park near Columbia.

Most parks have full coverage in the campgrounds while others have designated hotspots with coverage. Signs will be posted in the campgrounds indicating where Internet access is located.

Results from a 2010 survey indicated campground visitors wanted to stay connected while camping. Survey participants responded that availability of an Internet connection would lead to camping more often and extending their stay.

WiFi availability is just one of the amenities offered in Missouri’s 40 state park campgrounds. Campgrounds are available for all types of users and range from secluded basic sites to campsites with sewer/electric/water sites. More than 70 percent of the campsites offer electricity. Many campgrounds include modern restrooms, hot showers, trailer dumping stations, coin-operated laundry and firewood.

Watch for more information about wireless access being added to additional state park campgrounds throughout the summer. For more information, go to mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Missouri state park major tour caves open to visitors in 2011

Image via WikipediaJEFFERSON CITY, MO., APRIL 12, 2011 -- Visitors to Missouri state parks this summer will have the opportunity to tour the system's four major tour caves. Many other caves that are commonly used by bats will remain temporarily closed to reduce the risk of spreading white-nose syndrome, a fungus that affects bats but not humans.

White-nose syndrome is a fungus that has devastated bat populations throughout the northeastern United States and is spreading west. Bats showing evidence of the fungus were found in 2010 in two caves in Missouri. Restricting public access to certain caves is believed to help reduce the risk of any people-born transmission of the fungus from cave to cave.

"We have been monitoring this situation closely and have made decisions based on what we believe protects our resources while still allowing visitors some form of access to the unique experience you can only find in caves," said Bill Bryan, Missouri Department of Natural Resources' State Parks director.

The four tour caves that will be open are Onondaga Cave at Onondaga Cave State Park (open for local school groups and the general public April 15); Cathedral Cave at Onondaga Cave State Park (open to local school groups on April 15 and May 15 to the general public); Fisher Cave at Meramec State Park (open to local school groups on April 16 and May 15 to the general public); and Ozark Caverns at Lake of the Ozarks State Park (open to local school groups on April 16 and May 15 to the general public). To help prevent the risk of human transmission of the fungus from cave to cave, screening measures will remain in place. Visitors who tour the caves are asked to not wear the same clothing, footwear, accessories or equipment that has been in any other cave.

In 2010, most of the park system's wild caves used by bats were closed except for specific exceptions like educational tours and low-risk groups in specified wild caves. While this policy remains in effect, the number of caves that may be accessed for educational and scientific purposes in 2011 has increased.

"This year, we have more clearly identified caves that we believe can be used for certain purposes, especially school groups and other educational efforts. This allows us to provide access to more caves while still protecting the resources," said Bryan. The accessible caves include shorter caves, those that do not have bats, and those caves that have exceptional educational value for schools.

To find out which caves can be accessed, contact the individual park where you would like to visit a cave. For more information about cave tours, visit mostateparks.com/activity/cave-tours.

State park staff will continue to work with other state and federal resource agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation, on a management plan to address white-nose syndrome in Missouri state park caves.

Missouri has more than 6,300 caves. Bryan emphasized the agency policy concerning the 183 caves in 18 state parks and historic sites does not apply to other caves in Missouri. Most if not all commercial cave tour operations remain open for business. For information on privately owned caves or those operated by other agencies in Missouri, contact the agency or private business or landowner that owns the cave. Information on other caves can be found at mocaves.com.