From the mountains of Western Maryland to the sandy beaches of Assateague, the Maryland Park Service is proud to offer wonderful recreational opportunities for our wounded warriors, veterans and their families to enjoy.

With 66 State Parks, we provide activities such as hiking, biking, boating, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, teambuilding ropes courses, hunting and camping. Such experiences as these will aid in the veteran's mental and physical well-being and establish a new base of potential employees.

Maryland is situated in close proximity to our nation’s Capitol and multiple military installations.

Installations/facilities include:

• US Army Fort Meade - Warrior Transition Unit, MD
• US Air Force - Andrews Air Force Base, MD
• US Marine Corps - Wounded Warrior Regiment, Quantico, VA
• US Coast Guard - District 5, Portsmouth, VA
• US Air Force - Dover Air Force Base, DE
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center - Bethesda, MD
• Naval Air Station Patuxent River - Patuxent River, MD
• Garrison Aberdeen Proving Ground - Aberdeen, MD

The Wounded Warrior & Veteran Outreach Coordinator, Christina Holden, researches facilities and identifies how to best accommodate the recreational needs of our servicemen and women. The objective of the program is to provide our state's servicemen and women with unique opportunities to work, learn, volunteer and recreate in the rich natural habitats of Maryland.

MANAGED DEER HUNTS ON PUBLIC LANDS

We would like to offer a hunting opportunity to wounded warriors currently stationed or on leave in Maryland. Managed deer hunts will be conducted during the 2012–2013 hunting season as listed below.

In addition to a Shooter Qualification Card and Hunter Safety verification a hunting license may be required to participate in these hunts. Shotguns with slugs are the only firearms allowed for these hunts. The use of scopes is encouraged. Deer taken will not count toward the hunter’s regular deer firearms season bag limit.

Hunters participating in the Fair Hill, Gunpowder Falls, Patapsco Valley State Park/Soldiers Delight, and Seneca Creek hunts will be allowed to harvest four antlerless deer and approximately 1 out of 10 hunters will be chosen by drawing on the morning of the hunt to harvest an antlered deer in lieu of one of the four antlerless deer. Hunters participating in the Fort Frederick State Park hunt will be allowed to harvest two antlerless deer.

• Wye Island NRMA: December 3 through 8, 2012 (Queen Anne’s County)
• Fort Frederick State Park: December 4 and 5, 2012 (Washington County)
• Patapsco Valley State Park/Soldiers Delight NEA: January 9 and 10, 2013 (Baltimore County)
• Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area: January 14 and 15, 2013 (Cecil County)
• Seneca Creek State Park: January 17 and 18, 2013 (Montgomery County)
• Gunpowder Falls State Park—Sweet Air Area: January 24 and 25, 2013 (Baltimore and Harford Counties)

Space is limited and based on availability. For more details and to sign-up for one of these opportunities, contact Christina Holden at 410-260-8155 or at cholden@dnr.state.md.us

Lt. Governor Brown Launches Get Out the Vote Program in Tribute to Our Veterans

Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown has introduced a new program to pay tribute to our military members and veterans entitled Vote in Honor of a Veteran. A 28-year Veteran and Colonel in the United States Army Reserves, Lieutenant Governor Brown is the nation's highest-ranking elected official to have served a tour of duty in Iraq. The Lieutenant Governor received the Bronze Star for his distinguished service in Iraq.

"Our veterans have bravely sacrificed to serve our country and protect our rights, and we should take every opportunity we can to show them our support," said Lt. Governor Brown Anthony G. Brown, joined by Secretary of State John McDonough, Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Edward Chow, and State Administrator of Elections Linda Lamone.

Please join Lt. Governor Anthony Brown in saluting our Maryland veterans by participating in Maryland's Vote in Honor of a Veteran Program, which recognizes the sacrifices that Veterans have made throughout history to protect our freedoms and our sacred right to vote. A member of any United States military branch, past or present, may be nominated by posting words of appreciation for their service. As a token of gratitude, the advocate will receive a special button from the State of Maryland that one may proudly wear to the polls or any event to show support for our troops.

To nominate a veteran for recognition, visit http://www.sos.state.md.us/hav/honoravet.aspx.

Lt. Governor Brown leads the O'Malley-Brown Administration's efforts to provide veterans with better services and resources. Since taking office in 2007, Lt. Governor Brown has championed successful efforts to pass the Veterans Behavioral Health Act, protect veterans' business loans programs and fully fund the Iraq and Afghanistan Scholarship Program. Last year, the Lt. Governor launched the Mil2FedsJobs web portal, located on the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWEjobs.maryland.gov), the first of its kind in any state to directly match transitioning service members with careers in the Federal Government.

DAY USE SERVICES

Many of our state parks are available for resource based recreation activities at no charge throughout the year. Others will vary the service charge with the day of week and season of year. There are several options for those facilities that do have a service charge.

For active duty military, you may enter free of charge by showing military I.D. For visitors with a disability, you may apply for our universal disability pass which is a free lifetime pass. For visitors over the age of 62, you may apply for our Golden Age Pass which entitles you to free day use entry. This pass has a one-time $10 administrative fee. Another option for families, is our Maryland Passport that can be purchased for a yearly fee of $75. This pass entitles unlimited day use entry for everyone in the vehicle (up to 10 people) to Maryland’s state parks, including unlimited boat launching. For more information and applications, visit our website on state park passes.

OPERATION: CAMPOUT!

It's never too late to discover the joys of sitting around a roaring campfire, roasting marshmallows or sleeping under the stars!

The Maryland Park Service is proud to partner with The North Face: Explore Your Parks, to offer an opportunity to camp at selected state parks.

With the new OPERATION: CAMPOUT! Program, we can lend you gear free of charge (includes a tent, chairs, stove, lantern and more). This program is designed for military individuals and military families new to camping or experienced campers stationed or recovering in this area. OPERATION: CAMPOUT! is an opportunity for families to reconnect with each other and the great outdoors in a comfortable, safe and relaxing setting.

Campsites have picnic tables and fire pits. Some sites have electric hook-ups. Restrooms and shower facilities are nearby. The state parks participating in OPERATION: CAMPOUT! are:

• Swallow Falls State Park 301-387-6938
• New Germany State Park 301-895-5453
• Rocky Gap State Park 301-722-1480
• Patapsco Valley State Park 410-461-5005
• Pocomoke River State Park 410-632-2566

Once you’ve decided where you want to camp, contact the park directly by phone to make your reservation. Be sure to let them know you are reserving through OPERATION: CAMPOUT! For more program details, including FAQ’s and service charges for the campsite, click here.

Explore Your Parks Camping 101 Program

Thanks to The North Face: Explore Your Parks Camping 101 program, we proudly hosted 12 military families from nearby bases for a fun-filled weekend at Patapsco Valley State Park. The park staff was on hand all weekend with planned activities including nature crafts, outdoor cooking demonstrations, geocaching, disc golf, photography hike, canoeing and fishing. Thanks to all who made the weekend extra special, providing families an opportunity to reconnect and enjoy the Great Outdoors: Patapsco Valley State Park staff and Volunteers, The North Face, Sierra Club, REI, and the American Hiking Society.

The North Face Explore Your Parks Camping 101 Program
for military families at Patapsco Valley State Park (June 2012)

PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA BASS TOUR

Smallwood State Park in Marbury, Maryland is the proud host for Paralyzed Veterans of America “Capital Clash” National PVA Bass Tournament, a B.A.S.S. sanctioned event on June 8-10, 2012. The Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Tour consists of seven two-day tournaments, which are held at various locations around the country. Each tournament consists of an Open/Team Competition for those anglers who wish to fish from a boat and a Bank Competition for those who prefer to fish from shore. Disabled anglers in the Open/Team Competition are paired with able-bodied boat partners for the two-day event. On day one, only the disabled anglers compete for significant prizes. On day two, the paired anglers compete as a team for cash prizes. The boat partners serve as coaches and help find fishing locations and choose baits. Disabled anglers in the Bank Competition are paired with volunteers who assist them in whatever they cannot do themselves while fishing. Although only the anglers with disabilities fish in the Open Competition, awards and prizes are given to both. For more information on the PVA Bass Tournament, go to: www.pva.org