Spring has sprung ...

The weather is getting warmer. Strange plants are starting to pop up from beneath the ground. Birds are again foraging through yards to find an early spring meal. And people all over Wisconsin are getting an itch to venture outside after a long, cold and snowy winter. Thursday night's In Wisconsin helps Wisconsinites remember the best part of the state's outdoor wonders with a video postcard capturing the changing of the seasons at Governor Dodge State Park in Iowa County. The program airs at 7 p.m.

Governor Dodge is one of 95 state parks, trails and other recreation areas that are open for use by anyone. Each location is unique - some with sharp, majestic cliffs, rolling hills or natural prairies and all with recreation like swimming, hiking and camping. With nominal daily entry fees or a reasonable $25 charge for an annual pass to all of the state parks, these areas are like Wisconsin's own natural country club. And the warm days of spring are a great time to take advantage of these parks in relative solitude before the influx of crowds of campers in the summer.

Park photo borrowed from the Wisconsin State Park System.