Mark Twain National Forest is offering the first annual “Back to School” fee waiver weekend at four recreation areas on August 14 and 15, 2010. The fee-free weekend aims to encourage activities on national forests and other green spaces that promote healthy living and mental well being, and to instill excitement for the outdoors as families prepare to send students back to school.

Mark Twain’s fee free recreational sites will be offered in these developed areas: Lane Spring (Phelps County); Loggers Lake (Shannon County); Markham Springs (Wayne County), and North Fork (along the North Fork of the White River in Ozark County).

Day use is free at all year-long recreation sites and many other sites on the forest, including most picnic areas and river accesses on Eleven Point River in Oregon County; Big Bay Picnic Area on Table Rock Lake in Stone County; Watercress on the Current River in Carter County; Paddy Creek Recreation Area in Pulaski County; Berryman Recreation Area in Washington County; Pine Ridge Recreation Area in Callaway County; Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area in Carter County, and Marble Creek Recreation Area in Madison County.

Motorized trail permits are still required for use of the Chadwick and Sutton Bluff trail systems, and normal fees still apply.

The forest will be offering free use again later in the fall to celebrate National Public Lands Day on September 25, 2010 weekend and November 11, 2010 Veterans’ Day. These fee waiver celebrations will also include a night of free camping at Mark Twain campgrounds.

For more information about Mark Twain National Forest, go to www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain or contact your local Mark Twain National Forest ranger district office.