Minnesota's state park system is celebrating its 125th birthday this year, pegged to the 1891 establishment of Itasca, the first state park and still the most iconic. Many people don't consider themselves true Minnesotans until they've straddled the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca, stemming from Latin words veritas and caput, meaning "true head."

There are special events planned throughout 2016 to note the anniversary (see them at dnr.state.mn.us/125). As part of the celebration, the parks and trails division of the state Department of Natural Resources is challenging campers to fill up every one of the system's 5,000 camp sites June 11, which is National Get Outdoors Day.

One of the goals of the day is to reach underserved populations and first-time visitors to public lands, and to reconnect youth to the outdoors, said Amy Barrett, DNR parks and trails information officer.

"We're encouraging experienced campers to consider inviting people new to camping, especially people with kids, to go with them on June 11," Barrett said. "That way, we can help introduce the next generation to the unforgettable experiences that come from spending time outdoors together."

As of the end of February, about a quarter of the state park camp sites had been reserved June 11, but expect reservations to quickly increase as spring approaches.