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X-WR-CALNAME:Black Hills Parks & Forests Association
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://blackhillsparks.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Black Hills Parks & Forests Association
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260801T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260801T160000
DTSTAMP:20260612T224017Z
CREATED:20260612T224017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T224017Z
UID:10000151-1785578400-1785600000@blackhillsparks.org
SUMMARY:Plants | Black Hills NF
DESCRIPTION:From the forest floor up\, plants keep the Black Hills alive. This program looks at how plants make their own food through photosynthesis and cellular respiration\, why they matter to human survival and the local economy\, and how they form the foundation of the whole ecosystem. \nStop by during either session\, from 10 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m. Plant a seedling in an egg carton\, learn how to care for it\, and take it home with you. \nGetting there: the Pactola Visitor Center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. \nAbout the Pactola Visitor Center summer programs: The Black Hills National Forest hosts free\, family-friendly programs at the Pactola Visitor Center through the summer and early fall. Each session pairs a short hands-on activity with a Forest Service presenter\, and all ages are welcome. No registration is required. The visitor center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. Programs are free\, and schedules can shift with weather\, so check ahead before you drive out. The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association is glad to help share these Forest Service programs.
URL:https://blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/plants-black-hills-nf/
LOCATION:Pactola Visitor Center\, Pactola Reservoir\, US Highway 385\, Rapid City\, SD\, 57702\, United States
CATEGORIES:BHPFA Co-Branded / Partner-Hosted Free Programs,Black Hills National Forest – Northern Hills
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260808T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260808T150000
DTSTAMP:20260723T203512Z
CREATED:20260723T203512Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T203512Z
UID:10000152-1786183200-1786201200@blackhillsparks.org
SUMMARY:Happy Birthday\, Smokey Bear! | Black Hills NF
DESCRIPTION:Smokey Bear turns 82 on August 9\, and the Pactola Visitor Center is throwing him a party all weekend. Join the celebration of the Forest Service’s most famous bear and the wildfire-prevention message he has carried for generations. The party runs both Saturday\, August 8 and Sunday\, August 9\, which is Smokey’s actual birthday. \nThis is a come and go event. On Saturday\, stop by from 10 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 3 p.m. (the visitor center pauses for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.). Spin the wheel for Smokey-themed trivia and prizes\, try the corn hole boards and lawn games\, and watch Pactola Visitor Center staff demonstrate how forest fires behave\, using matches in a safe\, controlled setting only. \nGetting there: the Pactola Visitor Center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. \nAbout the Pactola Visitor Center summer programs: The Black Hills National Forest hosts free\, family-friendly programs at the Pactola Visitor Center through the summer and early fall. Each session pairs a short hands-on activity with a Forest Service presenter\, and all ages are welcome. No registration is required. The visitor center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. Programs are free\, and schedules can shift with weather\, so check ahead before you drive out. The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association is glad to help share these Forest Service programs.
URL:https://blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/happy-birthday-smokey-bear-black-hills-nf/
LOCATION:Pactola Visitor Center\, Pactola Reservoir\, US Highway 385\, Rapid City\, SD\, 57702\, United States
CATEGORIES:BHPFA Co-Branded / Partner-Hosted Free Programs,Black Hills National Forest – Northern Hills
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260809T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260809T140000
DTSTAMP:20260723T203521Z
CREATED:20260723T203521Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T203521Z
UID:10000188-1786269600-1786284000@blackhillsparks.org
SUMMARY:Happy Birthday\, Smokey Bear! | Black Hills NF
DESCRIPTION:It’s Smokey Bear’s actual birthday. Smokey turns 82 on August 9\, and the Pactola Visitor Center party continues for a second day. Join the celebration of the Forest Service’s most famous bear and the wildfire-prevention message he has carried for generations. \nThis is a come and go event. On Sunday\, stop by from 10 a.m.\, with the celebration wrapping up in the early afternoon (the visitor center pauses for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.). Spin the wheel for Smokey-themed trivia and prizes\, try the corn hole boards and lawn games\, and watch Pactola Visitor Center staff demonstrate how forest fires behave\, using matches in a safe\, controlled setting only. \nGetting there: the Pactola Visitor Center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. \nAbout the Pactola Visitor Center summer programs: The Black Hills National Forest hosts free\, family-friendly programs at the Pactola Visitor Center through the summer and early fall. Each session pairs a short hands-on activity with a Forest Service presenter\, and all ages are welcome. No registration is required. The visitor center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. Programs are free\, and schedules can shift with weather\, so check ahead before you drive out. The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association is glad to help share these Forest Service programs.
URL:https://blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/happy-birthday-smokey-bear-black-hills-nf-2/
LOCATION:Pactola Visitor Center\, Pactola Reservoir\, US Highway 385\, Rapid City\, SD\, 57702\, United States
CATEGORIES:BHPFA Co-Branded / Partner-Hosted Free Programs,Black Hills National Forest – Northern Hills
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260810T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260810T120000
DTSTAMP:20260722T221459Z
CREATED:20260722T221459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260722T221459Z
UID:10000186-1786356000-1786363200@blackhillsparks.org
SUMMARY:Smokey Bear Birthday Party | Black Hills NF
DESCRIPTION:Smokey Bear turns 82\, and the Black Hills National Forest is throwing him a party in Custer. Bikers rolling in for the start of the Sturgis Rally and local families alike are invited to stop by the Supervisor’s Office for some quick\, friendly time with the Forest Service team. \nExpect Smokey Bear himself\, hands-on activities\, and the wildfire-prevention message he has carried for generations. The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association will be on hand as the Forest’s cooperating partner. \nGetting there: The Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office is at 1019 North 5th Street in Custer\, just off the main highway through town. \nGood to know: Free and open to all ages. Monday\, August 10\, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A publicity flyer may follow.
URL:https://blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/smokey-bear-birthday-party-black-hills-nf/
LOCATION:Black Hills National Forest Supervisors Office\, 1019 North 5th Street\, Custer\, SD\, 57730\, United States
CATEGORIES:BHPFA Co-Branded / Partner-Hosted Free Programs,Black Hills National Forest – Southern Hills
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260821T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260821T150000
DTSTAMP:20260612T224019Z
CREATED:20260612T224019Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T224019Z
UID:10000153-1787317200-1787324400@blackhillsparks.org
SUMMARY:Respect the Woods\, Protect the Wild | Black Hills NF
DESCRIPTION:Love the Black Hills? Learn how to leave them better than you found them. Respect the Woods\, Protect the Wild covers Leave No Trace principles\, the local ecosystem\, the Junior Ranger program\, and practical tips and tricks for visiting your national forest responsibly. \nJoin in from 1 to 3 p.m. with a Forest Service presenter. \nGetting there: the Pactola Visitor Center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. \nAbout the Pactola Visitor Center summer programs: The Black Hills National Forest hosts free\, family-friendly programs at the Pactola Visitor Center through the summer and early fall. Each session pairs a short hands-on activity with a Forest Service presenter\, and all ages are welcome. No registration is required. The visitor center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385\, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. Programs are free\, and schedules can shift with weather\, so check ahead before you drive out. The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association is glad to help share these Forest Service programs.
URL:https://blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/respect-the-woods-protect-the-wild-black-hills-nf/
LOCATION:Pactola Visitor Center\, Pactola Reservoir\, US Highway 385\, Rapid City\, SD\, 57702\, United States
CATEGORIES:BHPFA Co-Branded / Partner-Hosted Free Programs,Black Hills National Forest – Northern Hills
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260829T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260829T210000
DTSTAMP:20260727T200633Z
CREATED:20260727T200633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T200633Z
UID:10000121-1788030000-1788037200@blackhillsparks.org
SUMMARY:Moon Walk: Meeker Ranch History
DESCRIPTION:Step into Black Hills history at Meeker Ranch\, built in 1887 by former Pony Express rider Frank Cunningham Meeker and acquired by the Forest Service in 2004. Just outside Custer\, the ranch is undergoing historic preservation and restoration\, including work on the buildings and on nearby riparian and wetland areas. Forest Service recreation\, heritage\, and wildlife staff and partners will lead a walk along the historic road and around the ranchlands\, sharing how the place has changed over the years and what comes next. \nThe Forest Service lists this walk as “Walking through the Past to See the Future” on its printed 2026 Moon Walk schedule. \n2026 Moon Walk schedule\nThe Black Hills National Forest runs four Moon Walks in 2026. Every walk is on a Saturday\, starts at 7:00 p.m.\, and is free to attend with no registration. \n\nJune 27: Cone collection and reforestation. Reuter Trailhead near Sundance\, Wyoming.\nJuly 25: Bat biology\, Let’s Turn On the Dark. Little Elk Creek Trailhead near Piedmont.\nAugust 29: Meeker Ranch history. Meeker Cabin and Historic Area near Custer. This is the walk described above.\nSeptember 26: Forest insects. Willow Creek Trailhead near Hill City.\n\nAbout Moon Walks\nMoon Walks are free\, family-friendly guided hikes held on Saturday nights near the full moon\, June through September. Each evening begins at 7:00 p.m. with a short introduction\, then a guided hike of about a mile with stops along the way\, running roughly two hours. Dress in layers\, wear closed-toe shoes or boots (no sandals)\, and bring a light jacket for the cool night air. Some routes may be difficult for those with mobility concerns and are not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers. \nWalks happen rain or shine and are canceled only for lightning\, high fire danger\, or severe weather. Advance cancellations are posted on the Black Hills National Forest website and Facebook page\, so check before heading out if the weather looks uncertain. \nThe Black Hills Parks & Forests Association is a proud nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service and supports the Moon Walk program through funding and staffing. Look for the 2026 Black Hills Moon Walk collector’s pin\, available for $5 at each walk (cash\, sold only on the trail). Pin sales support interpretive and educational programs across the Black Hills National Forest. \nWant a keepsake from the season? The 2026 Black Hills Moon Walk Collector’s Pin is sold at each walk for $5 and is also available online. Proceeds support education and stewardship on the Black Hills National Forest.
URL:https://blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/moon-walk-meeker-ranch-history/
LOCATION:Meeker Cabin and Historic Area\, Off Willow Creek Road (Hwy 16A)\, Custer\, SD\, 57730\, United States
CATEGORIES:BHPFA Co-Branded / Partner-Hosted Free Programs,Black Hills National Forest – Southern Hills
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260829T203000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260829T213000
DTSTAMP:20260722T221448Z
CREATED:20260722T221448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260722T221448Z
UID:10000184-1788035400-1788039000@blackhillsparks.org
SUMMARY:Night Sky Program with Telescope Viewing | Wind Cave National Park
DESCRIPTION:Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds: the open prairie above and the intricate cave below. On clear nights a third world blankets both\, the brilliant night sky over the southern Black Hills. \nJoin a park ranger who ties the majesty of the night sky to the story of the park\, pointing out and explaining constellations and features through a high-power telescope provided by the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. \nGetting there: Programs are held at the first Highway 87 vehicle pull-off north from the Highway 385 junction (GPS 43.5739\, -103.4876). Dress for the weather and bring a chair if you like. \nGood to know: Free and open to all ages. Weather-dependent\, and cancelled if skies are cloudy or conditions are poor. Remaining 2026 dates: July 25 (9:00 to 10:00 p.m.)\, August 29 (8:30 to 9:30 p.m.)\, and September 26 (8:30 to 9:30 p.m.).
URL:https://blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/night-sky-program-with-telescope-viewing-wind-cave-national-park-2/
LOCATION:Wind Cave National Park\, 26611 U.S. Hwy 385\, Hot Springs\, SD\, 57747\, United States
CATEGORIES:BHPFA Co-Branded / Partner-Hosted Free Programs,Wind Cave National Park
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