Out in the parks
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.Stop by during either session, from 10 a.m. to noon […]
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.This is […]
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.This is a come and go event. On Sunday, stop by from 10 a.m., with […]
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.Expect Smokey Bear himself, hands-on activities, and […]
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.Join in from 1 to 3 p.m. with a Forest Service presenter.Getting there: […]
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 […]
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.Join a park ranger who ties the majesty of the night sky to the story of the park, pointing out and […]
Some guests overstay their welcome. The Unwanted Guests: When Nature Goes Rogue explores invasive species in the Black Hills: what makes a plant invasive, how to recognize one, and how you can help the ecosystem when you spot them. The program runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Check the Forest Service and association channels for […]
Ages 10 to 18. Pre-register for this hands-on outdoor workshop with BHPFA naturalists, designed to introduce skills that can make a real difference when the unexpected happens. The class covers basic shelter building, fundamental fire-starting, locating and purifying water, and basic navigation. It runs from 9 a.m. to noon at an outdoor location in the […]
Beneath Pactola Reservoir lies a town that disappeared underwater. The Sunken City tells the story of Pactola, the community that was flooded when the reservoir was built, and how that change rippled through life in the Rapid City area.Drop in from 10 a.m. to noon, learn with a Forest Service presenter, and build a small […]
We usually hear about forest insects only when they cause trouble, but just 1 to 3 percent of known insect species are considered pests. Join USFS entomologist Megan Wilson for an autumn hike from the Willow Creek Trailhead to meet the beneficial and genuinely fascinating insects that call the Black Hills home, from fuzzy bumblebees […]
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.Join a park ranger who ties the majesty of the night sky to the story of the park, pointing out and […]
