Deepen Your Wonder: Nature Connection Workshops Launch at Wind Cave

BHPFA’s new Nature Connection Workshops turn park visits into hands-on adventures. These half-day sessions dive deeper, with professional educators who know the Black Hills inside and out.

A New Layer of Learning

For years, BHPFA offered free family programs and field days with our partners. Now, thanks to new staff and experienced instructors, we’re providing in-depth, small-group workshops delivering even more value.

Workshops blend classroom learning with hands-on field exploration. Groups are small — just ten participants — every participant shares their voice and gets their questions answered. Members enjoy a 15% discount as part of their benefits.

“Our Nature Connection Workshops open eyes and build skills,” said Andrea Fountain, BHPFA program manager. “It’s not just learning—it’s an experience that sticks, a moment of connection that lasts long after the workshop is done.”

What’s Coming Up

• Sparking a Nature Journal Practice — September 28, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
  Explore Wind Cave’s backcountry with journal in hand. Expect 3–5 miles of hiking, reflection, and techniques to capture the wonder around you.
• Nature’s Clues: Animal Tracking and Signs — October 11, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
  Read the landscape like a storybook. From tracks to scat, discover what animals reveal about their behavior and lives.

Both workshops meet at the Wind Cave National Park Visitor Center and cap at 10 spots each.

Led by Experts

Workshops are led by educators such as Tom Tonkin, Julie Plachta, and Andrea Fountain, who bring decades of experience in outdoor teaching, wildlife inventory work, and fieldwork. Their depth of knowledge ensures every session is meaningful, memorable, and fun.

Support the Cause

Love BHPFA workshops? Show it off with our Bonfire t-shirt campaign. Proceeds go directly to supporting nature education programming.➡️ Learn more and register