Event Calendar & Registration

A free mini workshop to learn fire starting techniques and shelter-building

 Similar Goals, but Different Management Techniques
Lydia Austin / Visitor Services Program Manager – Custer State Park – South Dakota, Game, Fish and Parks Dept.
Custer State Park – Buffalo Corrals (Wildlife Loop Road)

Back by popular demand ... As many local outdoor enthusiasts know, Custer State Park is home to an array of wildlife species, many of which are also found on the Black Hills National Forest. Although both agencies manage habitat for the conservation of species, the techniques are sometimes different from one site to another. Take a hike with park staff and Forest staff in the southern portion of Custer State Park and learn how both agencies work together toward common goals. NOTE: This walk takes
place in a mixed grass prairie on uneven terrain. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes or boots.

When nature and music join forces, inspiration flows. These are the elements that have motivated the Songbird of the Black Hills (Sally Svenson) to write her songs. Through her music, she
delights in sharing her love of this diverse region with others.

Sally has spent over four decades exploring and experiencing the Hills with all its varied habitats and vistas. She served as the Custer State Park (CSP) naturalist for eighteen years. Sally spent an additional sixteen summers in CSP as an entertainer at the Blue Bell Chuckwagon. The inspiration for new songs continues to flow.

You are invited to join the Songbird of the Black Hills for an evening of campfire music featuring the Black Hills stories behind her original songs (sing-along tunes included).

 The diverse geology of the Black Hills region is a rock enthusiast's paradise! Come learn why and how to collect responsibly on the Forest Service lands in the area.

Find out where you are in your galaxy!

8:00-9:00 Join a ranger in the theater to find your address in our galaxy the Milky Way.

9:00-10:00 Go outside and view the Milky Way in the prairie night sky. Star tour and constellation stories included.

Bring layers to add as temperatures cool. Bug spray is recommended. Bring a red flashlight or a regular one that a ranger will adapt into a red one for you. A camp chair or blanket is recommended for the night sky viewing portion of the program.

Questions? Contact the park at 308-436-9776

Join Black Hills National Forest and BHPFA for a series of nature programs! Programs could involve hiking up to 2 miles on uneven terrain. Please come prepared with layers, closed-toed hiking shoes or boots, sun protection, water & snacks.

July 26 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm 

Sundance District, Cook Lake 

Nature at Night

 Explore the wonders of nature at night! In this program, participants will learn about adaptations that make nocturnal animals unique. As we hike along Cook Lake we will practice our observation skills to look and listen for signs of nocturnal animals as the sun starts to set as we discover how darkness transforms the landscape and comes alive after dusk.