Partner Programs Funded by BHPFA

Discover how BHPFA’s funding brings history, culture, and nature to life through interpretive programs, educational brochures, and engaging visitor experiences across our parks and forests.

Your purchases, donations, and memberships make a real impact! Here’s a glimpse of the programs and resources you’ve helped support at our Parks and Forests.
Wind Cave – Lakota Interpretation

This summer, BHPFA funded cultural educator Adrian Primeaux, who offered interpretive programs on Lakota culture. Three days a week, he shared insights into Lakota history, lifestyle, and beliefs at the cave’s Natural Entrance and at a tipi set up on the visitor center lawn. His talks provided visitors with a deeper understanding of the park’s cultural significance and expanded its programming..

A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a patterned shirt, and shorts speaks to an audience inside a museum exhibit. He holds a microphone in one hand and gestures upward with the other. The exhibit behind him features large animal pelts and artifacts, with informational plaques and displays. The man appears to be engaging the audience in a storytelling or educational presentation, with a calm and focused expression. The setting is indoors, with soft lighting highlighting the historical items on display.
Part of the Fall 2024 edition of “Wonder & Exploration Quarterly” — the official publication of BHPFA

Other topics in this edition:

Jewel Cave – Informational Brochures

BHPFA funded the production of newly designed brochures for Jewel Cave. One highlights the 10 bat species found at the monument, while another focuses on White Nose Syndrome, educating visitors on its impact and how they can help. A third brochure delves into the area’s geology, offering tips on identifying local rocks and minerals—always a hit with visitors.

Agate Fossil Beds – Indigenous Art

Harmony Star Straub and her niece Kenzie led a beaded bracelet class at Agate Fossil Beds, sharing their expertise with visitors. Participants worked on creating beautiful bracelets, with most finishing their pieces at home. Harmony’s demonstration of traditional beading techniques provided a unique cultural experience, and only a few needles were bent!

Scotts Bluff – Costumed Interpreter

A cornerstone of Scotts Bluff’s educational outreach, the costumed interpreter program brings history to life at the replica wagons along the Oregon Trail Pathway. BHPFA funding helped sustain this program, which connects visitors—whether tourists or local students—with the experiences of 1850s emigrants. This vital program continues to thrive despite NPS staffing and budget challenges.

A woman dressed in period clothing from the 19th century stands beside a covered wagon, known as a prairie schooner, set against a backdrop of a large rock formation in the prairie. She wears a long, brown, patterned dress with a matching apron, reflecting pioneer-era attire. The covered wagon has large wooden wheels, a white canvas top, and green storage boxes attached to the side. A wooden washboard and chair are positioned near the wagon. The setting is in a grassy field under a clear blue sky, with the rugged rock formation towering in the background.
Black Hills National Forest – Moonwalk Program & Songbirds of the Hills

This summer, hundreds of visitors explored the Black Hills under the glow of a full moon through the Moon Walk hiking series, co-hosted by BHNF and BHPFA. Each of the four guided hikes featured unique themes, from local wildlife to geology, offering a new perspective on the region. This year’s program even included a Moon “Drive” along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, ensuring accessibility for all.

Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands – Smokey Bear’s Birthday at Bessey

Smokey Bear turned 80 this year, and the Bessey Ranger District, along with BHPFA, celebrated in style. Smokey greeted fans during story time and posed for pictures with kids (and adults). The day’s festivities included a tour of Bessey Nursery, birthday cake, and fun games for all ages.

Smokey Bear, wearing his signature ranger hat and blue jeans with a belt buckle that says 'Smokey,' gives a high five to a young boy in a group of children. The children are gathered around Smokey on a grassy area under the shade of a large tree. In the background, a man in a tank top and sunglasses watches the interaction, smiling. An American flag is visible in the distance, along with a yellow house nestled among trees. The scene takes place on a sunny day, with lots of greenery surrounding the area.
National Grasslands Visitor Center – Grand Re-opening

Smokey’s birthday celebration continued with the grand re-opening of the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, SD. The event featured youth activities, programs, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Visitors enjoyed the newly redesigned entrance, now a welcoming native plant garden and plaza. The celebration also marked the NGVC’s 30th anniversary, commemorating decades of educating visitors about America’s grassland ecosystems.

A group of people celebrates a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of a building marked "National Grasslands Visitor Center." A woman in a Forest Service uniform cuts the ribbon with large scissors, while others around her smile and cheer. Smokey Bear, wearing his signature hat and a blue party hat, stands to the right with his arms raised. The group includes people in Forest Service uniforms and others in casual or business attire, creating a lively, celebratory atmosphere on a sunny day.