·         Custer State Park Taking Reservations for School Programs Starting Nov. 28

·         Fort Sisseton Celebrates Frontier Christmas with Sleigh Rides, Crafts and Music

Custer State Park Taking Reservations for School Programs Starting Nov. 28

CUSTER, S.D. - Custer State Park is gearing up for the winter-spring academic season and will start taking reservations for school programs on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 9 a.m.  These programs are free of charge and include classroom activities, as well as outdoor field trips. Interested teachers and administrators within the Black Hills region are invited to participate.

“The program slots are filled on a first come first serve basis,” said Bradley Block, chief of interpretation at Custer State Park. “Most activity times and dates fill up before the holiday break; for this reason, teachers are encouraged to plan their schedules accordingly.”

The Custer State Park interpretive staff provides programs to over 6,500 students every spring, in the classroom as well as in the park. The classroom programs are age specific with numerous topics ranging from predator-prey relationships to astronomy, from the study of rocks and minerals to investigating past cultures and their relationships to buffalo. The list of possible programs is diverse for most grade levels and complements many areas of natural and cultural history in western South Dakota. Each program uses hands-on activities that contain some interesting props in order to engage students into using critical thinking skills. 

Reservations for field trips are also available. Field trips take place from late March to early May. The field trips are also age-specific and take place on a number of nature trails in Custer State Park. Some specific field trips include “Surviving Nature’s Elements” for fifth graders, where students learn to build emergency shelters and follow an orienteering course using compasses. Third graders can go “Prowling the Prairie Trail” and learn about the unique features of the mixed grass prairie. This habitat hosts an assortment of large and small critters, and the students use a variety of observation skills to look beyond the grasses and wildflowers.

Programs dates are available Tuesday through Friday, beginning Jan. 22, 2008 and ending May 8, 2008. Interested teachers need to make reservations by calling Bradley Block, chief of interpretation, at 605-255-4828 or by email at brad.block@state.sd.us. 

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Fort Sisseton Celebrates Frontier Christmas with Sleigh Rides, Crafts and Music

LAKE CITY, S.D. - Get in the holiday spirit at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park's 16th Annual Frontier Christmas on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8 and 9. The event promises hours of fun for all ages as people relive Christmas traditions in a historic setting. Activities run from noon to 4 p.m. both days.

"This is a perfect opportunity to celebrate a time-honored holiday at an authentic 1864 military outpost," said Katie Bogue, park naturalist. "The event is truly a fun-filled weekend offering pure homemade Christmas fun for all."

Throughout the day, visitors can learn how to make numerous holiday decorations, including stringing popcorn garland and 12 different holiday crafts in the North Barracks. Visitors can stop by the barracks' mess hall to taste freshly churned butter and homemade bread. A number of artists will provide musical entertainment to round out the holiday setting.

Make plans to join the fort's horse drivers for a sleigh ride through the winter wonderland. Or, stroll the fort grounds and meet the various men and women of the fort. Demonstrations can be seen throughout the fort buildings including carpentry, rope making, and spinning and weaving. Both the blacksmith and the whiskey trader will be on hand to show their professions, and visitors can stop by the Hospital, Doctor’s Quarters and Commanding Officer’s Quarters for other fun holiday activities. Father Christmas will even be at the fort to share Christmas wishes. At 3:45 p.m. each day, join in as members of the Frontier Army of the Dakotas light candles on the fort's holiday tree.

There is no cost to participate, although a park entrance license is required and can be purchased at the park. Concessions will be available both days. Fort Sisseton is located 12 miles southwest of Lake City. For additional information, contact the park office at (605) 448-5474.

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