This hike is geared for families with young children. By using a paved bicycle path, strollers are more than welcome to venture along the Creekside Trail. The focus of the hike is to expose kids to the sights and sounds of life near aquatic habitats. With an assortment of quick activities, every family is sure to have a memorable experience.

Exploring the Waves of Grass - Prairie Trail / 9:00 a.m. / Easy to Moderate / Most park visitors take the mixed grass prairie for granted. However, Custer State Park offers over 18,000 acres of grassland habitat, which houses a diversity of life. From wildflowers to grasses, from wildlife to unseen beauty, this guided hike exposes participants to the significance of the Great Plains.

Reach the Peak - Little Devil's Tower Trail / 1:00 p.m.
Strenuous - This guided hike takes participants to one of the highest points in the Black Hills. Hiking through a spruce-pine forest, then scrambling through a rocky terrain, participants venture to the summit of a geological landscape. Come and learn about the geology of the Black Hills, while challenging yourself to complete one of the most strenuous trails in Custer State Park. NOTE: This hike is considered strenuous and is not recommended for people with health conditions or physical limitations.

What types of items can be recycled? What are some things you can make with empty containers? What can I do with all of the plastic bags from grocery stores? Discover and share ideas with others on reducing the amount of trash in our landfills. Come learn some fun and easy ways that your family can become "greener." NOTE: Participants need to meet at Shelter House #2.

Take a guided hike along the shoreline of the reservoir in search of the not so obvious signs of life. Angostura Recreation Area provides homes to many different species of plants and animals, yet many visitors only spend their time on the water searching for fish. This casual beach-like stroll will expose families to an assortment of observations, proving that the reservoir is a significant natural resource in the southern Black Hills. NOTE: Participants need to meet at the amphitheater at Cascade Campground.

Are your kids ready for a quick nature adventure? This activity is for families with young children and youth groups that desire some outdoor education within their life experiences. Take a casual stroll down a paved bicycle path and look upwards at the trees for life above ground. Birds, flying insects, and floating seed heads combine together to make a mosaic of commonly unnoticed beauty within Custer State Park.

Are there fossils in the Black Hills? If so, how were they formed and how old are the specimens? Participants become paleontologists for a day and learn about living things from past years. Using a plaster "rock," a mock dig will take place, exposing the young paleontologists to "old" chicken bones and sea shells. Excitement will fill the program site as the group uncovers secrets from the past. NOTE: Participants need to meet at Shelter House #2.

With the advent of DVDs and other forms of enhanced technology, reel to reel movies are rarely used by park sites. Yet, the 16 mm productions from the 1960s and 70s offer some of the best educational content of any campground evening presentation. Bring the family (and some popcorn) and enjoy a step back in time … watching an "old" fashioned movie on the big screen. NOTE: Participants need to meet at the amphitheater at Cascade Campground.

July 24, 2009 (Friday) / Family Hike with Little Nature Lovers / 10:30 a.m. - Peter Norbeck Visitor Center

Late summer … and, your family has not had any time together? If so, this short guided hike takes participants through a meandering habitat of pine trees, creek scenery, and natural features. Grab the kids, load the strollers, and make ready for an exciting (yet organized) educational outing. Be prepared for many questions … because your kids will be thrilled by the trailside activities.

In partnership with the South Dakota Bat Working Group, Custer State Park is hosting its 4th Annual Bat Festival. Several biologists will be on hand with activities and presentations to help visitors understand (and appreciate) the myths and facts associated with bats. For added excitement, late night participants will also be involved in a mist netting operation in order to capture live bats.

Nearly every culture in the world has gazed into the night sky and tried to craft pictures within the stars. Stories have been shared for centuries and passed down through the generations. Come and learn ancient myths about some popular star clusters, while using your imagination to create your own constellation. NOTE: Participants need to meet at Shelter House #2.

Spend a relaxful evening under the stars in perhaps one of the best astronomy settings in the southern Black Hills. With very little light pollution, Angostura Recreation Area offers the right conditions for the beginning astronomer. Every participant will take a tour of the night sky and learn how to find some common constellations. Bring a pair of binoculars and prepare yourself for some fascinating stories of long ago. NOTE: Participants need to meet at Shelter House #2.

Enjoy three days of South Dakota's finest artists and craftsmen at the 15th Annual Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival. Start your morning with a pancake feed, enjoy on-going Western and Native American entertainment or browse the many exhibits and craft booths located on site. It's a South Dakota experience you won't want to miss. The first 2 festival days are held on the festival grounds adjacent the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center. On the 3rd and final day the festival is held on the festival grounds located at the buffalo corrals complex on Buffalo Roundup Day.

To experience the outdoors at night is a treat for many visitors. Life continues to exist even after the sun goes down for the day. This event allows participants to hike a paved path along a "creepy" route, consisting of costumed characters. The characters humor their audiences with short skits about the natural history of various critters living within the Black Hills. Hikes take place every 15 minutes from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required for all participants and can be made by contacting the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center at (605) 255-4464 after September 25, 2009.

The buffalo was once faced with extinction. Due to the conservation efforts of  organizations like Custer State Park, buffalo now number over 250,000. Each fall the Park sells surplus buffalo to the highest bidder at the live auction on the third Saturday in November. Buyers and non-buyers alike are invited to attend this annual event that has helped preserve a part of the American past.