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Angostura Recreation Area
Summer Programs
Angostura
Recreation Area
hosts a number of
programs throughout the year.
Below is the summer schedule. All events are free unless noted. Hope you can
join us!
Skip to: June ~ July ~
August
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June Activities and Events |
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Fashion a Fish - Saturday, June 2
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Like all wildlife species, fish adapt to their various habitats
underwater. Some species thrive in dark and muddy river
environments, while others prefer cold flowing creeks and
streams. This program allows participants to artistically create a
monstrous fish with unique features for survival.
Tracking Clues for Wildlife - Sunday, June 3
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Have you ever looked at an animal track? If so, your observation may
cause some questions, such as what type of critter passed along this
trail?Where does this animal live? What do they eat? Come to learn
about animal tracks and make your own plaster cast.
How Do
Trees Survive - Saturday, June 9
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Trees are an important part of nature. They provide homes for birds;
they create shade during the summer season; and, they add colorful
hues to the landscape during autumn. Participants in this program
will learn about a trees and how they survive on the open prairie.
Try to
Catch the Big One - Sunday, June 10
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Grab your fishing gear and take to the waters of Angostura for a
morning of fishing. Participants will make pop can fishing poles and
learn how to tie fishing knots. If luck falls upon the group, a
cleaning demonstration is slated for the participants.
Orienteering for Beginners - Saturday, June 16
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
GPS units are popular with today’s technology; however, a compass
may serve a better purpose when hiking in the backcountry. No need
to worry about batteries, poor satellite locations, etc. If you
wanted to learn about basic orienteering, this program is for you.
Father’s Day Cards and Nature Gifts - Sunday, June 17
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
While dad is fishing, how about making a recycling paper card for
his special day. Adding some touches of nature, such as wildflower
petals, beach sand, or leaves, your card is bound for success. Be
prepared for a very energetic hands-on demonstration and activity.
Let’s
Get Buggy Nature Day Camp - Wednesday, June 20
9:30 a.m. / Jost Shelter (Shelter House #2)
Insects range in size from microscopic to rather large species. Some
are colorful, like butterflies. While others are drab and perhaps
“scary-looking” like beetles. Their physical features are also
different. Each species is unique and plays an important role in the
surrounding ecosystem. This session offers participants an exciting
hands-on adventure searching for the creepy-crawlies of Angostura
Recreation Area.
The
Buffalo and the American Indian - Saturday, June 23
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Bison, commonly called buffalo, played an important part in the
lives of many Plains Indian cultures. Participants during this
program will have the chance to touch and hold various buffalo
parts, such as tails, ballders, stomachs, muscle fibers, and
ribs. Afterwards, young participants will create a modern-day winter
count using paper bags shaped like buffalo hides.
Digging Up Fossils - Sunday, June 24
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
A variety of fossils have been discovered in and around the Black
Hills. If you are searching for an outdoor activity that gets your
hands somewhat dirty, please join the naturalist staff for an
exciting experience in paleontology. Break open plaster rocks to
find fossils on the inside and learn about the significance behind
these artifacts.
Construct a Rattlesnake - Saturday, June 30
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
The summer season is the perfect time to observe reptiles around
Angostura Recreation Area. Rattlesnakes are often quite common on
the mixed grass prairie, warming their bodies in the sun. This
program highlights the facts and fallacies of the only poisonous
snake species in the Black Hills.
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July Activities and Events |
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Animals Can’t Talk
... Or, Do They? - Sunday, July 1
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Animals communicate in special ways to express warnings within a
herd or to defend themselves from predators. They also use scents to
mark their territories, as well as make sounds to attract
mates. This program is geared for younger visitors (and families)
and will expose them to some basic wildlife observation skills.
Furs, Tracks, and
Scat - Saturday, July 7
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Each species of wildlife has a unique set of tracks. However, many
species can also be identified by their fur and scat (poop). This
program allows participants to play a matching game with
realistic-looking rubber tracks and scat ... and animal furs.
Survival By Chance -
Sunday, July 8
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Everything in nature is faced with a life or death situation. One
mistake can mean the difference between living or dying. This
program focuses on plants and animals and how they survive their
lives in the wild. The featured species is the state bird of South
Dakota - the ring-necked pheasant.
Reduce, Reuse, and
Recycle
Crafts for the Nature Enthusiast - Saturday, July 14
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Numerous items that are commonly thrown away are reusable for
nature-related crafts. This activity allows families to use their
imagination and create various objects for home decoration ... while
reducing, reusing, and recycling everyday garbage.
Let’s Get Buggy -
Sunday, July 15
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Insects range in size from microscopic to rather large
species. Beyond their size, each species is also unique and plays an
important role in the surrounding ecosystem. Look for various
insects during this adventurous hands-on activity.
Prairie Wonders
Nature Day Camp - Wednesday, July 18
9:30 a.m. / Jost Shelter (Shelter House #2)
Have you ever wondered what type of life thrives on the open
prairie? What survives under the cover of grass? Most park visitors
appreciate the lake of Angostura during the summer season, but what
about the mixed grass prairie? This session will take participants
on a habitat trek into the rolling grasslands of the southern Black
Hills. Be prepared to uncover some hidden mysteries of the
surrounding landscape.
Digging for the Truth
- Saturday, July 21
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Archaeology is the study of past human life by looking at clues,
such as arrowheads and pottery shards. This program takes
participants on a beach exploration into history through digging,
discovering, and recording.
Snakes of Western
South Dakota - Saturday, July 21
7:00 p.m. / Jost Shelter (Shelter House #2)
This program focuses on the various snake species inhabiting western
South Dakota. Learn how to identify snakes by observing live animals
during this interactive presentation. A prairie rattlesnake will
also be on hand to highlight the only venomous species within the
Black Hills region.
Fish Prints Tell
Stories - Sunday, July 22
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Do you like crafts? Well, this program takes rubber fish of many
species and allows participants to print them onto plates or craft
paper. Once the design has been made, participants will label the
parts of the fish and tell the story behind its “unique”
appearance.
Outdoor Cooking on
the Campfire - Saturday, July 28
9:00 a.m. / Picnic Point (Shelter House #1)
Many campers have unique recipes for cooking meals over the
campfire. From main dishes to desserts, there are loads of recipes
available for stick meals, foil entrees, and Dutch ovens. Bring your
family recipes and be prepared to try some interesting dishes.
NOTE: Due to the length of some recipes, there are no campground
presentations on this day.
Them Bones ... A
Study of Skulls - Sunday, July 29
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Wildlife skulls offer signs of adaptations for animals. Some skulls
present sharp teeth, indicating a predator species. Other skulls
display antlers and horns for defense. Take a look at a variety of
skulls and try to determine the species and the reasons for the
features.
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August Activities and Events |
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Stampin’ a Butterfly Habitat - Saturday, August 4
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Join the excitement as participants search for butterflies around
the campground. Why do they have bright colors? What do they eat or
drink? How fast can they fly? Using some new knowledge,
participants will create their own butterfly habitat using rubber
stamps and colored ink pads.
Construct a Rattlesnake - Sunday, August 5
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
The summer season is the perfect time to observe reptiles around
Angostura Recreation Area. Rattlesnakes are often quite common on
the mixed grass prairie, warming their bodies in the sun. This
program highlights the facts and fallacies of the only poisonous
snake species in the Black Hills.
Fashion a Fish - Saturday, August 11
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Like all wildlife species, fish adapt to their various habitats
underwater. Some species thrive in dark and muddy river
environments, while others prefer cold flowing creeks and
streams. This program allows participants to artistically create a
monstrous fish with unique features for survival.
Astronomy Night at Angostura - Saturday, August 11
9:00 p.m. / Jost Shelter (Shelter House #2)
How many constellations can you identify? Do you know their
stories? This evening presentation will take participants through a
basic course of night sky observations. If you are looking for an
activity after dark, this program is just for you.
Digging Up Fossils - Sunday, August 12
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
A variety of fossils have been discovered in and around the Black
Hills. If you are searching for an outdoor activity that gets your
hands somewhat dirty, please join the naturalist staff for an
exciting experience in paleontology. Break open plaster rocks to
find fossils on the inside and learn about the significance behind
these artifacts.
Nature
Crafts Nature Day Camp - Wednesday, August 15
9:30 a.m. / Jost Shelter (Shelter House #2)
Craft activities are always popular with kids and families. For this
reason, participants within this session will learn how to make
recycled paper and a variety of other nature crafts that deal with a
recycling theme. Bring your imagination and some creativity for an
educational lesson toward reducing , reusing , and
recycling.
Tracking Clues for Wildlife - Saturday, August 18
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
Have you ever looked at an animal track? If so, your observation may
cause some questions, such as what type of critter passed along this
trail?Where does this animal live? What do they eat? Come to learn
about animal tracks and make your own plaster cast.
GPS
Adventures for Kids - Sunday, August 19
9:00 a.m. / Jost Shelter (Shelter House #2)
Using GPS units for outdoor recreation is growing in
popularity. However, many GPS users are not trained in how to
properly use the technology. This program is for beginners and will
lead participants around Angostura Recreation Area in search of
scavenger hunt clues.
Feather Friends - Saturday, August 25
9:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
11:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
How many birds live or migrate through western South Dakota? What
types of birds are commonly viewed near campgrounds? Do birds of
prey live in Angostura Recreation Area? Take an adventurous hike
looking for various species of birds and learn some basic techniques
for bird identification.
The
Buffalo and the American Indian - Sunday, August 26
9:00 a.m. / Horsehead Campground
11:00 a.m. / Cascade Campground
Bison, commonly called buffalo, played an important part in the
lives of many Plains Indian cultures. Participants during this
program will have the chance to touch and hold various buffalo
parts, such as tails, ballders, stomachs, muscle fibers, and
ribs. Afterwards, young participants will create a modern-day winter
count using paper bags shaped like buffalo hides.
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SD State Parks Calendar of Events |
Copyright Ó 2006 State of
South Dakota |
