Family Nature Summits: Black Hills Summit

Join Heather Fenyk in a grounding morning meditation class designed to help you transition from sleep to waking life with clarity, intention, and peace. Before diving into the noise and demands of your Summit Schedule, step into a calm, supportive space where you can quiet the mind, connect with your breath, and cultivate a sense of inner steadying.
Whether you are looking to reduce morning anxiety, improve focus, or simply find a pocket of stillness in a busy week, this class offers the perfect energetic reset.

"… I was unprepared for that revelation called the Dakota Bad Lands.  What I saw gave me an indescribable sense of the mysterious elsewhere – a distant architecture, ethereal… an endless supernatural world more spiritual than the earth but created out of it.”  Frank Lloyd Wright, 1935
“…some magnificent city of the dead…” (Dr John Evans, Explorer).
“…the whole region seems a part of another world…not easily forgotten…”  (Thaddeus Culbertson, paleontologist)
“…peaks and valleys of delicately banded colors – colors that shift in the sunlight…and a thousand tints that color charts do not show…”  (Freeman Tilden, conservation writer)

You can’t travel to southwest South Dakota and not visit the Badlands, or in Lakota, “mako sica”.  It’s too hot for a traditional hike, but this van trip will do the walking for you.  Your (mostly) fearless leader found a safe, flat gravel road that defines this land and brings you as up close and personal as such roads get!  This trip is repeated twice for the Summiteers’ convenience. This is our only trip to the Badlands and is open to photographers and those who want to experience the National Park.

Badlands National Park comprises two sections, the North and South Units, connected by a thin strip.  Our immersive road is located on this thin strip, and is, fortunately, the closest point of the Badlands to our Summit site.  One way, our trip to this site is 1 hour and 15 minutes, but worth every mile.  Our destination, Sheep Mountain Road, is, itself, less than 3 miles long and we’ll emerge from the vans at many stopping points along the road to collect unique and irreplaceable images. 

Our road is a live geology class that reveals many processes that created the Badlands.  From alluvial fans to hoodoos, the formations are right in front of you.  As inhospitable as the land seems, the land in and around the Badlands supported humans for 11,000 years.  The earliest people were mammoth hunters, followed by nomadic tribes, bison-hunting Lakota, and eventually trappers, miners, and homesteaders.  But the Badlands itself cannot be tamed and is a land of both dread and fascination

I will be bringing my cell phone, of course, but also my DSLR and one zoom lens that will accommodate my personal aesthetic.  I found the brightness of this environment to be challenging, due to my cell phone’s screen being quite hidden by the glare of the sun.  Cell phones will still gather amazing images, but help yourself out by bringing a wide-brimmed hat.  (If you don’t own one, before the Summit is the time to shop for one!)  It will shade the brightness sufficiently to help you see the screen and take your compositions more seriously.  A DSLR will be the key to slowing down and really painting your compositions on your image sensor.  With today’s image stabilization built in to most DSLR bodies and lenses, you will be able to make camera settings that allow you to leave the tripod at home or in your cabin.  Your (mostly) fearless leader will assist you in knowing those camera settings.

ABSOLUTELY NO OPEN SHOES OR SANDALS.  CLOSED HIKING SHOES OR SNEAKERS ONLY! YOU WILL THANK ME LATER.
(Comfort Note: There are no bathrooms, or trees to hide behind. But we can designate a private “room” behind the van.  Bring a bit of tissue and a plastic sandwich bag to collect your tissue. I’ll have a larger plastic bag to contain your used supplies and we’ll toss everything when we get to a waste bin back in civilization. It’s for this reason that I avoid coffee when heading to the wilderness without relief stations.  You might consider the same on this morning!) 

Explore the famous Custer State Park Wildlife Loop in an open-air jeep with a Custer State Park guide. A 1.5 - 2 private, guided adventure deep into the park to see free-roaming bison, pronghorn, elk, deer, the truly adorable prairie dogs, and begging burros. A much more intimate experience than one can do on their own, with exclusive use of private trails, and guides not only locating the wildlife but also imparting historical and educational facts.

Take a field trip around the area to view geologic features associated with the uplift of the Black Hills of South Dakota. You will learn about the regional geology and the importance of pegmatites as we tour. We will see a variety of rock types and geologic structures, and finish our trip at two former mines where you will have the opportunity to collect your own keepsake specimens. We will drive up to most locations. One location has a short walk along level terrain. The former mines are close to the road but will have short walks on uneven, wooded terrain. 

For the first time, the older half (we know who you are***) of our group will get to walk at leisure (not timed!) all of the uphill. Why didn't we think of that before!? You'll be doing a map reading game, of course, but one we've never used before. Mountain biking (all paved bike paths) is back this year, just two miles (all downhill for the "older" set!) Averaging 35 adults aged 17 to 80 taking part each year, this Thirteenth Annual Adventure “Race” will also have us all looking for those orange orienteering markers on foot (just a mile, not counting detours to give bison a wide berth!) It's a grand total of 2¾ miles on foot, less than last year.

Mostly on trails, you’ll need to decide "Do I go left, or right?" at least a dozen times. (Or for some of us, "Do I follow those other folks or not?" ;) Our Adventure "Race" is really mostly a self-guided map hike to some pretty spots. Not sure of your orienteering map skills?... See Dave L. anytime during the week for some tips and a short "practice course." This event is for anyone with average agility and fitness and with at least a modicum of navigational skills.... So if you are slow-moving but quick-thinking, this may be your event. Or at least pick a teammate smarter than you!

For only the second time, those "competitive folks" at the finish line early can declare for the "long course" category & do another loop looking for markers near the creek and cabins marked on a clear aerial image map. That extra loop is just over half a mile (perhaps less if you go through the Lodge lobby, but we highly discourage that!) The rest of us skip that loop. As always, it's really only a "race" if you want it to be.

For the competitive folks among us, we'll have a "masters" category (both 45+), another 60+, plus our usual single-gender and mixed gender categories... Ok to sign up solo!.... to find a partner, some folks always wait until the start of our event when we explain how it all works.  A challenge, sure. Fun, yes. Our motto: it’s more about the journey than the result!

***Thus, it strategically behooves everyone to recruit as many participants younger than themselves as
possible!...just don't mention to the younger set that they'll have uphill hiking-biking! :-)

Recommended items to bring: a narrow-point permanent red "sharpie" (we'll have some to lend), shoes for hiking-jogging on trails, water, sun protection and/or rain gear as needed, and a compass (we’ll have some to lend)... No GPS/ cell phone nav. app use, just the compass app.

Cost: $30

Join Dave behind the scenes for the adventure race. This is the perfect opportunity to see the adventure race up close and cheer friends as they navigate through the "race". Dave will assign roles based on skill set and ability- this is appropriate for all levels. 

Join us for a full-day tour of the unique sites south of Custer State Park. We will start our day at the Mammoth Site with a guided tour of a unique and active paleontological dig site and museum with the world’s largest concentration of mammoth remains. From there, we will drive six minutes to the highly rated Pioneer Museum. Housed in a 1893 schoolhouse, the museum hosts 25 exhibit areas with artifacts, local art, and period clothing.  We will walk across the street to the cool, shady Centennial Park along the riverfront to enjoy our picnic lunch. Our last stop will be at the Windcave National Park Visitors Center to learn about the unique geology and cultural significance of the area, Native American tribes, and the features of Wind Cave, both underground in its unique cave system and the grasslands above.

The Crazy Horse Memorial site includes the colossal mountain carving and a 40,000 square foot Welcome Center. You will be free to explore at your own pace. The Welcome Center includes theaters, the Native American Museum, and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center. You may choose to purchase a bus ride to the base of the mountain for $5. 

Discover the deep cultural roots and crafting techniques behind one of the most iconic Indigenous traditions. Led by Michelle Reed, this hands-on workshop invites participants to explore the history, teachings, and stories surrounding the dream catcher.

You will learn the traditional meanings behind each element, from the hoop to the web and the feathers, while weaving your own custom piece. Using high-quality materials, you'll walk away with a beautiful, finished dream catcher and a profound respect for the storytelling tradition it represents.

Guided by flutist Tony Duncan (Apache-Arikara & Hidatsa), you will use a kit to create your own instrument. Along the way, we will discuss the history of the flute and basic playing techniques so you can play your first notes before leaving. Duncan has performed all over the world and released ten recordings for the Native American flute, with five albums for Canyon Records. This is a unique opportunity to create your own instrument, learn the native history of the flute, and play a few notes on the flute with a world-renowned artist. Please note, this class will be focused on the construction and history of the flute, while you will learn the basics of playing a note or two, we will not have time for additional lessons. You will have plenty of time to practice at home!

Cost: $25

4.0 mile, 600 foot total climb "moderate plus' loop hike; no drive.

A usually verdant (drought-dependent) stream-side stroll over a dozen footbridges and nice views across the Black Hills, both in the same hike! With no vans to boot! This is "the" hike at our Summit lodging site. The version on the last afternoon with Matt will be at a more brisk pace. The trail is particularly known for bison, big horn sheep, and wildflowers; thus with Danny we have the perfect hike leader (the wildflower part, at least!) An otherwise nice ridge walk on top provides stark evidence of the furthest reach, almost to the buildings near here, of the huge 2017 Legion Lake Fire, and
"bomb-like" devastation from the Dec. 2025 wind storm.

Easily avoiding the thigh-high poison ivy along the trail is possible 90% of the way; only those with more susceptibility may want long pants. Avoiding late afternoon thunderstorms requires a clockwise direction (which provides cover and actual shelter on the last 1/3 of the hike.)

Opened in 2022, the Custer State Park Bison Center has quickly become a must-see destination for visitors of all ages. This facility tells the full story of the park’s iconic bison herd through a broad array of engaging, interpretive, and hands-on displays. In addition to the indoor exhibits, ranger-led bison corral tours provide an invaluable up-close look at herd management and the ranching infrastructure that supports it. On these guided tours, staff explain the layout and function of holding pens, sorting chutes, and other handling facilities, show how feeding and water systems are organized, and discuss the practical aspects of population and range management. The tours are designed to demystify the day-to-day operations involved in maintaining a healthy, sustainable herd and to answer visitor questions about animal care, seasonal movements, and park stewardship.

Monday’s session will include adults and the Junior Naturalists for a lively, educational experience. On Monday, the adults on the tour will get the opportunity to sort the "Junior Naturalist Bison" through the holding pens. After the bison are sorted, they will head out, and the adults will finish the tour.

4.0 mile, 600 foot total climb "vigorous pace" loop hike; no drive. 

A usually verdant (drought-dependent) stream-side stroll over a dozen footbridges and nice views across the Black Hills, both in the same hike! With no vans to boot! This is "the" hike at our Summit lodging site. This version with Matt will be at a more brisk pace. The trail is particularly known for bison, big horn sheep, and wildflowers. An otherwise nice ridge walk on top provides stark evidence of the furthest reach, almost to the buildings near here, of the huge 2017 Legion Lake Fire, and "bomb-like" devastation from the Dec. 2025 wind storm.

Easily avoiding the thigh-high poison ivy along the trail is possible 90% of the way; only those with more susceptibility may want long pants. Avoiding late afternoon thunderstorms requires a clockwise direction (which provides cover and actual shelter on the last 1/3 of the hike).

This popular spot in Custer State Park gives us the chance to see awesome rock formations that line much of the shore of Sylvan Lake. It’s a sunny and pleasant level path, which we’ll do as an out & back ramble (close to 1 mile) due to a difficult section at the far end of the lake, which would not be suitable for a ramble. If time allows, we’ll explore the other side of the lake. We’ll return via Needles Highway with a couple of stops along the way.

Join Chris Estes on a ramble at Legion Lake. He will talk about the relationship and history of his people with the local flora and fauna. The discussion will be guided by the tracks, plants, and animals you encounter on the trail. 

Join us for a guided tour of the Big Thunder Gold Mine, a historic gold mine discovered in 1892. This mine has a unique and fascinating history with a fully accessible 1-hour tour. The tour concludes with a small mining museum. 

This is a follow-up session to the Beadwork- Cuff Bracelet course offered on Sunday morning. Michelle will be available to assist throughout the week as you complete your beadwork. This session is an opportunity to complete your project with Michelle's help in a classroom setting. All participants must sign up for Sunday morning and one additional session. 

Gather around the kitchen for a live demonstration and history lesson all about fry bread! Led by Tony Duncan, you’ll learn the techniques behind making this iconic comfort food while exploring its historical roots and cultural significance in Indigenous communities. Yes, there will be tastings! 

**This session will be specifically geared towards educators and include discussion on the need and approaches to center the affective dimensions (i.e., emotions, moods, attitudes) of learning to better address eco-emotions more broadly in education spaces.

For millennia, humanity has been fascinated with the night sky and our place in the universe. While most of us have heard of the Greek and Roman constellations and stories, cultures all over the globe, both modern and ancient, have their own histories, mythologies, stories, and relationships with our shared universe. You'll learn how other cultures viewed our constellations, had their own constellations, and how our modern astronomical concepts have their base in histories long passed.

Wrap up an incredible Summit week with our highly anticipated closing program! We kick things off with our youngest Summiteers—and yes, even the teens are getting in on the action—as they take the stage to perform the hilarious and creative skits they’ve been practicing all week long. To close out the night, we’ll premiere the official week-in-review slideshow. Grab a seat, relive the best moments, and see if you can spot yourself in the memories!