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.

Let's look up at the night sky together and learn about the exciting state of astronomical research. Dr. Arika Egan, an astrophysicist who studies exoplanets (planets that orbit other stars in the Milky Way galaxy), will connect what you can see with your naked eye (as well as what you can't) to the questions astronomers are asking themselves day to day. You'll learn about stars, exoplanets, and galaxies, and how the more we study these faraway objects, the more we can learn about our very own Sun and solar system planets.

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.

 Join Marilyn ( who presently resides in Savannah, Georgia)  for an art lesson during the Summit. This will be a unique moment to record the surrounding images using pencil, watercolors, and drawing paper. We will proivde supplies or you are welcome to bring your own.  You may want to bring a book-sized sketch book as a journal of this trip. Participants will be given a journal where they take notes and sketch suggested subjects that we view on the trail. You may also bring your own inks and favorite color writing pens. We will consolidate all the equipment, plus your drinking water, into your day-pack as we wander and sketch.  

Grab a seat by the crackling fire—or pull up a comfortable chair under the pavilion—for an unforgettable evening of Native storytelling. As twilight settles in, we will gather together to experience a rich tapestry of traditional stories brought to life by the grounding heartbeat of the hand drum and the soulful melodies of the flute. It is the perfect way to unwind after dinner, connect with the land, and let yourself be transported by songs and spoken word passed down through generations. This program is designed for all ages and will be hosted at the fire pit alongside the dinner pavilion. 

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.

Join Michelle Reed in a fitness class inspired by Pow-wow dance. Founded by Michelle, N8V Dance Fitness is a high-energy exercise program that seamlessly weaves Indigenous heritage with modern fitness. This class is appropriate for all levels. 

Spend a relaxing evening playing outdoor games, getting your face painted, and chatting with fellow Summiteers. Our formal, family-friendly evening program will take the night off. 

Let's look up at the night sky together and learn about the exciting state of astronomical research. Dr. Arika Egan, an astrophysicist who studies exoplanets (planets that orbit other stars in the Milky Way galaxy), will connect what you can see with your naked eye (as well as what you can't) to the questions astronomers are asking themselves day to day. You'll learn about stars, exoplanets, and galaxies, and how the more we study these faraway objects, the more we can learn about our very own Sun and solar system planets.

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.

Join us for a day spent exploring women’s experience in Nature. We will touch on science, ritual, and the wisdom of place/self in three workshops.


This is an all-day class that will be held both outdoors and indoors. Short hiking and some sitting in a natural setting will be part of the fun! Be prepared with good clothing for the sun and for your comfort. If sitting on the ground is difficult, please let us know ahead of time, and we will bring outdoor chairs as needed.

If you have a small special token of your connection to nature, please bring it with you!

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: $35

**Please note, you will need to come for a second session to complete your flute 

This dynamic program is designed to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences of all ages. More than just a performance, it is an invitation to celebrate the enduring beauty, resilience, and joy of Indigenous culture. Join faculty members Michelle (Ojibwe), Chris Estes (Kul Wicasa Oyate), and Tony Duncan (Apache) for an evening of music and dance. Michelle and Chris are both lead dancers for Brule, a contemporary Native American music group. This program is designed for all ages. 

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.

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 partner 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. 

**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.