Rentals
Everything about the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls is intended to be a resource for producing interest in the outdoors, so it’s only natural that the center loans out equipment and tools for free — compasses, maps, etc.. For a $75 refundable deposit, anyone visiting the park can reserve one of the many outdoor crates to enhance their experience. The critter crates are great for school groups and include everything from mammal skulls and beaver pelts to animal track stamps and educational DVDs. Other rentals include fishing kits, camera packages and snowshoe crates for groups. It’s always wise to call ahead to see what’s available and reserve the equipment before a visit.
Classes
The Outdoor Campus offers classes for groups, individuals, schools, preschools, home school groups and teachers year-round. With the help of more than 150 volunteers, the campus is able to teach outdoor skills like hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, kayaking and rock climbing. Other programs cover skills like learning how to do a turkey call for hunting and how to take great outdoor photos. Private classes can be booked for groups of 10 or more.
Scheduled Events
Aside from the many classes the campus offers throughout the year, the grounds also play host to recurring and special events that are open to the public. A favorite event is the Outdoor University, where all ages are invited to come spend the day trying their hand out at kayaking, archery, fishing and more. This lively scene is always a hit, with food vendors on-site and exciting events taking place throughout the day, like hunting dog demonstrations and touch tanks full of turtles, frogs and fish. Other events are Becoming an Outdoors Woman and Growing Up Wild.
Exploring the Grounds
During the winter, visitors can cross-country ski at the park, but the warmer months are prime time for wandering around the trails and observing flora and fauna in their most natural states. Located on an oxbow of the Big Sioux River, the Outdoor Campus is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offers free access to three trails that create a two-mile trek. The trails are prepped for geocaching, and the center rents out GPS devices for any hikers looking to turn their walk into a treasure hunt.
Outdoor Campus
Location
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Type of Venue
Off-site, park
Capacity
80
Nearby Accommodations
Hilton Garden Inn Sioux Falls Downtown
Contact Info
605-362-2777
www.outdoorcampus.org
