SOUTH DAKOTA

The itinerary below is a sample of what you can expect from an educational travel program with Kids Beyond Borders. Each group’s specific itinerary will be determined once they meet with a Kids Beyond Borders trip advisor.

DAY 1

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore brings students face-to-face with four of America’s most iconic presidents. The Presidential Trail is the star attraction at this national landmark, but students can also visit the Sculptor’s Studio to learn more about the carving process.

Fort Hays Old West Town Dinner & Show

Students will get a taste of the American West at the Fort Hays Old West Town Dinner & Show. After touring the set of the Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, students can watch craftsmen at work on the boardwalk, making everything from tin plates to lasso ropes.

DAY 2

Badlands National Park

The colorful spires and pinnacles of Badlands National Park offer unique insights into the earth’s geoscience processes. Students may glimpse wildlife amidst the deep gorges and tall buttes, while the park’s fossil collection offers a unique view of extinct creatures, from saber-toothed cats to three-toed horses.

Wind Cave National Park

At Wind Cave National Park, students can explore one of the longest and most complicated caves in the world. They’ll learn about the geological processes that shape the intricate and beautiful formations found inside the cave, and about the rhythms of the surrounding ecosystem.

DAY 3

South Dakota Air and Space Museum

The galleries and exhibits at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum will take students on a tour through science, engineering, and history. The museum’s collection of vintage military aircraft and missiles offers a unique insight into the innovation of aviation.

DAY 4

Rushmore Tramway Adventures

Students will have a blast learning about gravity at Rushmore Tramway Adventures, whether racing down an 800-foot zipline, descending the 2,000-foot alpine slide on a wheeled sled, or walking off the edge of a 60- foot jump tower to experience the thrill of free fall.

Reptile Gardens

Biology will come to life as never before when students get the chance to handle a python or pet Fluffy, the baby alligator. The gentle giant tortoises offer a slower change of pace, along with a selfie opportunity. Students will also enjoy the bird show, prairie dog town, and beautiful gardens.

DAY 5

Crazy Horse Memorial

Students can view the progress of world’s largest sculptural undertaking, a memorial of Lakota leader Crazy Horse, while learning about the painstaking process of carving a mountain. The onsite Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center house showcase Native American cultural heritage.

Mammoth Site

The Mammoth Site brings students to the edges of an active dig, where the fossils of over 60 different mammoths have been found. Students can learn about the natural processes that lead to fossilization, as well as the painstaking archaeological efforts to unearth these treasures from the path. The Mammoth Site features hands-on activities for young scientists, and an exhibit hall with full-size replicas of mammoths and other creatures from the Ice Age.