We are back at Farm Island looking for summer migrants, either those that are passing through or those who are wrapping up their breeding season here. Join us for a leisurely walk to see what we can see. Bring your binoculars as birds are not as vocal as they are in the spring so we rely more on sight than ear.
And for those who enjoy reporting to E-bird or iNaturalist, bring your cameras!
No experience necessary. Those with birding expertise are welcome to share their knowledge. While we welcome young birders under the age of 14, we regret we cannot provide supervision.
Please note that a park entrance pass is necessary for this event. more info...
WINTER HOURS ( September 1-April 30)
Tues.-Sun. 1:00pm-5:00pm
Sat. 10:00am-5:00pm
GROUP VISITS & ON-SITE STEMVENTURE PROGRAMS (year-round)*
Mon.-Sat. 10:00am-5:00pm
Sun. 1:00pm-5:00pm
*Please note that Group Visits and Onsite STEMventure Programs must be booked and confirmed in advance.
WE ARE OPEN ON THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Native American Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, New Year’s Eve
WE ARE CLOSED ON THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS
New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION!
Did you know rocks can GLOW? Meet the Discovery Pod's Rock Star volunteer Robin to get close up with rocks, fossils, and more! Enjoy free take home goodies.
Seek by iNaturalist is a family friendly app that helps identify what you see and throws in challenges for an extra level of fun. Join us for a walk on La Framboise to Seek out nature and get introduced to citizen and community science. Whether you are new to nature and community science, nature/community science curious or a long time tromper of field and forest, this event is for you!
Note: App use is optional. If you want to use it, download prior to the experience. Get it on Google Play or the Apple App store.
We will meet at the trail head at La Framboise Island by the picnic shelter. After a short orientation to the app, we will walk for about an hour making identifications. While we welcome young explorers, we regret we cannot provide supervision to those under the age of 14.
INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION!
Did you know rocks can GLOW? Meet the Discovery Pod's Rock Star volunteer Robin to get close up with rocks, fossils, and more! Enjoy free take home goodies.
A special "spooky" season community science experience! Join us for a walk that starts just before sunset and concludes mid nautical twilight. (Don't worry, you can bring a headlamp or flashlight). We will see what's out and about in the evening as the day fades and night comes on.
Meet at the Farm Island trail head across the causeway. A park entrance pass is required for this event.
All ages are welcome but we regret we cannot provide supervision for those under the age of 16. more info...
INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION!
Did you know rocks can GLOW? Meet the Discovery Pod's Rock Star volunteer Robin to get close up with rocks, fossils, and more! Enjoy free take home goodies.
Best For Last: November 20, 2025 Grow Here, Play Here
Get your ticket to our biggest celebration of hands-on science education!
Every dollar raised supports staff and activities in the SDDC Exhibit Hall, a science playground for ALL to enjoy! Join the generations of children, and adults, who have grown up with greater access to hands-on learning and fun!
The Best for Last reverse raffle takes place on November 20, 2025. You get to enjoy delicious local vittles and chances to win fabulous prizes, including a 1 in 252 chance at $10,000. Fabulous odds!
INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION!
Did you know rocks can GLOW? Meet the Discovery Pod's Rock Star volunteer Robin to get close up with rocks, fossils, and more! Enjoy free take home goodies.
Educators! Join us for a hybrid GLOBE training. GLOBE is an international science and education project sponsored by NASA that engages your learners in collecting, analyzing and reporting data about Earth's systems: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and pedosphere (soil).
You will earn your GLOBE certification in this hands-on, place-based hybrid PD. We will meet one day via Zoom during the week of March 2 for orientation and onboarding. You will complete the GLOBE e-training on your own. And on Saturday Marych 7 we will convene for a day of GLOBE activities.
Participants will receive classroom supplies for one protocol (TBD). A stipend will be provided upon submission of a reflection. Sign up today! Better yet, recruit a teaching partner and sign up together! Free! more info...
Bioinspired Fluid Dynamics Research Experience for Teachers and Students Dates to be arranged with Dr Basu.
The Biomedical and Bioinspired Fluid Dynamics Lab (Basu Lab), directed by Dr. Saikat Basu at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University, is inviting high school teachers and students to participate in their NSF CAREER-funded project. The topic is on respiratory fluid mechanics and how art could be incorporated in biophysics modeling studies. Participants will spend 3 days on SDSU's campus. Teachers will create a learning module based on the experience.
Recruitment asks:
- We are looking for Science teachers (with interest in integrating art with cutting-edge biophysics research) at the high schools in the region, with preference for institutions in the Tribal reservations.
- Time commitment: 3-4 days in Summer (specific schedule is flexible, we will pick the mutually best possible week during June/July/Early August)
- The teacher will bring around approximately 3 students to Brookings and work on projects described.
- The learning module developed from the camp activities could be shared with the students at the home institution.
- We will also develop a poster outlining the experience of the workshop days
- The students can present the poster at regional/local science fairs
Benefits:
- $1000 stipend for each teacher
- Reimbursement for other expenses and covered accommodation and meals
- Small stipends on the scale of $100 for each student participant
- SDSU certificates for each student participant
- Long-term mentorship for the student participants
To indicate your interest, please email Saikat.Basu@sdstate.edu . Include your name and teaching position. OR complete this registration form and your information will be sent to Dr. Basu. more info...
We are back at Farm Island looking for summer migrants, either those that are passing through or those who are wrapping up their breeding season here. Join us for a leisurely walk to see what we can see. Bring your binoculars as birds are not as vocal as they are in the spring so we rely more on sight than ear.
A special "spooky" season community science experience! Join us for a walk that starts just before sunset and concludes mid nautical twilight. (Don't worry, you can bring a headlamp or flashlight). We will see what's out and about in the evening as the day fades and night comes on.
Educators! Join us for a hybrid GLOBE training. GLOBE is an international science and education project sponsored by NASA that engages your learners in collecting, analyzing and reporting data about Earth's systems: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and pedosphere (soil).
Dates to be arranged with Dr Basu.