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Badlands National Park Students hiking in the Badlands
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Badlands National Park
Plan A Field Trip
Ranger presenting an educational program

NPS Photo

Showing a photo of a local bird, the ranger presents an educational program to a group visiting the park.

Teachers are invited to plan a field trip to Badlands National Park. Field trips may be self-guided, ranger-guided, or a combination of both. The information below is useful for all field trip planning.

Educational Fee Waivers

Educational entrance fee waivers are granted to accredited educational institutions whose curriculum relate specifically to the resources of Badlands National Park. Please complete and submit an Application for Waiver of Fees (96 KB PDF), if your group meets the eligibility requirements. For further information on fee waivers or eligibility criteria, contact the Revenue and Fee Business Program Manager.

Ben Reifel Visitor Center

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center offers exceptional exhibits on geology, paleontology, the prairie ecosystem, and human history. These exhibits can be used as teaching tools or to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom. A 20-minute introductory film, Land of Stone and Light, is shown in the theater. Teachers may choose to purchase the DVD for use in pre-field trip lessons.

There is a classroom in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center which may be reserved for approved group uses, such as completing teacher-guided educational activities. Please contact the park, if you are interested in reserving this space and/or a teaching kit.

White River Visitor Center

The White River Visitor Center contains excellent exhibits on the culture and history of the Lakota people. The White River Visitor Center is open seasonally during the summer months. Call (605) 455-2878 for more information.

Facilities

Water and restrooms are available at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Pit toilets are located at the Door/Window parking lot, Fossil Exhibit Trail, and Pinnacles Overlook. All campgrounds and picnic areas also have pit toilets. Groups can eat at picnic areas or on the bus. For information on purchasing a meal in the park, please contact the Cedar Pass Lodge restaurant. The Cedar Pass Lodge is open seasonally, from mid-April to mid-October.

Please consult the park map (422 KB PDF) for the exact locations of all the facilities.

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Black-footed ferret photo by Randy Matchett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Did You Know?
Four species of wildlife have been reintroduced into the Badlands since its establishment as a National Monument in 1939. The black-footed ferret, bighorn sheep, bison, and swift fox, once exterminated from the area's mixed grass prairie, are again thriving in their native habitat.
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Last Updated: May 31, 2011 at 16:49 MST