Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls
The purpose of The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls is to provide hands-on experiences in hunting, fishing, outdoor skills, and conservation science. Free educational classes for youth, adults and families are held throughout the year. Visitors can explore indoor exhibits, a butterfly garden, and an outdoor playscape, as well as enjoy over 2 miles of trails for walking and cross-country skiing.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Closed Sundays and State Holidays
Programming
Programming is free - thank a hunter or angler!
- Program Registration - Click to be directed to our registration system and start signing up for classes.
- School Programs - Programs open to students enrolled in a traditional classroom. Registration for field trips made by teachers.
- Homeschool Programs - Programs open to students who are currently being homeschooled.
- Outreach Programs - Can't come to The Campus? Check out this booklet for information on how The Campus can come to you!
- Community Programs - Programs open to anyone in the public.
- Group Programs - Programs open to groups (10 participants of more). Classes reserved by appointment, see booklet for details.
- Hunting 101 - Turkey Program
- This unique education opportunity will walk students through safety, turkey hunting tactics, how to use turkey calls and decoys, how to properly care for and process a harvested turkey, and the hunt.
- Selection for this educational hunt will be based on completion of the attached application. The student will only be allowed to hunt with a GFP Employee or GFP Sanctioned Volunteer Mentor. Youth must be accompanied by an adult.
- Application is due by March 20, 2025 at 4 p.m.
- For more information call The Campus at 605.362.2777 or email Derek Klawitter.
- Hunting 101 - Deer Program
- This unique education opportunity will walk students through deer hunting safety, tactics, and ethics, followed by time at the range and finally, a hunt. If a successful harvest, the class also includes time processing the deer.
- Selection for this educational hunt will be based on completion of the attached application. The student will only be allowed to hunt with a GFP Employee or GFP Sanctioned Volunteer Mentor. Youth must be accompanied by an adult.
- Application is open until the end of the season.
- Learn more about the program.
- For more information call The Campus at 605.362.2777 or email Derek Klawitter.
- Resident Disabled Veteran Deer Hunt
- This will be a comprehensive, any-deer hunt and include time at the range, time hunting, and if a successful harvest, time processing as well.
- Selection for this hunt will be based on completion of the attached application.
- The applicant must be a Resident and Disabled Veteran (as defined in the application),
- The participant will only be allowed to hunt with a GFP Employee or Mule Deer Foundation volunteer,
- And preference for this opportunity will be given to applicants who have not held a SD deer permit in the last 5 years.
- The program is available at no cost to the participants thanks to sponsorship by the Dakota Gray Ghost Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation.
- Application is open until the end of the season unless permits are exhausted.
- For more information call The Campus at 605.362.2777 or email Derek Klawitter.
Loaner Equipment
All Use Agreements can be printed, filled out, and brought in prior to check out, or Campus/GFP Region 3 Staff can provide a hard copy upon arrival.
Please make sure you have a valid hunting license and understand all rules and regulations prior to going hunting.
- Critter Crate Booklet - Loaner equipment and loaner crates for free checkout with signed Crate Use Agreement.
- View a visual inventory of each of the educational crates.
- Snowshoes
- Are you interested in trying snowshoeing? Snowshoes can now be checked out at The Campus by the pair with the signing of the Snowshoe Use Agreement .
- Snowshoes can be used during normal business hours Monday through Saturday within Sertoma Park.
- They are checked out on a first come, first serve basis and must be returned 30 minutes prior to closing (4:30pm Monday – Friday and 3:30pm on Saturdays).
- Both trailers include: full body decoys, silhouettes with carrying bag, layout blinds, decoy shells, and flags.
- Loaner Trailer #1 – Located at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus
- To reserve this trailer, call the Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls at 605.362.2777. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. The trailer can be checked out for up to 5 days.
- Reservations and pickup must be done during normal Outdoor Campus business hours.
- If you have reserved this trailer, please complete the Loan/Waiver of Liability Agreement, and bring with you when you come to pick up the trailer.
- Loaner Trailer #2 – Located at the Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center
- To reserve this trailer, call The Outdoor Adventure Center at: 605.693.4622. Reservations are made on a first come first serve basis. The trailer can be checked out for up to 5 days.
- Reservations and Pickup must be done during normal Outdoor Adventure Center hours.
- If you have reserved this trailer, please complete the Loan/Waiver of Liability Agreement, and bring with you when you come to pick up the trailer.
- Loaner Trailer #1 – Located at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus
- Life Jackets
- Do you need to borrow a life jacket for your next recreational opportunity? The Region 3 Office (located in the same building as The Outdoor Campus) has a number of life jackets available in infant, youth, and adult sizes.
- To learn more and check availability, call the Region 3 Wildlife Office: 605.362.2700.
- Life Jackets can be checked out for up to 2 weeks at a time with the signing of the Life Jacket Use Agreement. Check out is only available between May 1 and September 30.
- Live Traps
- Do you need to borrow a trap for management purposes? The Region 3 Office (located in the same building as The Outdoor Campus) has several live traps that you can borrow.
- To learn more and check availability, call the Region 3 Wildlife Office: 605.362.2700.
- Live Traps can be checked out for up to 2 weeks at a time with the signing of the Trap Use Agreement. Check out is available year-round. One trap may be checked out be an individual at a time.
- Waterfowl Loaner Bags
- In a continued effort to recruit and retain waterfowl hunters, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, has created 4 duck floating kits and 3 goose floating decoy bags for checkout by the public. To reserve one of these bags, call the Region 3 Wildlife Office (located in the same building as The Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls) at: 605.362.2700. Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis.
- Waterfowl loaner bags can be checked out for up to 1 week at a time with the signing of the Waterfowl Loaner Bag Use Agreement. Checkout is only available during their respective season.
- Please make sure you have a valid hunting license and understand all rules and regulations prior to going hunting
- New to waterfowl hunting? Consider the Three-Duck Limit Option when purchasing your license
- Action Trackchair®
- To reserve the Action Trackchair®, call the Region 3 Wildlife Office: 605.362.2700. Reservations are made on a first come first serve basis. The trailer can be checked out for up to 1 week.
- Reservations and pickup must be done during normal Outdoor Campus business hours.
- If you have reserved this trailer, please complete the Loan/Waiver of Liability Agreement for the trailer. You will also need to fill out the Chair Waiver for anyone who will operate the Action Trackchair®
Contact Information
- 4500 South Oxbow Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57106 (in Sertoma Park)
- 605.362.2777
- TOC@state.sd.us
- Staff:
- David Parker - Director
- Derek Klawitter - Group and Homeschool Coordinator
- School Coordinator
- Sandy Richter - Community and Special Event Coordinator
- Jeff Merkle- Weekend and Night Manager
- Jean Olson - Senior Secretary
- Jason Nelson - Outreach Coordinator
- Paige O'Farrell - Volunteer Coordinator
- Isaac Full - GFP/Pheasants Forever Contract Position
Amenities
- ADA/Accessible Features
- 2 miles of walking trails/cross-country trails
- 12 Lane, 60-yard archery range.
- Permanent Orienteering Course
- Playscape and Butterfly Garden
- Public Restrooms
- Picnic Areas – no BBQ’ing or open flames on property
- SDSU Mesonet Weather Station
- Sioux Falls Bike Path
- Official Passport Location - Southeast Attractions – Family Fun Escapes
Volunteers
Newsletter
Want to stay up to date on Campus Happenings? Subscribe to our mailing list.
Friends of the Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls
The purpose of this Committee is to serve in an ongoing advisory role and to work collaboratively with the Director of the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus to provide advice and insight on facility needs and potential improvements, projects, initiatives, and education programming priorities at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus.
Questions for the Friends Board? Contact David Parker.
Friends Board Members:
| Tim Kromminga, Board Chair | Kathy Anderson, Board Member |
| Emmett Keyser, Board Vice Chair | Brian Klatt, Board Member |
| Amanda Oines, Board Member | Jeff Scherschligt, Board Member |
| Eric Olson, Board Member | Cheryl Ulvestad, Board Member |
| Derek Maassen, Board Member | Eric Kurtz, Board Member |
| Josh Johnson, SFPR - Ex Officio Member | Royce Meritt, Board Member |
| Kristina Coby, SD PWF - Ex Officio Member | Jamie Simko, Board Member |
| Kip Rounds, SD GFP - Ex Officio Member | Richie Hutchinson, Board Member |
| David Parker, SD GFP - Ex Officio Member | Drew Woelfel, Board Member |
Partner with Us
The Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls gets the majority of its funding through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, with other funding coming from the Pittman-Robertson Act and the Dingle Johnson Act. It is in part because of these two funding sources that we are able to offer the free programming we do, so if you enjoy a class with us remember to thank a hunter or angler.
The Campus does accept donations from the general public, businesses, and grants. These funds help to increase our programming opportunities as well as aid in our building expansion project. If you are interested in donating to Campus, below are a few ways to give monetarily:
- General Donations for Campus Programming - visit the Parks and Wildlife Foundation to give virtually or checks or cash can be given at The Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls (Please make checks payable to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation with The Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls in the memo).
- The Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus Expansion Project
- Friends of The Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls Fund
- This endowment helps to create access to The Outdoor Campus and access to the outdoors.
Thank you for supporting our educational programming!
