Events
Beth Burkhart, GPNPS Field Trip Coordinator, lists these field trips for Society members and guests.
To receive notification of further details (departure time & place, etc.) you must sign up by contacting us at 605-673-3159 or GPNPS Fieldtrips, PO Box 321, Hermosa, SD 57744 USA. Only those on the list will receive the detail mailing, so sign up if there is any slight chance you will be interested in attending.
- 2024
- May 18 • Annual Meeting, members & non-members welcome
- A short business meeting at the Botanic Garden will be followed with a talk by Cindy Reed on the history and current development of our Botanic Garden project.
Bring your folding chair, hat, sunscreen, and camera. Sorry, no pets are allowed at the Botanic Garden.
Our meeting will be outdoors, and will be postponed in case of rain in the forecast. If so, check this page for a last-minute update.
Water, coffee, and snacks will be provided. Our bookstore will be open.
Event Outline
12:30 pm -- social
1:00 pm -- introductions and business meeting
1:30 pm -- overview of Botanic Garden project
2:00 pm -- tour the Visitor Center and grounds, open until 4:30 pm
- RSVP by May 13
- Trip leader: Cindy Reed
- 605-890-0150
- Jun 01 • Visit the grounds of the Bear Butte Creek Historic Preserve near Sturgis, SD
- This trip is limited to the first 20 people who "RSVP". RSVP to GPNPS at 605/745-3397 or email to fieldtrips@gpnps.org.
We will meet at the Ft. Meade Trailhead of the Centennial Trail. This link shows the map to the parking area at the Trailhead -- https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cboz1nnDND3ari6N7 .
This trailhead parking is on the south side of Hwy 34, not the little parking areas near the fence gate on the north side of Hwy34 - those are for the archery range.
On Hwy 34, traveling east from Sturgis toward Ft. Meade, not far before the main entrance into Ft. Meade, turn right at Cemetery Drive, or (alternatively) turn right into the entrance to Ft. Meade and then immediately take the first right. You will see the Trailhead parking area easily.
We expect to see most of the plants within the Bear Butte Historic Preserve. The Preserve contains a part of the grounds of the historic Ft. Meade, currently being archeologically documented.
After an introductory presentation by Ross Lamphere of the BBCHP Association, our member Dr. Mark Gabel, an eminent botanist of the Black Hills and member of the Bear Butte Creek Historic Preserve Association, will lead an easy hike to view the flora within this historic area.
We will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the main parking area at the Ft. Meade Trailhead of the Centennial Trail, and then we will use the pedestrian underpass to access the Historic Preserve. Again, it's not the little parking areas near the fence gate! - those are for the archery range.
You can expect to return to your car by noon, but you are welcome to bring your lunch and linger as long as you like.
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, and camera.
Sorry, no pets are allowed on any GPNPS Field Trips.- RSVP by May 30
- Trip leader: Dr. Mark Gabel, botanist
- 605-745-3397
- Jun 07-08 • Open House: Log Cabin Visitor Center at the Great Plains Botanic Garden
- Friday & Saturday - June 7 & 8, 9:am–4:pm
Open House at the Great Plains Botanic Garden, a short distance east of Hwy 79 five miles south of Hermosa SD. The physical address is 14229 Windbreak Road, Hermosa, SD. From Hwy 79 five miles south of Hermosa, turn east on Windbreak Road, just a bit north of mile-marker 55 on Hwy 79.
Come see our Penstemon Display, the new Cactus Garden, the Grass Section being installed and stroll through more of the grounds on our Trail of Two Hills.
The bookstore/giftshop in the Log Cabin Visitor Center will be open and offering free coffee and snacks.
Bring your human friends, but not your pets. Sorry, no pets are allowed at the Botanic Garden. Bring your camera, sunscreen, hat and so on.- Trip leader: Cindy Reed and GPNPS volunteers
- 605-890-0150