2021-2022 Black Hills
Two different classes proposed using the existing 2018 trip plans to the Black Hills, while another class proposed a trip to Seattle. The Black Hills were selected as the destination. However, in order to make the schedule fit what activities were desired with what was open, they had to flip the itinerary. This allowed them to add some new activities.
On March 23, the five students and two chaperones left after school and drove to Sheridan, Wyoming. They had contacted Sheridan High School for a place to stay and one thing led to another, which allowed them to stay at the very nice Best Western Hotel free of charge. They even had a swimming pool, although they didn't get to use it very long. The next morning a tour guide from Ft. Phil Kearny met us at the Wagon Box Fight Site, took the group to the fort, and the location of the Fetterman Massacre. Although she was new to the job, she did a fantastic job and filled them in on the details of each battle and how things operated at the fort. Next was a picnic at Moorcroft, WY, before making their way to the Jewel Cave National Park. This was a first for our OFT trips and was definitely worth the trip. That evening we checked into the Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, SD, then went swimming at the always fun, Evan's Plunge. After swimming, they went to the Winner's Circle bowling alley for dinner and a fabulous time of bowling. Many people bowled their personal bests!
On Day three, they started with an early morning drive and hike to the Rankin Ridge Fire Tower in Wind Cave National Park, where they could see as far as the Badlands National Park 50 miles to the east. They hurried back for their scheduled tour of the Wind Cave, then backtracked to do some more exploring in the park. They lunched in Custer at a park, did some geocaching in the area then headed to Crazy Horse Memorial. They took the bus tour to the base of the sculpture and did a scavenger hunt in the museum. Next they drove to the little town of Keystone. They got ice cream and walked up the street into some of the shops. Mount Rushmore was next on the schedule. One group hiked the trail right underneath the carvings. It was late enough in the evening that it was getting very cold and as they left it was neat to see the Presidents lit up. On the way to their stay at a church in Hill City, they detoured for a short adventure at Horse Thief Lake. Time was spent on homework packets and resting.
Day four started with a visit to Rush Mountain Adventure Park. There they rode a zipline, small roller coaster, and played a 7D shooting adventure game. They did not do a third cave tour, although it is a neat cave also if you are planning a trip. It was very cold so they decided they weren't hungry enough to have lunch yet, so it was off to Rapid City for a planned stop at the Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Unfortunately it was closed. They looked at the planes on display from the vehicle for awhile before heading on to the Badlands National Park. Of course after all the build up of seeing the Wall Drug billboards, they had to drive by it, but it was closed also. They went into the Badlands Park from Wall to the Roberts Prairie Dog Town. They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring and hiking on various trails in the park. Several people's favorite part of the trip was the Notch Trail hike. They likened it to a scene from Star Wars. After checking into our hotel in Rapid City, they cleaned up for a nice dinner at Minerva's. The plan was to go exploring through the walking tour of the Presidents of the US, but everyone was exhausted. Only a couple of students had the energy to go swimming before bed.
Their final day started very early, as they had to make it all the way from Rapid City to home by 8:30 in the evening. They took a very quick tour of the iconic Dinosaur Park, but were disappointed to see a lot of graffiti and vandalism. They drove to Deadwood for a short driving tour of the town then got lost circling through Lead and back to Deadwood. Next was an adventure to the Devil's Tower National Park. They walked the trail around the base of the tower and picnicked before hitting the road. Their only stops were to look for a geocache in Broadus, supper on their own in Hardin and a rest stop. They made it back 30 minutes early!
The cost of the trip was $1755.85. They were only off $23.35 on their budget! Pretty good considering that gas was over $4.00 a gallon.
On March 23, the five students and two chaperones left after school and drove to Sheridan, Wyoming. They had contacted Sheridan High School for a place to stay and one thing led to another, which allowed them to stay at the very nice Best Western Hotel free of charge. They even had a swimming pool, although they didn't get to use it very long. The next morning a tour guide from Ft. Phil Kearny met us at the Wagon Box Fight Site, took the group to the fort, and the location of the Fetterman Massacre. Although she was new to the job, she did a fantastic job and filled them in on the details of each battle and how things operated at the fort. Next was a picnic at Moorcroft, WY, before making their way to the Jewel Cave National Park. This was a first for our OFT trips and was definitely worth the trip. That evening we checked into the Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, SD, then went swimming at the always fun, Evan's Plunge. After swimming, they went to the Winner's Circle bowling alley for dinner and a fabulous time of bowling. Many people bowled their personal bests!
On Day three, they started with an early morning drive and hike to the Rankin Ridge Fire Tower in Wind Cave National Park, where they could see as far as the Badlands National Park 50 miles to the east. They hurried back for their scheduled tour of the Wind Cave, then backtracked to do some more exploring in the park. They lunched in Custer at a park, did some geocaching in the area then headed to Crazy Horse Memorial. They took the bus tour to the base of the sculpture and did a scavenger hunt in the museum. Next they drove to the little town of Keystone. They got ice cream and walked up the street into some of the shops. Mount Rushmore was next on the schedule. One group hiked the trail right underneath the carvings. It was late enough in the evening that it was getting very cold and as they left it was neat to see the Presidents lit up. On the way to their stay at a church in Hill City, they detoured for a short adventure at Horse Thief Lake. Time was spent on homework packets and resting.
Day four started with a visit to Rush Mountain Adventure Park. There they rode a zipline, small roller coaster, and played a 7D shooting adventure game. They did not do a third cave tour, although it is a neat cave also if you are planning a trip. It was very cold so they decided they weren't hungry enough to have lunch yet, so it was off to Rapid City for a planned stop at the Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Unfortunately it was closed. They looked at the planes on display from the vehicle for awhile before heading on to the Badlands National Park. Of course after all the build up of seeing the Wall Drug billboards, they had to drive by it, but it was closed also. They went into the Badlands Park from Wall to the Roberts Prairie Dog Town. They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring and hiking on various trails in the park. Several people's favorite part of the trip was the Notch Trail hike. They likened it to a scene from Star Wars. After checking into our hotel in Rapid City, they cleaned up for a nice dinner at Minerva's. The plan was to go exploring through the walking tour of the Presidents of the US, but everyone was exhausted. Only a couple of students had the energy to go swimming before bed.
Their final day started very early, as they had to make it all the way from Rapid City to home by 8:30 in the evening. They took a very quick tour of the iconic Dinosaur Park, but were disappointed to see a lot of graffiti and vandalism. They drove to Deadwood for a short driving tour of the town then got lost circling through Lead and back to Deadwood. Next was an adventure to the Devil's Tower National Park. They walked the trail around the base of the tower and picnicked before hitting the road. Their only stops were to look for a geocache in Broadus, supper on their own in Hardin and a rest stop. They made it back 30 minutes early!
The cost of the trip was $1755.85. They were only off $23.35 on their budget! Pretty good considering that gas was over $4.00 a gallon.