Visit Us for These Fun Activities!
Join us for fun programs that help students experience history. We are continually adding new programs. You can receive updated program dates and topics by calling 367-4210 ext. 3013 and asking to be on our teacher mailing list and/or email list.
Starlab
Gaze into the night sky in our portable planetarium and discover the secrets of the seasonal constellations. Starlab gives students the tools to begin their own sky exploration.
Programs are offered to the public for $1 per person but are FREE to scheduled school groups.
- Each Starlab presentation lasts approximately 40 to 45 minutes.
- We can accommodate up to 25 people per program.
- Starlab is suitable for ages six and older.
- Call 367-4210 ext. 3016 to schedule a program. We recommend calling three weeks in advance for best times.
If you live outside of Sioux Falls and can't come to Starlab, Starlab could come to you! Fees may apply outside Minnehaha County. Please call for space and setup requirements.
Kids Activity Day
Join us for some crafty fun! This hands-on program explores a different theme each month. Kids enjoy a short educational program and making their own craft to take home. Kids Activity Day is offered on the third Thursday of each month and is appropriate for preschool through 2nd grade children. Please call 367-4210 ext. 0 to reserve a time for your children.
Fur Trade Program
Applicable to 4th Grade History and 4th & 5th Grade Economics Standards
Schedule an in-depth tour of the Fur Trade exhibit or join our staff in the trader's shack for an interactive program. Students will learn the chief players and the economics of the trade and will have a chance to exchange furs for various reproduction trade goods.
Lakota Tipi
Grades K- adult; 30 - 45 minutes
Students learn how buffalo hides and lodge pole pine trees were used to construct an efficient, portable home and will help erect a three-foot tipi with a tanned hide cover. This is an excellent exercise in teamwork, history, and cultural awareness.
Our popular Tipi program can be done at the museum, or it can come to you! Bring this fun, hands-on program to your class.
Focus on History
Are you looking for an extra credit project for middle or high school students? Watch for Focus on History speakers throughout the school year. Experts on various history related topics come to the museum for presentations and book readings, providing a great opportunity for students to explore history outside the classroom.
Pioneer Day Camp
Who knew homesteading could be this fun?! Kids can experience life as a frontier child in Dakota Territory. It's outdoors, educational, and an all around good time. Children participate in several activities, including quilting, food preparation, making candles and ice cream, games, and fishing.
Pioneer Day Camp is a one-day, summer camp for children between the ages of 7 and 12. It is held in June each year at Beaver Creek Nature Area, east of Sioux Falls.
Archaeology Day Camp
Kids learn what it takes to be an archaeologist by participating in a simulated dig. Hands-on activities teach the skills of excavating, mapping, washing and identifying artifacts.
Archaeology Day Camp is a two-day summer camp for kids ages 12 - 15. It is held in August each year at Perry Nature Area, east of Sioux Falls.
Historic Walks
Enjoy beautiful summer weather while learning about Sioux Falls history! Historic Walking Tours take you on a trip through the past as you visit historic residential areas, local cemeteries and downtown Sioux Falls.
Tours take place during the summer months on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. They are also available to scheduled groups at any time. Please call 367-4210 ext. 3016 to schedule a special tour for your group.
Walks include:
Woodlawn Cemetery
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
Phillips Avenue
Warehouse District
Fort Dakota
North McKennan Park
South McKennan Park
Duluth Avenue
Summit Avenue
Prairie Avenue
South End Cathedral District
Woodlawn II
