Celebrate National Forest Week

Celebrate National Forest Week (NFW), July 10 – 16, 2023 on the Black Hills National Forest.

NFW highlights the incredible 193-million-acre National Forest System across the country and all the benefits it provides to the public.

Several free Forest events, including a guided hike, a forest photography workshop, educational programs at the Pactola Visitor Center and a campground sing-along will be taking place next week to showcase some of the amazing outdoor opportunities that can be found within the Black Hills National Forest.

Upcoming Programs:

Thursday, July 13, 1 – 2 p.m. – Junior Forest Ranger Program/Animal Tracks (Pactola Visitor Center): Bring the kids to the Pactola Visitor Center for an afternoon of making plaster animal tracks. Yep…your little Junior Forest Rangers will get kind of dirty, but they will have fun learning about wildlife in the Black Hills National Forest. Take part in a scavenger hunt inside the visitor center, view the exhibits and displays, and just enjoy the afternoon overlooking the Pactola Reservoir. Earn a badge too!

Saturday, July 15, 1 – 5 p.m. – Outdoor Photography Workshop (Pactola Visitor Center): Meet at the Pactola Visitor Center for an afternoon of photography skills/training, then take to the field to capture some images. Marty DeWitt, professional photographer, will share the basics of exposure, lighting, composition and introduce participants to different types of equipment used for nature photography. An evening session related to night sky images is available in the Pactola Campground at 8 p.m. Registration is required by Thursday, July 13 by calling (605) 673-9200.

Saturday, July 15, 1 – 2 p.m. – Junior Forest Ranger Program/Animal Outhouses (Pactola Visitor Center): Dissecting owl pellets is a fun and interesting way to learn about food chains, habitats and how scientists collect and use data. Bring your Junior Forest Rangers to the visitor center for a fun story and then explore an owl pellet like a wildlife biologist.

Saturday, July 15, 7:30 p.m. – Campfire Sing-Alongs – Songbird of the Black Hills (Reuter Campground): Songbird of the Black Hills (Sally Svenson) is sharing an evening of campfire music featuring several Black Hills stories behind her original songs…with sing-along tunes included. If you are looking for a weekend camping experience in the Bearlodge Mountains, head to Reuter Campground for a nostalgic night around the fire pit.

National Forest Week™ Photo Contest: The National Forest Foundation is hosting a photography contest for the general public, and images can be submitted through National Forest Week Photo Contest, http://www.nationalforests.org. Three categories are available: Landscape, Recreation and Youth Photographer. NOTE: The contest is available from Monday, July 10, 2023 to midnight (MT) on July 16, 2023.

Free outdoor photography workshop

For National Forest Week (July 10-16, 2023), the Black Hills National Forest will be offering an Outdoor Photography Workshop on Saturday, July 15 from 1-5 p.m. at the Pactola Visitor Center and surrounding reservoir. 

The Forest is teaming up with Forest Recreation Management (FRM) to host this free educational event. Photographer Marty DeWitt is conducting the workshop and has been involved with photography for nearly 50 years. 

His main interests are nature, wildlife and landscapes and he occasionally shoots portraits, weddings and special events.

For the upcoming Outdoor Photography Workshop, participants will learn the basics of exposure, lighting, composition and be introduced to different types of equipment used for nature photography.

The first portion will be a classroom presentation using Marty’s images to illustrate the different concepts. The group will then hit the trails to practice what they have learned on a photo scavenger hunt.

Marty’s career included working for state parks in Vermont and South Dakota. His images have appeared in many issues of the South Dakota “Conservation Digest” and other Game, Fish and Parks publications and websites. 

He has also had photos published by the Rails to Trails Conservancy, L.L. Bean website, numerous calendars, local tourism guides, multi-media and theatrical productions, newspapers and CD and cassette tape covers. Marty is a long-time member (and current president) of the Sioux Falls Camera Club and has won many awards for his images on both the local and regional level.

In his retirement, Marty can be found teaching photo classes and leading workshops around the state.

For those interested, later in the evening, Marty will also conduct a Night Sky Photography Session at the Pactola Campground, where participants will learn the basics of night sky and Milky Way photography, with a bit of light painting.

For planning purposes, registration is required and should be made before Thursday, July 13 by contacting Bradley Block, Recreation Program Manager, at (605) 673-9200 or [email protected].

Participants will need to provide their own camera and related equipment. Participants should also dress for the weather conditions and be prepared for some field experiences in various areas near the Pactola Reservoir.

Hiking boots or sturdy shoes are recommended, along with sun protection such as wearing sunscreen or a ball cap. Furthermore, participants are also encouraged to bring their own water and snacks for the afternoon.

Thanks to our friends at the National Forest Foundation, National Forest Week is being celebrated across the country to attract attention to the 193-million-acre National Forest System and all the benefits it provides to the public. A photography contest is being held for interested photographers and the general public, and images can be submitted through National Forest Week Photo Contest. Three categories are available: Landscape, Recreation, and Youth Photographer.

For more information related to National Forest Week and upcoming programs and activities, please visit https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/national-forest-week.