NPS Photo by Mike Landrum

Ranger in Wind Cave

The park provides educational tours or field trips of the cave throughout the year. These tours last about 1 1/2 hours. Teachers may also arrange topic specific field trips or environmental education programs. To arrange a trip to Wind Cave please call 605-745-4600. 

The park's Environmental Education program "Connections" is offered in May only.  The program allows students and teachers to discover relationships between the mixed-grass prairie, the ponderosa pine forest, the cave, the plants, and the animals that live in these unique habitats, and themselves.

Students generally spend most of the school day at the park, with the program lasting 4 to 5 hours. The program includes pre- and post-visit activities.

The park also offers Water in the Environment, a comprehensive hydrology program that involves students in activities that will provide them with an understanding of the water cycle. These hands-on activities demonstrate how much of the planet is made of water and how scarce fresh water is. This program is also offered in May and students generally spend 4 to 5 hours in the park. Pre- and post-visit activities are provided to the teachers.

The programs are designed to reinforce classroom studies and can be adjusted to coincide with particular school subjects. There are no fees to participate in the Connections or Hydrology programs.