Nebraska Dakotas Chapter ASLA

10/06/2026

Congratulations to Gretchen Wilson, FASLA, PLA, on becoming ASLA's 2026-2027 president! We look forward to a year of strengthening our profession and inspiring the next generation.

Read more about her vision below.

ASLA has installed Gretchen Wilson, FASLA, PLA, as president for the 2026–2027 term.

In her installation remarks, Wilson called on landscape architects to better understand the living systems they design within, listen deeply to the communities they serve, advocate confidently for their work, and share their knowledge with the next generation.

Meet ASLA’s 82nd president and read more about her vision for the year ahead. https://bit.ly/472TfW8

09/08/2026

Congratulations to all award recipients!

08/10/2026

Great work happening from our future landscape architects.

07/22/2026

We’re finally coming down from our 2026 NDC ASLA Conference high.

Rapid City gave us a pretty great few days. Good people, good conversations and plenty of time to get out and explore.

We may have gone to Reptile Gardens for the plants, but the animals definitely stole the show.

Thanks to everyone who made the trip and made the week such a good time. Here’s a little look back at the conference.

07/16/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐒𝐋𝐀

The 2026 NDC ASLA Conference starts tomorrow, and we are honored to welcome Brad McCauley, FASLA, PLA, ASLA President, to Rapid City.

Brad’s session, State of ASLA, will give attendees the opportunity to hear directly from national leadership about the current direction of ASLA and the future of the landscape architecture profession.

This is a special opportunity for our chapter to connect with the broader work happening across ASLA. Advocacy. Membership. Leadership. Professional growth. It all matters, and we are excited to have Brad join us for the conversation.

Join us in welcoming Brad to the Black Hills.

July 16–18
Rapid City, SD



Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nebraska-dakotas-2026-conference-attendees-tickets-1984392159367

07/15/2026

𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥

Join us for a field session at the 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 in Rapid City.

This session will explore the story, process, and meaning behind a living landscape created to honor 50 children and carry their memory forward.

Attendees will learn how public outreach, consensus building, cultural guidance, art, and storytelling shaped the memorial design. The session will also look at the coordination required to bring the project through construction while honoring the energy and significance of the site.

The field session will include a half-mile pilgrimage from the Memorial Plaza to the top of the hill where the children are laid to rest.

Featuring Bobbie Koch, Amy Sazue, Caleb Tschetter, ASLA, and Eirik Heikes, PLA, ASLA.

Join us July 16–18 in Rapid City, SD.



Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nebraska-dakotas-2026-conference-attendees-tickets-1984392159367

07/14/2026

Field Session Spotlight: Dinosaur Park Accessibility Improvements

Join us for a walking tour of one of Rapid City’s most recognizable historic landmarks.

This field session will explore the recent accessibility improvements at Dinosaur Park and how the design team navigated steep terrain, aging infrastructure, historic concrete sculptures, and modern safety standards.

Attendees will walk the accessible route and take a closer look at how access, preservation, safety, and spirit of place can come together in a beloved public space.

Join us July 16–18 in Rapid City, SD.



Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nebraska-dakotas-2026-conference-attendees-tickets-1984392159367

07/11/2026

𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬

Join us for a behind-the-scenes walk through Reptile Gardens with David Yahne, Curator of Horticulture.

This field session will give attendees a closer look at one of the Black Hills’ most unique horticultural landscapes. David will share how seasonal displays, tropical plantings, container compositions, and plant trials come together to create a vibrant destination landscape.

Attendees will also learn how the Reptile Gardens team manages design decisions, propagation, installation, and daily operations within a short growing season.

Join us July 16–18 in Rapid City, SD.



Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nebraska-dakotas-2026-conference-attendees-tickets-1984392159367

07/10/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

We’re excited to feature Gordon Lemmel at the 2026 NDC ASLA Conference this July!

Gordon’s session, Safety as a Design Responsibility, will explore how early design decisions can help create safer environments through CPTED principles and wildfire defensible space.

From visibility and spatial clarity to site layout and long-term maintenance, this session looks at how safety can be embedded directly into the landscape rather than treated as an afterthought.

Join us July 16–18 in Rapid City, SD.



Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nebraska-dakotas-2026-conference-attendees-tickets-1984392159367

07/09/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Join us for a collaborative session with Eirik Heikes, Jeremiah Bergstrom and Bobbie Koch at the 2026 NDC ASLA Conference.

This session will focus on outreach within our chapter and how we can help expand opportunities for Native Americans in landscape architecture.

Together, attendees will discuss the connections between culture, community, storytelling and the landscape architecture profession. The goal is to start building a strategy for outreach, collaboration and long-term support across our region.

Join us July 16–18 in Rapid City, SD.



Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nebraska-dakotas-2026-conference-attendees-tickets-1984392159367