Jane Amiotte SDSU Extension

05/18/2026

Reserve your spot today and join us for a fun recreational adventure while gaining hands-on skills you can use for years to come.
Spots are filling fast—reserve yours today!

05/12/2026

At the library today.

Are You My Mother?

A baby bird goes and looks for his mother and finds a lot of animals and even planes, boats and a ‘snort’ who was not his mother.

The youth made their own bird at the end.

05/08/2026

My entry in the Endangered Species Day Chalk Art Contest.

American Burying Beetle

Join me and enter yours here:

https://www.endangered.org/endangered-species-chalk-art-event/

04/28/2026

Here is an Art Contest sponsored by the Prairie Hills Audubon Society.

Celebrate Nature through Art
The National Audubon Society is named after John James Audubon who was a great artist as well as a naturalist, who documented many birds with paintings, in the 1800s. We realize many folks who love nature are also artists, often in different mediums.

Prairie Hills Audubon Society thus has an objective to “celebrate nature through art” and below we let you know of some contests related to nature & art and about an opportunity to share photos for science..

Here is a hyperlink to J.J. Audubon’s “Birds of America” plates – that show many of his paintings. These posted images are a little faded in color relative to the originals:

https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america

======================================================

Endangered Species Coalition – Chalk Art Competition
ESC normally has some art related events each year related to
Endangered Species Day. Endangered Species Day in the third Friday in
May (every year) and Prairie Hills Audubon Society and other western SD
groups will host a face-to-face celebration or Zoom meeting or other
events around May, 15th and/or May, 16th 2025. We hope to integrate some art events related to endangered species this spring (2026) into our yearly spring celebration of endangered species.

CHALK ART COMPETITION – DRAWING ENDANGERED SPECIES

Each year the Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) have a
chalk art competition – where folks draw endangered species in chalk on
sidewalks or elsewhere. For 2025 competition’s details – https://www.endangered.org/endangered-species-chalk-art-event/ . The Endangered Species Coalition is planning this competition again in 2026.

Prairie Hills Audubon Society has applied for and received from the National Audubon Society a $1,000 grant to work on the 2026 Chalk Art Competition. We have money buy chalk to distribute free, establish a new prize category and help defray costs of any events we plan, related to creating chalk art.

We hope to have some chalk drawing events to participate in this contest of the Coalition. If anyone is a teacher, recreation
leader, Art Guild member, or other person interested in helping children/adults to compete in this competition, contact Nancy at 605-787-6466 or 787-2806 (cell) or [email protected].

We give you data below on other historic Endangered Species Coalitions art events – Competitions for art work created in traditional media – a competition held in 2022, & in 2023. They did not have this competition in 2025 and substituted a “Collaborating For Biodiversity” Art Contest instead. They won’t have that event in 2026, due to staff shortage, but may again in the future. Here is link to 2025 announcement of that: https://www.endangered.org/collaboratingforbidiversity/







Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest
The Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) announcement of old historic Art events/contests – that were discontinued.,

https://www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/saving-endangered-species-youth-art-contest/

Announcing New Projects for 2023:Endangered Species Act at 50Collaborative Art In honor of ESA at 50 celebrations, we’re excited to announce that in 2023 we will temporarily switch our individual artist focused Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest to a…

04/25/2026

The April library classes-

Frogs and Toads
What plants need to live
Parts of a flower

Spring is on its way and we’ll be ready (after this last snow melts)

04/08/2026

🌞 Outdoor Summer Readiness Daycamps — NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION! 🌿
Don’t wait—spaces will fill up fast!
Get youth Beyond Ready through hands‑on, outdoor experiences that build life skills, confidence, and workforce readiness.
📅 Camp Dates & Details
📍 June 18, 2026 | Outlaw Ranch – Custer, SD
Challenge Course & Trail Ride
Youth develop essential life and workforce skills through experiential, outdoor learning that builds confidence, communication, and leadership.
📍 July 9, 2026 | Custer State Park – Sylvan Lake
Rock Climbing with Sylvan Rocks 🧗
→ Problem‑Solving & Risk Management
Rock climbing is a gold mine for workforce readiness language—teaching goal setting, decision‑making, and perseverance.
📍 July 23, 2026 | Custer State Park – Center Lake
Canoeing at Center Lake 🚣
→ Teamwork, Navigation & Environmental Literacy
Paddling is experiential education at its best.
“Youth learn to navigate challenges—literally and figuratively—while building teamwork, environmental awareness, and confidence in outdoor settings.”
💲 Cost: $10 per youth, per event
📞 Registration Information
Call or stop by the office to reserve your spot.
➡️ No reservations are held until payment is received.
📋 Important Notes for Parents
• Additional release forms will be required and must be completed before each event
• Bring a lunch and a filled water bottle
• No nuts allowed!
🎒 Come ready to explore, learn, and experience the best the Hills have to offer!

03/17/2026

Found some leprechauns at the library today!

02/25/2026

Back by popular demand... Native Garden Classes with Kenzie Miller from TerraSite Design at Aqua and Acre Market! 🌻🌱👩‍🌾

What: Learn the basics of design and layout for your yard! The focus is on xeriscaped and native plant species that are drought tolerant in our area. Classes are small so you can bring your questions and get some assistance in planning your water-saving yard.

Where: Aqua & Acre Market, downtown: 614 St. Joseph St.

When: Thursday, Feb. 19 @ 5:30 pm or Tuesday, March 10 5:30 pm

Tickets: $12, available online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/native-garden-class-w-kenzie-miller-from-terrasite-design-two-dates-tickets-1981894214948?aff=ebdiglgoogleliveevents&source=ev

02/24/2026

02/24/2026

A Girl's adventure day at Wind Cave

“It's always fun to get out & see friends from past events and make new ones while enjoying the great outdoors!” —2025 Participant