NWTF, SDGFP and Partners Officially Break Ground on Expanded Outdoor Campus

“When the opportunity arose to be a part of this incredible effort, our state chapter board voted unanimously to approve funding to help with the expansion of the Outdoor Campus,” said Ron Schauer, South Dakota NWTF State Chapter board member. “It was great to join so many partners at the ceremony who are making this expansion possible. We look forward to welcoming many new people into our outdoor traditions via the increased opportunities.”

Since the Outdoor Campus’ inception, over 534,000 participants have enjoyed the department’s 21,000-plus free classes and events, including hands-on experiences in hunting, fishing, outdoor skills and conservation science. The NWTF East Dakota Chapter hosts its annual JAKES Day and committee meetings at the campus. The campus also provides mobility-assisted tract chairs for NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen hunts. The new two-phased expansion will greatly increase the scope of education and outreach events the department is able to host at the facility.

“The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls exists because of partnerships,” said David Parker, director of the Outdoor Campus. “Since its inception in 1997, with a key partnership with the City of Sioux Falls to be located in Sertoma Park, to the present 2024 Groundbreaking on Phase 1 of the Outdoor Campus Expansion project, partnerships have been quintessential. This most recent expansion is made possible through partnerships with the city of Sioux Falls for use of the land, the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation in conjunction with the Friends of the Outdoor Campus to fundraise, and of course the variety of donors who have gotten us to our near completion of fundraising ($2.7 million of a $3 million goal). We are so thankful to the variety of donors that have given to make this project a reality, including multiple donations from National Wild Turkey Federation through their (state chapter) Super Fund grant as well as local chapters: the Brandon Boss Gobblers and the East Dakota Chapter.”

This first phase is to build a covered, 60-yard outdoor shooting range. Attendees of the ceremony dug their shovels into the ground to break the first dirt for this addition. Users will enjoy the ability to use the range during rainy days thanks to the cover.

Similarly, the second phase will expand the Outdoor Campus building by 18,000 square feet to include all new amenities, such as a game-processing space with a walk-in cooler, two new classrooms and, among much more, a 5,000-sqaure-foot heated indoor shooting range, allowing the public to enjoy outdoor activities indoors during South Dakota’s often frigid winters. Moreover, Sioux Falls is South Dakota’s most populous city; the campus expansion will facilitate bringing the outdoors to new audiences by expanding the campus and overall opportunities opened for the public.

“One of the key things we are interested in is R3 (recruit, retain, reactivate hunters) and passing on our outdoor traditions, whether it is hunting, fishing, shooting or trapping,” Schauer said. “There are a lot of people from the area who don’t have the opportunity to try these things anywhere else. The expansion will only help in our efforts in welcoming people into our outdoor traditions.”  

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.