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A large group of families waves from a layered rock formation in the South Dakota Badlands during a guided family adventure.
South Dakota

Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse & the Badlands With Your Family

Program No. 4752RJ
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Keystone, SD
Program Concludes
Keystone, SD
Meals
13 ( 5B, 3L, 5D )
Activity Level
From
2,599 /Adult
1,599 /Child
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Did you know that most of the 400 men and women who carved out the presidential faces of Mount Rushmore were miners who came to the Black Hills looking for gold? Did you know that they used dynamite and jackhammers to carve the faces? And did you know that they had a pretty good amateur baseball team? Learn all about the history and significance of Mount Rushmore and the massive Crazy Horse Memorial on a trip with your family to South Dakota! Go horseback riding, splash in a historic warm water spring, visit a mammoth sink hole and learn how to pan for gold. And at the end of a day of adventure, share stories around an open fire while you learn, laugh and create memories for both generations.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Take a chairlift up to a ridge for a special view of Mount Rushmore and feel the wind in your hair as you zip back down on the alpine slide!
  • Saddle up for a Western trail ride, and discover ancient fossils and lunar-like deposits in the Badlands.
  • Experience Custer State Park’s “wildlife loop” in search of buffalo, pronghorns, begging burros and bighorn sheep.
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See Related Programs
National ParksFamily ProgramsNature & EnvironmentAges 8 and up
General Notes
This is a Family program for participants, their adult children and grandchildren ages 8 and up. For a comparable intergenerational adventure for just grandparents and grandchildren, check out "Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse & the Badlands With Your Grandchild" (#15968). Photos of Crazy Horse Memorial were taken by Road Scholar with permission granted by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.
Featured Expert
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Robert Gerald Yellowhawk
Robert Yellowhawk, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, shares his culture through traditional Northern style men's dance. Alongside his children Mia, Lianna, and Robert Jr., who perform fancy shawl, jingle dress, and junior boys' traditional style dances, they bring the vibrant Lakota heritage to life for visitors in Rapid City, SD. Pursuing an MBA at Creighton University, Robert has dedicated 14 years to Rural America Initiatives, starting as a youth mentor and now serving as the business manager.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Robert Yellowhawk, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, shares his culture through traditional Northern style men's dance. Alongside his children Mia, Lianna, and Robert Jr., who perform fancy shawl, jingle dress, and junior boys' traditional style dances, they bring the vibrant Lakota heritage to life for visitors in Rapid City, SD. Pursuing an MBA at Creighton University, Robert has dedicated 14 years to Rural America Initiatives, starting as a youth mentor and now serving as the business manager.
Eric Grinager is a native-born son of South Dakota. He has his undergraduate degree in elementary education and physical education and a master’s in theology. Eric served several churches across South Dakota for over 40 years. During those years in ministry, he also counseled and was a dean for camps for all ages. Eric’s hobbies center around sports, including golf, officiating basketball games, and hiking and biking in the Black Hills.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 1 mile per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over varied terrain including sidewalks, boardwalks, dirt trails and groomed paths. Standing between 2 to 4 hours per day. Program will require approximately 2.5 miles of walking over 4 days. Extent and duration of walking during independent exploration is according to personal choice. Elevations between 3,200 and 5,300 feet. Must be able to use stairs in order to navigate field trip sites. Optional horseback riding for 1 hour requires ability to mount/dismount a horse with use of a mounting block; horseback riding is suitable for beginners. Wagon ride requires stepping up into a wheeled cart to access bench seating. Optional alpine slide requires ability to sit on wheeled sled with self-regulating speed. Transportation requires boarding and disembarking the motorcoach with unavoidable use of stairs. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities (optional program activities excluded).
Family Program
Share your love of learning with your family. These programs are designed for any combination of generations: grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents and children.
Suggested Books and Resources
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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Call 800-454-5768
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

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Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

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Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

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Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

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  • Peace of Mind

    We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

    An illustration of a hand using a pen to check off the final item on a clipboard checklist
  • Assurance Plan

    Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

    An illustration of an elderly man sitting at a computer with a pair of binoculars beside him
  • Want to Protect Your Investment?

    Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

    An illustration of an elderly woman holding a piggy bank, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
  • Sustainable Travel

    We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

    An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it
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