Homeschool benefits and savings in Sioux Falls
The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, run by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, offers free classes only for children who are currently homeschooled, with 13 sessions on its fall 2026 schedule from kayaking to owl pellet dissection. Register your child online before each class; parents come along but do not register.
Who qualifies
Is currently homeschooled
Homeschool programs are open to students who are currently being homeschooled. Students in a traditional classroom use the separate school field trip programs.
Is registered for the class
Pre-registration is required for every class. Register only your children, not yourself, so more students can attend.
Has a signed waiver
Every participant must sign a waiver before attending class.
What the program gives you
The terms come from the Outdoor Campus 2026 Fall Homeschool Programs booklet.
- Class fee
- Free
- Fall 2026 classes, September to November
- 13
- Fall classes still ahead on Oct. 12
- 7
- Fall registration opened
- Aug. 19
- Ages served
- All ages
Many programs fill quickly, so cancel online or call as soon as you know your child cannot attend.
How to sign up
- Before registering
Read the booklet
Download the fall or spring homeschool booklet from the Outdoor Campus page to see class topics, dates, and times.
- When registration opens
Register each child
Sign up through the online registration system or on the public computer at the Outdoor Campus, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fall 2026 registration opened August 19 at 8:00 a.m.
- Before class
Sign the waiver
Every participant signs a waiver before attending.
- Class day
Attend with your child
Classes usually last 1 to 1.5 hours and meet at 4500 South Oxbow Avenue in Sertoma Park, Sioux Falls, and parents should stay with their children.
What it includes
Included
- Nature and outdoor skills classes
- Fishing, paddling, and BB gun range sessions
- Hunting and trapping basics
- Equipment used in class
Not included
- Classes without pre-registration
- Parent registrations
Good to know
Help is available for account trouble
Call Brandt at 800-238-4168 for help with the registration system, or sign up on the public computer at the Outdoor Campus during weekday hours.
Who to contact about homeschool classes
Derek Klawitter is the Group and Homeschool Coordinator, and the front desk answers class questions Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
TOC@state.sd.us 605-362-2777 Program registration
Homeschool rules and statewide help in South Dakota
You must file an alternative-instruction notification with the Department of Education or local district within 30 days of starting. Update it within 30 days of moving or returning to public or private school; no annual renewal is required.
South Dakota sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide instruction in language arts and mathematics and ensure the child masters English.
- Testing: No routine annual homeschool standardized test or score submission is required. Public-school reentry may involve testing.
- Records: South Dakota does not require homeschool records.
- Teachers: No state teaching certificate is required. No alternative instructor may instruct more than 22 children.
Read the South Dakota homeschooling guide See statewide programs in South Dakota
Questions parents ask
- What Outdoor Campus fall classes are left this year?
- Seven classes remain after October 12: Fishing Fun, Trees and Leaves, Spooky Season Extravaganza, BB Gun Basics, GPS Basics and Geocaches, Owls and Owl Pellet Dissection, and Deer Hunting, ending November 24.
- What does my child need before class?
- A signed waiver and a registration. Every participant signs a waiver before attending, and every class requires pre-registration.
- What if my child cannot make a class?
- Many programs fill quickly, so an open seat goes to another child.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject.
$149/month per child after the trial.
Find benefits for your ZIP code