We know that travel is a very personal experience, and we recognize that each school is bringing its passions, interests and goals to the table. For this reason, we don’t use templated itineraries that assume all tour groups are identical. Instead, Kids Beyond Borders works with teachers to create a custom itinerary that best fits the group, in hopes that the experience will make a meaningful and lasting impact on each student.
The itinerary below is a sample of what you can expect from an educational travel program with Kids Beyond Borders. Each group’s specific itinerary will be determined once they meet with a Kids Beyond Borders trip advisor.
Isaac has an authentic passion for helping people, and that’s why he chose to work with Kids Beyond Borders. He really enjoys seeing the amazement on kids faces when they experience new destinations, cultures, or foods.
When he’s not spreading the word about Kids Beyond Borders or leading one of our awesome trips, he’s representing the people of his state in the South Dakota House of Representatives or solving computer problems at his technology solutions company. Isaac also enjoys substitute teaching and youth mentoring in his free time.
This sample itinerary does not reflect the order of activities in your specific tour.
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore brings students face-to-face with four of America’s most iconic presidents. The Presidential Trail is the star attraction at this national landmark, but students can also visit the Sculptor’s Studio to learn more about the carving process.
Fort Hays Old West Town Dinner & Show
Students will get a taste of the American West at the Fort Hays Old West Town Dinner & Show. After touring the set of the Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, students can watch craftsmen at work on the boardwalk, making everything from tin plates to lasso ropes.
South Dakota Badlands
The colorful spires and pinnacles of Badlands National Park offer unique insights into the earth’s geoscience processes. Students may glimpse wildlife amidst the deep gorges and tall buttes, while the park’s fossil collection offers a unique view of extinct creatures, from saber-toothed cats to three-toed horses.
Wind Cave National Park
At Wind Cave National Park, students can explore one of the longest and most complicated caves in the world. They’ll learn about the geological processes that shape the intricate and beautiful formations found inside the cave, and about the rhythms of the surrounding ecosystem.
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
The galleries and exhibits at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum will take students on a tour through science, engineering, and history. The museum’s collection of vintage military aircraft and missiles offers a unique insight into the innovation of aviation.
Rushmore Tramway Adventures
Students will have a blast learning about gravity at Rushmore Tramway Adventures, whether racing down an 800-foot zipline, descending the 2,000-foot alpine slide on a wheeled sled, or walking off the edge of a 60- foot jump tower to experience the thrill of free fall.
Reptile Gardens
Biology will come to life as never before when students get the chance to handle a python or pet Fluffy, the baby alligator. The gentle giant tortoises offer a slower change of pace, along with a selfie opportunity. Students will also enjoy the bird show, prairie dog town, and beautiful gardens.
Crazy Horse Memorial
Students can view the progress of world’s largest sculptural undertaking, a memorial of Lakota leader Crazy Horse, while learning about the painstaking process of carving a mountain. The onsite Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center house showcase Native American cultural heritage.
Mammoth Site
The Mammoth Site brings students to the edges of an active dig, where the fossils of over 60 different mammoths have been found. Students can learn about the natural processes that lead to fossilization, as well as the painstaking archaeological efforts to unearth these treasures from the path. The Mammoth Site features hands-on activities for young scientists, and an exhibit hall with full-size replicas of mammoths and other creatures from the Ice Age.
DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore brings students face-to-face with four of America’s most iconic presidents. The Presidential Trail is the star attraction at this national landmark, but students can also visit the Sculptor’s Studio to learn more about the carving process.
Fort Hays Old West Town Dinner & Show
Students will get a taste of the American West at the Fort Hays Old West Town Dinner & Show. After touring the set of the Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, students can watch craftsmen at work on the boardwalk, making everything from tin plates to lasso ropes.
DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS
Badlands National Park
The colorful spires and pinnacles of Badlands National Park offer unique insights into the earth’s geoscience processes. Students may glimpse wildlife amidst the deep gorges and tall buttes, while the park’s fossil collection offers a unique view of extinct creatures, from saber-toothed cats to three-toed horses.
Wind Cave National Park
At Wind Cave National Park, students can explore one of the longest and most complicated caves in the world. They’ll learn about the geological processes that shape the intricate and beautiful formations found inside the cave, and about the rhythms of the surrounding ecosystem.
DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
The galleries and exhibits at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum will take students on a tour through science, engineering, and history. The museum’s collection of vintage military aircraft and missiles offers a unique insight into the innovation of aviation.
DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS
Rushmore Tramway Adventures
Students will have a blast learning about gravity at Rushmore Tramway Adventures, whether racing down an 800-foot zipline, descending the 2,000-foot alpine slide on a wheeled sled, or walking off the edge of a 60- foot jump tower to experience the thrill of free fall.
Reptile Gardens
Biology will come to life as never before when students get the chance to handle a python or pet Fluffy, the baby alligator. The gentle giant tortoises offer a slower change of pace, along with a selfie opportunity. Students will also enjoy the bird show, prairie dog town, and beautiful gardens.
DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS
Crazy Horse Memorial
Students can view the progress of world’s largest sculptural undertaking, a memorial of Lakota leader Crazy Horse, while learning about the painstaking process of carving a mountain. The onsite Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center house showcase Native American cultural heritage.
Mammoth Site
The Mammoth Site brings students to the edges of an active dig, where the fossils of over 60 different mammoths have been found. Students can learn about the natural processes that lead to fossilization, as well as the painstaking archaeological efforts to unearth these treasures from the path. The Mammoth Site features hands-on activities for young scientists, and an exhibit hall with full-size replicas of mammoths and other creatures from the Ice Age.