South Dakota
Native America:
Frontier Faces
This 10-day interdisciplinary biking expedition to South Dakota’s Mickelson Trail affords students the chance to explore the rich natural, historical, and cultural contours of this spectacular and complex western landscape that is the ancestral home of the Lakota Sioux. In addition to acquiring an array of expeditionary biking skills, students will visit Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks, Crazy Horse and Wounded Knee memorials, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore as they ponder the multiple historic and cultural perspectives endemic to this region. Students will return to campus with a more nuanced understanding of Indigenous history in the West, of the myriad issues facing the people who call this place home, and of how these stories might offer new, powerful ways of thinking about our own home places, wherever they are.
Program Notes
- As part of Deerfield’s commitment to face-to-face interactions, during certain times of the program students will be “unplugged” without access to cell phones.
- This program ends during the summer break. Families are responsible for transportation from the arrival U.S.-based airport at the end of the program to the student’s destination for the remainder of the break.
- Students and faculty leaders will update families and friends at home through our Notes From The Field blog.
Program Dates
May 25 – June 3, 2026
Program Eligibility
This program is open to all current ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students, but students must be able to ride a bicycle. Financial Aid is available to all qualifying students.
Please note that this program overlaps with the following:
- Rowing Training season (May 28 – June 11)
Program Snapshot
Accommodations: Hotels & camping sites (4 days hotels, 4 days camping sites)
Meals: Group meals at hotels, restaurants, and camp sites.
Activities: This program will include a high level of physical activity in the form of biking with various site visits. This program will take place primarily outdoors.
Faculty program Leaders
Jan Flaska
Estimated Cost: $4,000
All meals, transportation, accommodations, and activities during the program dates are included in the program fee.
2026 Preliminary Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
The program begins in Rapid City, where students will gather before heading to Pine Ridge – a Lakota Reservation – and then on to a multi-day cycling and cultural journey. Early highlights include a shakeout ride through Badlands National Park, camping at Sage Creek, and meaningful visits to the Pine Ridge Reservation and Wounded Knee Memorial. From there, students will ride sections of the Mickelson Trail, beginning in Edgemont and traveling north through Pringle and Custer, while experiencing the natural beauty and history of the region. Along the way, they will camp at Plenty Star Ranch and spend nights in hotels or campsites that showcase the diversity of South Dakota’s landscapes.
As the ride continues, students will combine outdoor adventure with cultural and historical exploration. Stops include Wind Cave National Monument, Hot Springs, a hike up Black Elk Peak, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Mount Rushmore. The journey culminates with longer stretches on the Mickelson Trail, including rides from Hill City to Dumont and finally into Deadwood, where students will have time to explore the historic town. The program concludes with a return to Rapid City for departure, leaving students with both physical achievement and a deeper appreciation of the cultural and natural heritage of the Black Hills region.
Health & Safety
We take student health and safety seriously. Please review the resources and information below as you consider applying for the program.
Travel Medicine Advisory Letter
A letter from Dr. Bryant Benson provides important guidance on health preparations for travel. View Letter