Field Trips and Classroom Presentations

Fall 2026 Field Trip Dates

Tuesday, Sept. 29
Wednesday, Sept 30
Thursday, Oct 1
Wednesday, Oct 7
Thursday, Oct 8
Friday, Oct 9
Tuesday, Oct 20
Thursday, Oct 22
Friday, Oct 23
Tuesday, Oct 27
Thursday, Oct 29

BROWSE FIELD TRIPS AND PRESENTATIONS

A Day in the Life

Take a peek into the daily operations of an underground research facility. How do scientists, researchers, and staff in other roles get underground? What do they wear? and What exactly do they do?
- Early Elementary
- Upper Elementary
A Most Magnificent Machine

Searching for dark matter is hard. Help students understand why doing hard things is important (and awesome!) We discuss perseverance and difficulty through the story of the search for dark matter.
- Early Elementary
- Upper Elementary
A Universe of Opportunities- Careers at SURF

Discover the wide range of skills, and people, required to make a research facility successful. Think about your own talents and how they could support the cutting-edge science taking place at SURF.
- Middle School
An Introduction to Sanford Underground Research Facility

Take a peek into the daily operations of an underground research facility. How do scientists, researchers, and staff in other roles get underground? What do they wear? and What exactly do they do?
- Early Elementary
Cavern Excavation Challenge

Discover the geotechnical challenges associated with underground excavation as you, and a partner, attempt to excavate mock rock and create a cavern specifically designed to house a model detector.
- High School
- Middle School
Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ

Visit a garden filled with plants native to the local area. These plants have been used for food, medicine, art, and special ceremonies.
Dark Matter–It's A Matter of Gravity!

Does dark matter actually exist, or is gravity wrong? Apply your understanding of the effects of gravity to investigate the scientific phenomena used to support the dark matter theory and decide.
- Middle School
Exploring the Universe Through Light

The detection of light is a very powerful tool for exploring the universe, but what happens if something does not interact with light? Learn how scientists are attempting to study dark matter.
- High School
- Middle School
From Au to Xe (Gold to Xenon): The Homestake Story

Explore the unfolding of significant events that paved the way for the Sanford Underground Research Facility, and discover how the transition from mining to research continues to shape the future.
- Upper Elementary
Geology of the Open Cut

Like pages in a book, the rock layers in the Open Cut tell a story about the geologic history and dynamic processes that shaped the Northern Black Hills and paved the way for underground science.
- Middle School
- Upper Elementary
Hoist Engineering Challenge

The challenge…work with a team and use your engineering skills to design, test, and build a system that is capable of lifting a load (weight) up a pvc tube (shaft) using only the materials provided.
- Upper Elementary
Hoistroom Tour

Grab your hardhats! This walking tour will introduce your students to the heart of the system that makes it possible to transport people, and equipment, nearly one mile underground.

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