The South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation (SDPWF) is proud to announce the student finalists for the first-of-its-kind Youth Visions & Voices of the Outdoors Essay and Art Contests, celebrating the meaningful ways young South Dakotans connect with the outdoors.
These contests invited students to reflect on how parks, wildlife, and outdoor recreation shape their experiences, memories, and perspectives, helping ensure the next generation values and protects South Dakota’s great places.
Essay Finalists (in no particular order):
Amanda G. – Volga Christian School
Moriah K. – Homeschool (Baltic)
Abby W. – Hitchcock-Tulare
Bentlee N. – Hitchcock-Tulare
Peter H. – Homeschool (Huron)
Emma D. – Flandreau Middle School
Heaven R. – American Horse School
Kendall S. – American Horse School
Grace C. – Spearfish Middle School
Claire J. – Spearfish Middle School
Art Finalists (in no particular order):
Bailey B. – Watertown High School
Caitlyn B. – Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls)
Isabella M. – Freedom Ranch Academy (Freeman)
Johan G. – Spearfish High School
Bennett K. – Spearfish High School
Taycee Z. – Spearfish High School
Abbigail H. – Spearfish High School
Cecilia H. – St. Thomas More (Rapid City)
Hannah F. – Chamberlain Schools
Patricia O. – Homeschool (Hot Springs)
Finalists will be honored at the Youth Visions & Voices of the Outdoors Showcase on May 8 at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, where essay finalists will present their work, artwork will be on display, and overall winners for each contest will be announced.
Each finalist will receive:
An invitation to attend and be recognized at the Showcase event
Lodging in Rapid City the night of May 8
A $50 gas card
A South Dakota State Park Pass
In addition, the overall winner of each contest will receive a $500 Scheels gift card to support their continued outdoor adventures.
To recognize the important role educators play in inspiring students, each teacher who submitted entries will also receive a South Dakota State Park Pass.
“These students remind us why our mission matters,” said Kristina Coby, Executive Director of the South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation. “Through their words and artwork, they show how outdoor experiences shape lives, create lasting memories, and inspire a lifelong connection to our parks and wildlife.”
The Youth Visions & Voices of the Outdoors program reflects SDPWF’s mission to enhance outdoor recreation for future generations by engaging young people and encouraging them to share their unique perspectives on South Dakota’s outdoor spaces. The Showcase event is made possible in part through the Beautiful Black Hills Fund at the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and will serve as the first installment of the Journey Museum’s “Love the Outdoors Series.”