Exploring the Outdoors near Siouxland, the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD

It was a pleasant surprise on a recent visit to Sioux falls, SD that I came across a park in the confines of this city titled “The Outdoor Campus”. The state parks department created a small nature center within the city for people to put aside the hustle and bustle and enjoy some solitude for a moment or so and get lost on this campus.

Trails lead visitors around the area of the Backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Children return from a hike on a trail in the Backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

This campus also has what is referred to as “The Backyard” where people can walk trails and children can a explore a more nature friendly environment. The campus is located across the street from the Butterfly House and Aquarium and a park where it’s all nicely packaged into one area one could easily spend a major portion of the day enjoying nature. A that might not be a bad idea.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

The Backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Parents and children explore a discovery area in the Backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A young woman laughs after checking out photos taken by a friend in the Backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fall is seen along a trail in the Backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A rapture sits at the top of a tree in the backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Trails lead visitors around the area of the Backyard along water ponds and through a small forest of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A sign posted in the discovery area of the Backyard of the State of South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Dept. Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Exploring north of Siouxland at the Marine Cove, Sioux Falls, SD

On a trip outside of Siouxland proper I visited Sioux Falls, SD, roughly an hour north of Sioux City. I previously talked about visiting the Butterfly House there. Housed in the same building is also a small marine aquarium. it wasn’t very busy the day I visited and so it was fun to just hang out and look at the various aquatic life there and watch in awe at some of these small creatures.

A variety of marine life including soft corals, clownfish, anemones, seastars and sea urchins, jellyfish and sharks and stingrays can be seen in the Marine Cove of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A variety of marine life including soft corals, clownfish, anemones, seastars and sea urchins, jellyfish and sharks and stingrays can be seen in the Marine Cove of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It was fun too to watch families with children as the kids could get a bit “interactive” with one of the exhibits.

Grandparents snap photos of their grandchildren while visiting the Marine Cove of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It is nice not to have to travel too far outside of Siouxland to visit other attractions and enjoy the amenities that larger communities offer within a relatively easy drive.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Jellyfish swim in a tank in the Marine Cove of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A variety of marine life including soft corals, clownfish, anemones, seastars and sea urchins, jellyfish and sharks and stingrays can be seen in the Marine Cove of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

in the Marine Cove of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seeing Butterflies in Siouxland, Sioux Falls, SD

I visited Sioux Falls, SD recently, a northern neighbor to Siouxland and quite the bustling metropolis. Always looking for something new to visit I found out about a butterfly house and aquarium marine cove hidden in a park. The Butterfly House and Aquarium was a bit of a delight. There are roughly 800 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa that fly freely about in the butterfly house which makes it an interesting walk about in the small enclosure.

A mom and her daughter check out a butterfly that landed on her are in the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Roughly 800 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa fly freely within the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The particular I went was not extremely warm so I personally didn’t find the temperature inside with the butterflies to be overly stifling due to high humidity which I assume these particular species of butterfly enjoy.

A small waterfall adds to the ambience in the Butterfly House at the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Roughly 800 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa fly freely within the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It was fun to watch people’s reactions as the butterflies landed on one or swooped nearby chasing one another. One also had to be mindful of some small “button” quail a docent had told me also live there and brought in to deal with an ant problem.

The Butterfly House also has a few “button” quail, an Asian variety, a docent called them to help with an ant problem at the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It’s fun to study nature up close that you know won’t readily hurt you and to watch these graceful creatures fly about their habitat.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Butterfly eggs on a plant leaf in the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A butterfly lands on the shoulder of a docent in the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Roughly 800 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa fly freely within the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Roughly 800 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa fly freely within the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Families wander through the Butterfly House and check out the many varieties flying about at the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A number of butterflies feeding on fruit as roughly 800 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa fly freely within the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Roughly 800 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa fly freely within the Butterfly House of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls, SD Saturday Sept. 23, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)