Outdoor Campus Letterbox

Placed: January 1, 2008 (when it was 2 degrees, and NW wind at 23--minus 21 degrees wind chill) by Walkers on West.
Location: Sertoma Park, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Sertoma Park

Sertoma Park is located in an old oxbow of the Sioux River. This site with its tree-lined oxbows and river environment offers an opportunity for increased awareness and understanding of the outdoors. It also offers an increase in participation in outdoor activities through a combination of program, exhibits and hands-on outdoor skills education (ref. plaque in the park). The park offers: Come for one, see them all.

Welcome to the Outdoor Campus

The Outdoor Campus is a unique joint venture of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks department with the City of Sioux Falls Park and Recreation department. There are lots of events and other family activities at the park.

Cross the river at the South East corner of Sertoma Park--across the old RR bridge, and meet the bicycle trail. Turn right (southeast); it is 7.5 miles to Falls Park Letterbox.

Here are driving directions to Sertoma Park.
    http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Education/OutdoorCampus/VisitorInfo.htm

Clues

Starting at the Outdoor Campus (the building) walk out the back (South) past the butterfly garden. Three paths radiate from one boulder at the Lingo bench. Take the south path 0.2 miles into the woods past the fishing pond on the right. There are some side paths, but you want the main path. Just before the path makes a sharp turn to the west, is a very large tree. Its two smaller trunks cross making an X. Go in there; turn around; come back out and cross the main path. There is a medium tree in front of a large tree ahead on your left. Look for the small tree behind the big tree.

Here’s a map of the Outdoor Campus Walking trails.
    http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Education/OutdoorCampus/trailmap.pdf

Letterbox Instructions

Since this park sometimes floods keeping park naturalists from their offices, the letterbox house is eye-height to a ten-year old. Pull the perch to release the letterbox. When you replace the box, replace the perch for a secure hold; it seats in the back panel.