Hitting the Mark for Future Generations
Harlan Osterloo, Electrical Designer
The Outdoor Campus East in Sioux Falls is in the middle of a major two‑phase expansion to better serve the area’s fast‑growing community. Nearly 30 years after opening, the Outdoor Campus—part of South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks—launched this $7 million investment with support from donors across the region. A 2022 study is helping guide the work as construction continues, bringing upgraded facilities and new opportunities for outdoor learning and community engagement.
Phase 1 wrapped up in 2024 and brought a new outdoor archery range, added storage space, and spectator seating on the west side of the campus.
Phase 2 is now under construction and will bring even more improvements, including a 5,000‑square‑foot indoor range with 12 shooting lanes, a 20‑yard range for archery and BB guns, three new classrooms, updated restrooms, outdoor grilling space, and a refreshed bird‑viewing area with an aerated, heated pond. This phase also includes a 13,000‑square‑foot expansion of the main facility to support the new indoor archery center, classrooms, and storage, plus updates to about 6,000 square feet of existing space like the theater, classrooms, kitchen, and restrooms.
Beyond the building upgrades, the expansion plays a key role in strengthening the outdoorsmen community in eastern South Dakota. The enhanced archery spaces—both indoor and outdoor—create year‑round training opportunities for hunters and shooting‑sports enthusiasts of all ages. More classroom space means expanded hunter education, safety courses, and hands‑on skills workshops that help introduce new participants to outdoor traditions. And improvements to the bird‑viewing area and natural features support conservation education, giving families and outdoor enthusiasts more ways to connect with local wildlife. Altogether, the project supports the next generation of sportsmen and women while helping longtime outdoorsmen continue to sharpen their skills and stay engaged with the natural world.
Phase 2 construction is expected to be completed in early 2026.
Photos courtesy Stone Group Architects.
Harlan Osterloo, Electrical Designer, Sioux Falls
Harlan Osterloo has been an electrical designer with West Plains Engineering for more than 34 years. He is currently leading the electrical design and construction observation for the Archery Expansion project.
