FAQs

Powerful Experiences. Free (donation accepted).

FAQs

These excursions are not formally guided tours, rather volunteers from the church helping young adults learn to love the Hills.

Do understand there is risk of injury with occasional rough trails. While we don’t want to discourage anyone, it is important to acknowledge every hike has potential hazards, including twisted ankles, falls, ticks, poison ivy, or even rattlesnakes. Many areas are outside cell phone reach and may require extended time for emergency help. Each hike will vary in difficulty, so we try to describe as best we can the level of rigor needed to participate. It is up to you to determine what you can handle–if you have concerns it is probably best not to participate.  

Preregistration is required; to register for the workshops or trecx we will ask for your name, phone/text number, email, and address. Registering is important as we may have last-minute cancellations due to the weather. This list is not shared or sold with anyone outside Rapid City First church but may be used internally for promoting similar events. Photos may be taken during the trecx, so if privacy is a sensitive issue you may want to consider not participating. 

Our intent is to build an outdoor community, not just offer hikes. If you register, please make every effort to participate. If you cannot make an event you registered for, contact us as soon as possible.  We may have waiting lists, so no-shows prevent others from being able to participate. Anyone can register regardless of how long you have lived in the area, but we may prioritize people who are new to the area if space is limited. 

While everyone participating is an adult, we ask everyone stay together until the hike is finished so we can monitor the group–then you can depart or stay longer as you wish. If you must leave early, please check out with the lead volunteer prior to departing the group. No one under the influence of drugs or alcohol may participate. 

Most hikes can involve intense sun with little relief (especially at higher elevations) so sunscreen and head coverings are highly recommended. You may also want to use insect repellent for ticks. Bringing water is crucial, and bringing a small snack or protein bar is a good idea. Most hikes require shoes with better grip than tennis shoes (no loose sandals or flip/flops). Higher elevations are often cooler so bringing a pullover or jacket is recommended.