Custer State Park, SD
A Christian Ministry in the National Parks Involvement
What We Do
ACMNP in Custer provides:
- Christian fellowship activities for visitors, residents, and employees
- Leadership development for ministry team members and seminarians
- Positive relationships among seasonal co-workers and internationals
- Pastoral care during emergencies
Interdenominational Services of Worship
Ministry teams lead interdenominational services of worship on Sundays, pending approval from Custer State Park Resort.
- Blue Bell Lodge, outdoor chapel: 9:00 AM
- State Game Loge, chapel: 11:00 AM
- Sylvan Lake Lodge, veranda: 9:00 AM
Ministry Team Member Information
Our Custer State Park teams serve at three different locations: Blue Bell, State Game, and Sylvan Lake. The teams are typically comprised of two team members in each location. These sites are 7-20 miles apart from each other.
- Summer only
- Mentor not available for seminarians
- Catholic mass nearby for interested team members (with their own transportation)
Employment Information
Ministry team members seek employment from Custer State Park Resort either at Blue Bell Lodge, State Game Lodge, or Sylvan Lake Lodge, depending upon ministry assignment offered.
Dates:
- Preferred availability of mid-May through mid-August
Employee housing:
- Dorm-style with shared bath
- No married housing
Typical Jobs:
- Retail at gift shops
- Restaurant/food service
- Front desk
- Housekeeping
Transportation:
- Bringing a car is highly encouraged!
* If you are interested in serving in Custer as a ministry team member, you must first apply with ACMNP. To learn more about working and living in Custer State Park (including employee housing costs), please visit http://www2.coolworks.com/custer.
How YOU can get involved with ACMNP in Custer State Park
- Apply to serve as a ministry team member!
- Attend a service of worship during your next trip.
- Support our team by volunteering to serve on a local Ministry Support Committee.
- Contact us to learn more.
Information About The Park
Custer State Park is a rustic, remote, secluded area within the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Its 71,000 acres of granite spires and cliffs, gentle mountain summits, rolling green hills, sparkling blue waters, huge skies, and open ranges of the wild west will inspire you to go out and find adventure! Popular activities include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives as you explore the park and its surrounding areas.
Popular Destinations
- Needles Highway
- Wildlife Loop Road
- Mount Coolidge
- Sylvan Lake
- Nearby Crazy Horse Memorial
Wildlife
Here you’ll see one of the largest herds of publically owned bison in the world – 1,300 bison roaming through the hills and meadows! Expect to also see antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, mountain lions, prairie dogs, and wild turkeys.
Outside Resources
To learn more about travelling to Custer, what the weather is like, park activities, or planning your trip, please visit http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/default.aspx.
