South Dakota Bat Working Group
Last update 31 March 2010

Library Bat-Book Fund,
Education, & Public Outreach

SD BAT BOOK FUND
As part of our education goal, the SD Bat Working Group has organized a BAT BOOK FUND to purchase library books for public elementary schools throughout South Dakota. This 12-book series is published by ABDO Publishing, MN and is fully bound for library use. To learn more about this series, follow the link and then click on "CHECKERBOARD LIBRARY" in the highlighted column on the left and then scroll down to "BATS SETS I & II" in the results section.

To date, 14,000+ students at 43 Elementary schools are benefiting from these gifts. There are lots of Elementary schools in SD left to go, so... GET ON BOARD!

OUR BOOK PROGRAM WAS RECENTLY AWARDED A GRANT by the SD Game, Fish, and Parks Wildlife Diversity Small Grant Program. This grant will enable us to purchase an additional 58 sets of books. [read our letter to Governor Rounds] If your school has not yet been selected to receive a set of the books at this time,contact us so that it will be placed upon the waiting list until such time as a donor can be found. If you are a parent/educator of a child in a public elementary school in South Dakota and would like to obtain a set of these books for your child's school library, please provide us with the school's name, school's address, current enrollment (number of students), contact person, and telephone number for the school. A list of schools that have already received books can be found (see below). There is no charge of any sort for the books. We will target schools in communities where it has been difficult to identify sponsors for the books.

DONATIONS TO THIS PROGRAM ARE TAX-DEDUCTABLE and can be made for any amount. All money donated will be spent for the purchase of the books (not on shipping or administration fees). Donors wishing to sponsor a complete 12 book set can specify the recipient school if they so wish (Publisher offers reduced price of $96.00 per full set). An anonymous donor has already contributed $500.00 as start-up for the fund (Oct. 2007). Donations should be sent to:

WESTERN BAT WORKING GROUP, Box 2153, Rapid City SD, 57709

Contact Brad Phillips (605-721-6607) with questions re: donations
Contact Joel Tigner (605-390-2061) with questions re: books/recipient schools

 

(order: date of donation)

1. Paul and Julie Schipke - Whitewood School, Whitewood, SD
2. 5th Grade Science Class - East Elementary School, Spearfish, SD (pickle sale proceeds)
3. Anonymous - Meadowbrook School, Rapid City, SD
4. Anonymous - South Park Elementary, Belle Fourche, SD
5. Scott Pedersen - Central Elementary School, Brookings, SD
6. Scott Pedersen - Hillcrest Elementary School, Brookings, SD
7. Scott Pedersen - Medary Elementary School, Brookings, SD
8. Anonymous - Knollwood Elementary, Rapid City, SD
9. Batworks, L.L.C. - West Central Elementary, Humboldt, SD
10. Batworks, L.L.C. - Hayward Elementary, Sioux Falls, SD
11. Eileen Dowd Stukel - Sturgis Public Library, Sturgis, SD
12. Batworks, L.L.C. - Lead-Deadwood Elementary, SD
13. Batworks, L.L.C. - Redfield Elementary, SD
14. Bradley J Phillips - Newcastle Elementary School, Newcastle WY.
15. Silka Kempema - Edmunds Central School, Roscoe, SD
16. Batworks, L.L.C. - Pinedale Elementary, Rapid City, SD
17. Friends Group of Maga Ta-Hohpi (WPA) - Buchanan Elementary, Huron, SD
18. Friends Group of Maga Ta-Hohpi (WPA) - Jefferson Elementary, Huron, SD
19. Friends Group of Maga Ta-Hohpi (WPA) - Madison Elementary, Huron, SD
20. Friends Group of Maga Ta-Hohpi (WPA) - Washington Elementary, Huron, SD
21. Penny Island - South Park Elementary, Rapid City, SD
22. Friends Group of Maga Ta-Hohpi (WPA) - James Valley Christian School, Huron
23. Friends Group of Maga Ta-Hohpi (WPA) - Holy Trinity Catholic School, Huron
24. Batworks, L.L.C. - Buffalo Elementary, Buffalo, SD   
25. Batworks, L.L.C. - Batesland Elementary, Batesland, SD 
26. Batworks, L.L.C. - Wolf Creek Elementary, Pine Ridge, SD 
27. Batworks, L.L.C. - Rockyford Elementary, Porcupine, SD 
28. Batworks, L.L.C. - Red Shirt Table, Hermosa, SD
29. Batworks, L.L.C. - Jefferson Elementary, Pierre, SD
30. Batworks, L.L.C. - Buchanan Elementary, Pierre, SD
31. Bob and Paula DeMersseman - Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary, Porcupine, SD
32. Paul and Julie Schipke - Vandenberg Elementary, Box Elder, SD
33. Batworks, LLC - Washington Elementary, Pierre, SD
34. Batworks, LLC - McKinley Elementary, Pierre, SD
35. Batworks, LLC - Canyon Lake Elementary, Rapid City, SD
36. Batworks, LLC - Corral Drive Elementary, Rapid City, SD
37. Alex & Camryn Popowski - Koch Elementary School in Milbank, SD
38. Batworks, LLC - C.C. Lee Elementary, Aberdeen, SD 
39. Batworks, LLC - Lincoln Elementary, Aberdeen, SD 
40. Batworks, LLC - May Overby Elementary, Aberdeen, SD
41. Batworks, LLC - Simmons Elementary, Aberdeen, SD 
42. Batworks, LLC - O.M. Tiffany Elementary, Aberdeen, SD
43. Jocelyn Baker - General Beadle Elementary, Rapid City, SD
44. SD-Game Fish and Parks - 58 Elementary schools

ANNUAL BAT FESTIVAL August 14, 2010 [Stay Tuned]

 

Previous festival: Custer State Park, Saturday, August 2009

Despite the downpours and cool temperature, around 120 people turned out for the 4th Annual Bat Festival at Custer State Park on August 15th. Although the weather prevented our netting this year, those attending were able to watch (and hear on detectors) several bats flying around inside the Tatanka Theater (some were more thrilled by this than others).  A slide program on bats was presented and display boards and posters provided information about abandoned mines - hazards & habitat - and bat ecology. Bat cookies were again provided and well received.

Congratulations to: Alex & Camryn Popowski - winners of the drawing of a complete set of bat books for their school library - Koch Elementary School in Milbank, SD.

Thanks to all those who volunteered their time and energy
to help make this year's Festival a success, with special thanks to:

Marty Phillips - Bat cookies (2nd year in a row! ....too early to place our order for next year?)
Laurie Tigner - 75 handmade furry bats (a big hit with young & old)
Paul Schipke - Mining Engineer & Consultant fielded questions on abandoned mines
Brad Phillips (USFS) (Bat Festival organizer and quality control bat cookie tester)
Silka Kempema (SDGFP) (who drove in from Pierre to help out)
Laurie Root (SDGFP)
Joel Tigner (BATWORKS)
Custer State Park Staff for the venue and their support of the Bat Festival

Questions: Brad Phillips (605-721-6607) or Joel Tigner (605-390-2061)

Acro-BATS of the Night' Poster

SD Game, Fish and Parks has published a colorful poster that can also function as a book cover that depicts four species of bat found in the state. For ordering information, contact: Eileen.DowdStukel@state.sd.us

 

Educational Bat Trunks

SD Game, Fish and Parks has also developed an 'Educational Bat Trunk' that contains educational information including books, video tapes, displays (such as a real, mounted bat skeleton), educational exercises, games, and hand puppets for use in the school system. The trunk can be loaned to teachers throughout the state. For loan information and availability, contact
SD GFP / laurie.root@state.sd.us / 605-394-2391
Outdoor Campus / kay.gannon@state.sd.us / 605-362-2721

Education Brochure from Arizona

University of Arizona (#1456) November 2008

 

School Programs in the Black Hills

Multimedia programs on bats are available to classrooms in the Black Hills area. Programs are available for all age groups and include slide presentation, recordings of bat echolocation calls, and (when available), live non-releasable bats. These programs are provided as a community service and are free of charge. For additional information or to schedule a program, contact:
Joel Tigner 605-390-2061 / joeltigner@gmail.com
SD GFP 605-394-2391 / laurie.root@state.sd.us

Bat Conservation International
Educational resources for all ages: Various Workshops are available

Report all dead links/images to Scott.Pedersen@Bathead.com