Black Hills State University students spent a week this past May running their own exploration companies through the university's first Applied Mineral Exploration Camp. The immersive experience walks students through the full arc of the industry, from identifying a potential resource through permitting, evaluation, and the decisions that determine whether a project moves forward.
"This is a part of the mineral industry that is rarely taught in a structured way and is often learned only on the job," said Dr. Abigail Domagall, professor of Geology at BHSU and coordinator of the camp.
The idea began with a long cup of coffee. Over the 2025 holidays, Domagall sat down with Ella Bordewyk, executive director of the South Dakota Mineral Industries Association (SDMIA) and a BHSU alum, for what turned into a five-hour conversation about a mining claim Bordewyk had once worked on. Half-joking, Domagall suggested they could turn the whole process into a class. Four to five months later, they had developed a weeklong program.
Bordewyk, who holds a biology degree and an earth science minor from BHSU along with firsthand experience at a junior exploration company, was central to making it work. And for students, the SDMIA partnership meant a direct line to working industry professionals.
"Ultimately, we wanted students to gain practical experience, understand real-world workflows and processes, and begin building professional connections within the mineral industry," Domagall said.
Each day of the camp followed a consistent rhythm. Students were introduced to a key stage of mineral exploration by an industry speaker, then broke into teams to apply what they'd learned, operating as their own exploration companies.
Early on, teams learned how to determine land ownership and claim status, then used geologic maps of the northern Black Hills to select a target area, produce the required maps, and develop a claim application. By the end, they had moved through sampling, environmental planning, and the development decisions that real companies face.
What stood out most, Domagall said, was how deeply the students bought in. Daily health and safety meetings, which the teams prepared themselves, became a realistic and unexpectedly fun part of the routine, often opening with stretching exercises alongside the safety discussion. The investment showed in unexpected moments. When teams received their simulated drill core results, their excitement was real.
"Even though the data was part of the exercise, they were genuinely excited and eager to see whether their teams had identified gold," Domagall said. "That level of engagement really showed how immersed they had become in the process."
It all came together in final presentations, where each team pitched their project as a full-fledged company, complete with names, logos, and branding. Several industry representatives attended, who Domagall said left impressed by both the quality of the work and the professionalism of the students.
Domagall said that as a pilot program, the camp's success came down to the people in it. Bordewyk helped shape a structure that reflected real industry practice. Partner companies including RESPEC, Coeur Wharf, and Dakota Gold brought decades of real-world experience into the room. Presenters shared stories and insights from their own careers, fielded questions in depth and offered guidance throughout the week.
"I really liked it. I think this will help me with my future adventures post-graduation," said BHSU student Savannah Carson. "I learned so much about the exploration process. The speakers had so much knowledge and amazing advice."
"My overall understanding of mineral exploration has grown tenfold," BHSU student Dylan Chase added. "My confidence going into my summer internship for a mineral exploration company is higher than it has ever been, and I look forward to utilizing what I've learned over the course of my career."
Domagall said the plan is to keep offering the camp and to expand its reach. One promising direction is developing modular course materials based on this camp model that other universities, and even high schools, could adopt. The camp could become not just a standout week for BHSU students, but a broader educational resource and workforce development tool.
But for Domagall, the heart of the camp remains the connection between students and the working professionals in BHSU’s backyard. "It helps students see how what they are learning at the university connects directly to a wide range of careers and gives them the opportunity to begin building professional networks," Domagall said.