AMERICAN PRAIRIE FIELD SCHOOL
The American Prairie Field School is getting kids outside and into nature. The program uses the prairie as a living laboratory to inspire the next generation of scientists, conservationists, and stewards of the land and our planet.
The American Prairie Field School is creating early and enduring connections to Montana's prairie ecosystem.
The Field School comprises education programs for grades K through 12, with residential or day programs available depending on grade. The STEM curriculum, developed in partnership with the Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS), connects students with experts and research scientists from Smithsonian Institute and American Prairie. Subjects vary and include natural and human history, astronomy, plant biology, wildlife ecology, and geology. All programs will align with NGSS Next Generation Science Standards.
For more information and to register, contact Education Coordinator Dusty Rixford: dusty@americanprairie.org.
Residential Program
The residential program gives Montana middle school students (grades 5 through 8) the opportunity to spend three days and two nights in the field under Montana’s big prairie skies. Using Antelope Creek Campground near Zortman, Montana, as a backdrop for learning, students are exposed to the full diversity of ecological, cultural, and historical elements unique to the Northern Great Plains, Each class has a maximum of 20 students, and meals, lodging, and a busing stipend are provided for participating schools, Groups have a 5:1 instructor-to-student ratio and students stay in climate-controlled cabins.
Day Programming
The American Prairie Field National Discovery Center. Students learn about a variety of topics, such as the keystone species, birds of the prairie, skills and furs, camera traps and tracks, plants and ethnobotany, and traditional native games. Registered groups are paired with an American Prairie expert to guide the visit, and a transportation stipend is available for schools to cover travel costs, including gas and lodging. Programs are scheduled during National Discovery Center business hours, unless special arrangements are made. Registration is requested a minimum of 30 days in advance of visit.
For more information and to register, contact Education Coordinator Dusty Rixford: dusty@americanprairie.org.
Field School Instructors and Experts
American Prairie Field School instructors and experts bring a broad range of knowledge to the program, including expertise in astronomy, plant biology, wildlife ecology, and natural and human history. In addition to program instructors, students interact with experts and guest speakers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and American Prairie. Instructors from the Montana Outdoor Science School change seasonally and are all trained in outdoor education, risk management, and Filed School curriculum. The Final roster depends on the program.
Molly Iversen, MOSS Education Director
Mell Lerum, MOSS Education Specialist
2022 American Prairie Field School
