FORT BENTON, Mont. (NMB) – In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Upper Missouri River Breaks Monument, the Bureau of Land Management will be presenting interpretive programs throughout the summer.
Alison Williams is the Lead Interpretive Park Ranger for the Monument and says this will allow for them to test out a variety of programs.
“It’s going to be dynamic and we are going to be testing a lot of different programs out to see what works, to see what gets the most interest, to see what times of day have the most interest and things like that.”
One program they are hoping to pilot later this summer includes a trip on the Missouri River.
“One of our interpretive rangers will go down with the river rangers occassionally and possibly meet visitors at Eagle Creek Campground, which is a pretty popular campground on the White Cliffs section of the river. There are some really nice hikes to do from that area, to see pictographs, to go up slot canyons, and to hike toward the uplands. So we’re hoping they are going to do guided hikes from the Eagle Creek Campground later this summer.”
Other programs could include evening campfire talks at Coal Banks Campgrounds or short hikes at Decision Point.
“We are doing this to really highlight the areas of the monument that people don’t get to see or don’t think of. It adds another element and a layer beyond our interpretive exhibits that allows folks to delve deeper into the history of this place.”
The schedule for the first weekend of programming:
Friday, May 28th:
- 11 AM and 3:30 PM – Amazing Animals, a 20 minute patio talk at the Center in Fort Benton
- 1:30 PM – A History of the Upper Missouri, a 45 minute presentation at Coal Banks Campground
Saturday, May 29th:
- 7:30 AM – Bird Walk along the Upper Missouri – a 1 hour walk beginning at the Interpretive Center in Fort Benton
- 1:30 PM – A History of the Upper Missouri, a 45 minute presentation at Coal Banks Campground
- 3:30 PM – Amazing Animals, a 20 minute patio talk at the Center in Fort Benton
Program schedules will be released bi-weekly through early September.
To contact the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center, call 622-4000.
