As summer comes to a close and fall brings in a new school year, we’re celebrating another unforgettable journey of exploration, discovery, and connection to the natural world. All told, another incredible season of Field School!
American Prairie offers two Field School modes: customizable day programming experiences at our National Discovery Center, and overnight trips to our outdoor learning space at Antelope Creek Campground. These trips bring students from all over Montana into the prairie ecosystem for three days and two nights (and American Prairie covers all costs – transportation, food, accommodations, and instruction). Days are filled with hands-on science learning (like game camera set-up and species identification), lots of hiking through the prairie landscape, and a fun-filled afternoon learning traditional Indigenous games!
This year our curriculum partner was Yellowstone Forever – we loved sharing some prairie time with these kind and engaging guest instructors!
2025 By the Numbers: This year we provided day programming to 879 students and welcomed 42 students to the overnight Field School at Antelope Creek. We also provided virtual lessons to 80 students from around the country. This summer we offered teacher workshops, and hosted a group of continuing education students on the prairie, totaling 227 adult participants. In total, we shared some prairie time (virtual still counts!) with 1,228 students.
The Bison Puzzle: Could you re-assemble a bison skeleton if you happened upon one strewn across the prairie? Our Field School students can! This hands-on lesson is usually led by a member of the American Prairie bison team. Instructors use each section of the skeleton to help students understand how every aspect of the bison has an important role to play on the prairie: from their massive shoulders that support their heads (which they use as snow plows in the winter, clearing the way for other prairie animals) to their sturdy legs and sharp hooves (built to break up hard, compacted earth – helping to aerate and irrigate the soil, and disperse seeds).
We’d like to share a huge “Thank you!” with those who made this season so impactful: the educators, our partners, and all the extraordinary learners. Participants came from Lodgepole Elementary, Crow Agency school, and Lewistown Junior High School. Thank you to our partners and friends at Aaniiih Nakoda Tours from the Belknap community, the wonderful group of adult learners from the University of Montana’s Osher LifeLong Learning Institute, and to the educators from across the state who attended the teacher workshop.
Here’s to nurturing curiosity and encouraging the future stewards of the land!
Our Field School program was featured in the Fall 2025 edition of the American Prairie Field Notes newsletter – a publication we mail out to our neighbors twice a year full of stories about our field operations. Check out the Fall 2025 issue and all past issues on our website.
Learn more about our Field School program on our website. Questions? Reach out to Education Manager Dusty Rixford or Education Coordinator Cormac Weichel.