NPS centennial centers on Park outreach, education

The celebration of the National Park Service’s centennial will focus more on outreach, education and just plain old enjoyment from the Glacier National Park perspective.

No big splashy events are planned for the coming summer. Having said that, there are some cool events that will happen in Glacier, Andrew Lahr, centennial volunteer ambassador for Glacier said last week.

One cool event for folks who like to get out in the field and record flora and fauna will be a “bio blitz” starting this month and running through Sept. 30, where volunteers get in the field and record their observations via the iNaturalist app for cell phones and other mobile devices.

To join the group, go to iNaturalist.org and search for Glacier Park. From there, a person creates a login, password and joins the group. A nationwide bio blitz is scheduled for the week of May 16-22 and select observations will be shown on a big screen at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Park ecologist Tara Carolin said the Park will compile the data gathered by volunteers in the blitz.

Other centennial events are things the Park does on an annual or semi-annual basis, but they’ll have a centennial theme. For example, the artist-in-residence program is asking artists to focus their work on the centennial, Lahr noted.

Some events have already begun. Glacier has had greater outreach this year to local school groups in an effort to expose as many youths as possible to the Park. In a nationwide effort this year, the Park Service is allowing every fourth-grader and their families free admission to national parks and other federal lands.

The Park Service has also revamped its national and individual park websites as part of the centennial. There are also centennial projects this year in Glacier. Through funding from the Glacier National Park Conservancy and a congressional funding match, the Park will upgrade restrooms at Avalanche Creek and will add 1,000 more linear feet of wheelchair accessible trail to the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail in Many Glacier.

One interesting event planned for this summer is a climate change inspired dance that will be performed from July 24-26 at the Lake McDonald Lodge auditorium and then again July 28-30 on the east side of the park.

The Conservancy’s annual Backpacker’s ball, which is a major fundraiser for Park projects will also have a centennial theme. It’s planned for Saturday, Aug. 6. Call the Conservancy for more information at (406) 892-3250.