State park expands teaching season

Mary Beth Chappelow, Lone Pine State Park ranger, has been busy hosting students in spring and fall outdoor programs at the new and improved Lone Pine State Park south of Kalispell. 

Now, because of the popularity of these outdoor field trips, the programs will be available year-around, according to a news release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

This past spring and fall, 1,124 local students took part in the field trips at Lone Pine.

The programs are offered free to students across Northwest Montana. Students hailed from schools in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Polson, Creston and others.

These students learned about insects, natural history, mammals, and forest management. The youths range from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, but the majority are second- and third-graders.

Chappelow said that the three most popular programs are forest ecology, water conservation and wildlife habitat. 

The programs feature hands-on activities that get children involved in the outdoors.

One activity that is popular with teachers shows how water use has changed over time. This involves a container of water that represents the water in Flathead Valley; students use sponges to illustrate water use and how it has changed over the years. 

The activity develops math, natural resources and history knowledge. In another program featuring forest health and management, students are involved in an interactive game that teaches them about tree ecology and growth.

In another expansion of the education program, Lone Pine will offer spring-break and summer outdoor day camps beginning in 2010. These day camps will feature outdoor games and conservation activities, and will involve a fee.

Lone Pine has had major improvements over the last couple of years. Most recently, the park’s trail system was expanded with the addition of about 2 1/2 miles of trail. The project, carried out over a few days in October, was focused on improving access to about 40 acres of land that was acquired as an addition two years ago.

“It basically improved access to the southeastern part of the park,” Chappelow said. “It was an area of the park that didn’t get that much use.”

The Lone Pine Visitor Center also has been remodeled with an “urban-wildland interface” theme and an improved classroom that is available for educational programs and organizations to rent.

Teachers and parents who are interested in lining up Lone Pine programs for their students can contact Chappelow at: 755-2706, extension 2 or by e-mail: mchappelow@mt.gov.