From the outside, Montana WILD looks like a quiet place, but inside staff and visitors are bustling with exploration and hands-on adventures.

2023 was one of the busiest years yet for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ education center on the west side of Helena. Take a look at some of the numbers:

• 17,000 drop-in visitors to the exhibit hall
• 5,500 students attending virtual field trips
• 4,200 students with 119 school groups at the center for field trips
• 2,700 participants in 57 public programs, including bat walks and bird-banding stations

During 2023, Montana WILD updated its exhibit hall and offered new programs including telemetry, nature journaling, bear safety and wildlife yoga, which introduced young learners not only to animal biology and ecology but also to basic yoga poses.

“We strive to keep things new and exciting for our visitors,” said Montana WILD Program Manager Corie Bowditch.

FWP also offered new programming for school groups. Students not only learned about the Endangered Species Act, with a specific focus on the black-footed ferret, but also participated in programs focused on population ecology and the anatomy and physiology of mammals using skulls. Montana WILD’s transportation grant allowed students to come from as far away as Malta and Eureka for a day of conservation education.

In 2024, Montana WILD hopes to expand its programming even more with the addition of an AmeriCorps member.

“We got to work with some amazing teachers and students last year,” Bowditch said. “We look forward to collaborating more with our partner organizations and providing more opportunities to come to Montana WILD to learn and explore with us each day.”

For more information and to see upcoming events at Montana WILD, go to fwp.mt.gov/education/montana-wild.