DayOne 2020

Montana Tech is home to the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program (CFWEP). CFWEP is Montana Tech’s connection to over 4,000 middle and high school students per year. Our programming brings place-based science education to every single school within the Upper Clark Fork Watershed (Butte to Missoula).  Through our partnerships with Montana Tech’s Biology Department, we have now expanded our outreach activities across the state of Montana from Baker, MT to Libby, MT.  CFWEP programming is one of the first glimpses into what a career in science could look like for many of our students. Students experience real data collection, work with Montana Tech scientists, and are brought to visit Montana Tech’s campus during our field trips.

Our embeddedness within Montana Tech’s campus allows us to bring high-caliber science education to students who might otherwise never leave their science classrooms. Several of our students have gone on to become Montana Tech Alumni.

We have several programs that focus on science education. Our core program is a 5-day experience focused on the science of the restoration and remediation of the Clark Fork Watershed. Our Bringing Research into the Classroom Program focuses on microbiology, specifically phage discovery. We offer a Fly Fishing, and Conservation Camp focused on bringing students to recently restored sites to fish and learn about conservation and healthy mining practices. We also host Community-Wide Clean Up Day focused on Stormwater education and community stewardship.

COVID-19 has impacted CFWEP, as it has all of us.  This fall, to assure proper social distancing for our field trips we will need to invest in more buses and with that will come increased expenditures. Your contribution to CFWEP ensures the safety of our students by paying for transportation and food costs that are not allowed through our other funding mechanisms. We are asking for your investment during DayOne to ensure that we can offer diverse, enriching experiences for potential Montana Tech students. Donations also keep the cost of our Fly Fishing Camp at $75 per camper and provide scholarships for low-income, high-risk students to attend. Every gift counts and your support could be the difference between a student getting the chance to experience Montana Tech or not.

Thank you for your support and please help us spread the word! Share this project on social media, by email and tell your friends!

To learn more about CFWEP, please visit cfwep.org