CONSERVATION IN THE CLASSROOM

Fostering Youth Engagement in Conservation and Stewardship in the Bitterroot Valley.

Conservation in the Classroom (CitC) partners with local organizations and educators to deliver a unified, science-based conservation education curriculum on water, wildlife, lands, and natural resources, providing consistent and stewardship-oriented learning opportunities to all K-12 students in the Bitterroot Valley.

Our Vision.

K-12 students in the Bitterroot Valley participate in a transformative educational experience that fosters a deep appreciation for local nature, instills an understanding of natural resources and associated sciences, and inspires a lifelong commitment to conservation. The program aims to cultivate a community of environmentally conscious and empowered individuals who actively contribute to the stewardship of the land, water, and wildlife in the Bitterroot Valley.

When they complete 12th grade, students, educators, and local conservation leaders can sense that they have completed a coordinated, locally-driven conservation curriculum. 

Mission.

The Conservation in the Classroom program partners with local organizations and educators to deliver a unified, science-based conservation education curriculum on water, wildlife, lands, and natural resources, providing consistent and stewardship-oriented learning opportunities to all K-12 students in the Bitterroot Valley.


Program goals.

Enhance Conservation Education Exposure

Increase the quality, quantity, and frequency of K-12 conservation education focused on key local topics.

Foster Environmental Appreciation

Cultivate students' understanding and appreciation of the local environment.

Develop Local Stewards

Instill a stewardship ethic in students to encourage care for their local environment.

Offer Teacher Development

Provide professional development opportunities in conservation education for teachers.

Support Educators

Improve communication, coordination, and support among Bitterroot Valley educators for consistent conservation education.

Integrate Conservation Standards

Help schools align conservation education with Montana standards.

Create Place-Based Materials

Develop educational materials specific to Bitterroot Valley for classrooms and field experiences.

Build Stakeholder Partnerships

Strengthen partnerships with local conservation education stakeholders.

What We Offer.

We offer a comprehensive suite of services to enhance conservation education in the Bitterroot Valley, including professional development workshops with OPI credits for educators, resources such as K-8 lesson guides and web-based materials, and consulting to assist school districts and organizations with adopting effective conservation education practices. Our goal is to support local educators, foster environmental stewardship, and ensure students gain a deeper understanding of their local environment.

  • OPI credits and workshops for educators and resource professionals. 


  • K-8 conservation education lesson guide, web-based materials including online external resources list.

  • Assistance with conservation education adoption for school districts, individual educators, and various organizations.

“Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.”

-Thomas Berry

We want to hear from you!

Take the survey below to provide valuable input on conservation education in our valley

Are you an educator?

Become a part of our Educator Committee to help shape conservation education in the Bitterroot Valley

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Stay in the know about the CitC program and upcoming opportunities.