Montana Conservation Elders, Library of Congress host teacher workshop at Smoke's Farm

Montana Conservation Elders and the Library of Congress opened a two‑day teacher workshop at Smoke's Farm aimed at helping K–12 educators build place‑based conservation curriculum. Organizers said the program pairs historical materials with field activities so teachers can bring local wilderness stories into classrooms.

"We're here to work," the group's president told attendees, framing the event as practical and interactive rather than a lecture series. Michelle Pearson of the Library of Congress described federal resources available to teachers, including maps and digitized materials, and encouraged participants to use the World Digital Library and LOC collections in lesson plans.

The workshop included a structured introduction activity using primary‑source stickers and brief participant presentations to surface local knowledge and contacts. Organizers said the aim is to leave with concrete lesson plans and connections to Library of Congress materials that teachers can use immediately.

Organizers asked participants to move into small‑group, strategy sessions after the plenary and said workshop leaders would circulate to help teachers adapt the materials to different grade levels.