MISSOULA, Mont. — Wildlife enthusiasts of all ages have a new way to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of big game country thanks to the captivating exhibits at the James R. Wilkins Jr. Conservation Education Center. Located at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation headquarters in Missoula, Montana, the Conservation Education Center officially opens to the public on Thursday, Oct. 16, following a year of development and construction.
Through generous support from RMEF Life Member James R. Wilkins Jr., the Conservation Education Center houses state-of-the-art displays that highlight elk ecology and natural history, as well as RMEF’s work in conservation, habitat enhancement, public access expansion, research, advocacy and the promotion of hunting heritage. Among floor-to-ceiling landscape panoramas are interactive projection screens that present an elk’s point of view and track a visitor’s movements, allowing the participant to experience what it’s like to travel with a herd, forage for food and escape a predator. Touchscreens invite visitors to engage in the field work of biologists, counting elk during an aerial survey, capturing an elk calf to evaluate its health and determining the cause of a herd’s winter migration shift.
“This center is a great piece to the community here in Missoula,” said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. “It tells a remarkable story about RMEF as we move toward conserving 10 million acres of big game habitat by 2030. But I think the greatest impact it makes is for the youth. Kids can come here and learn about elk and the leading role hunters play in big game conservation. The center teaches that lesson well and in a way that will be remembered.”
Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. On Oct. 16, 17 and 18, visitors will enjoy special discounts on RMEF-branded merchandise at the adjacent RMEF retail store and exclusive RMEF membership giveaways (while supplies last; some exclusions apply). Cattle Coffee Company will be on site serving hot, cold and specialty drinks Oct. 17 and 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Spanning an area of 2,700 square feet, the Conservation Education Center accentuates hundreds of facts about elk and RMEF’s mission projects. All displays encourage hands-on interaction, and adults and children alike get the opportunity to touch an elk hide, hoof, ivory and antler in velvet and hard stages. They can test their knowledge of elk sounds and body language, and take a winding stroll through Eastern forests, Southwestern sagebrush deserts and Western conifer forests, learning along the way how RMEF’s habitat stewardship impacts these ecosystems.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Now in its fifth decade of conservation accomplishment and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 9.1 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation” ® at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.
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