Bear Creek Days brings outdoor education to life for over 400 students

The annual Bear Creek Days event returned to the historic Bear Creek Ranger Station east of Cameron, Mont., from May 13–15, 2025. Over the course of three days, more than 400 students in grades three through eight from Gallatin, Jefferson, and Madison Counties took part in this immersive, hands-on outdoor education experience.

Each day featured eight interactive presentations tailored to different grade levels, covering topics such as predator-prey relationships, gold panning, animal adaptations, bear awareness, wilderness first aid, and fish dissection. The event offered students a rare opportunity to engage directly with nature, science, and conservation concepts outside the classroom.

Coordinating Bear Creek Days for over 550 participants—including students, bus drivers, chaperones, presenters, and volunteers—is no small feat. Fortunately, the shared commitment to conservation across southwest Montana ensures strong community support for the event’s mission: to instill the importance of natural resource conservation in local youth while fostering the next generation of land stewards. Through collaboration with key partners and community support, this goal is met through hands-on, experiential learning.

This year’s Bear Creek Days was made possible thanks to a wide array of committed partners who contributed financial support, helped with logistics, or led educational sessions—many doing all three. A heartfelt thank you goes to:

Anaconda Job Corps Center, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Grow Wild, Custer-Gallatin National Forest, Jack Creek Preserve Foundation, Madison Conservation District, Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, Madison River Foundation, Madison Valley EMS, Madison Valley Woman’s Club, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, National Smokejumper Center, River Summit Group, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wild Sheep Foundation, and Yellowstone Nature Connection.

And finally, sincere thanks to the students themselves. Your curiosity, questions, and energy are what make Bear Creek Days so meaningful. You're the reason this event continues to grow and inspire each year.

Community members or organizations interested in being part of future Bear Creek Days—planning begins this fall—are encouraged to get involved and help build the next generation of conservationists. For more information, contact the Madison Ranger District at 406-682-4253.