Two hundred years ago, on the very days on which the Idaho Environmental Education Summit takes place, the Corps of Discovery had not yet made it to Idaho. They were still over-wintering in the Mandan villages of what is today North Dakota. Capt. William Clark wrote of March 4, 1805: “a Cloudy morning the after part of the day clear” and, of March 5, “Themometer at 40 abov 0 A Fine Day.” The ice on the Missouri River was breaking up and nearly every day brought visits from Indians and trappers.

Over the next 18 months, the Expedition traversed Idaho twice and completed their mission. American culture memorializes and mythologizes this journey, and education providers have seized on this deep interest by producing an abundance of Lewis & Clark curricular resources—so abundant, in fact, that many teachers may be daunted by the task of selecting items for their classrooms.

This year’s edition of the Idaho Environmental Education Summit aims to help navigate the Lewis & Clark educational terrain. Our planning committee has reviewed Corps of Discovery-related resources and invited presentations about those deemed educationally sound, usable, and historically accurate. We hope it helps.

And, we hope you’ll join us!

Early registration deadline is Dec. 31, 2004. More information and registration forms at http://www.idahoee.org/Summit05.html

Full program/registration booklet available from:

At the Core of Discovery: Exploring Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Opportunities