Youth Programs
Our youth programs are focused on helping young people learn through doing, with hands-on projects that teach leadership skills and develop a sense of community, culture and tradition.
Field Trip to Ninepipes
Our recent trip to the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana History was a big hit! Twenty-seven local kids enjoyed a day filled with history, learning, outdoor exploration, and fun.
The group took a guided museum tour led by Donna Cheff, who shared the rich history, the treasury of historical artifacts, and the cultural stories preserved at the museum. Students had the opportunity to learn about the heritage of the region and gain a deeper appreciation for the people, traditions, and history of Western Montana.
Wildlife biologist Pat Jamieson led the students on a nature trail walk, where they explored the surrounding landscape and learned about the flora and fauna native to the Mission Valley area. The beautiful spring weather and mountain scenery created the perfect backdrop for outdoor learning and discovery.
The day included lunch and ice cream treats for all participants. After lunch, the kids watched a demonstration of a traditional hoop dance. Each child received a pack of art supplies that included a Ninepipes Museum coloring book, encouraging continued creative activities and learning after the trip concluded.
“The kids had so much fun,” said Marie Corcoran-Kloberdanz, our food pantry coordinator who organized the trip. “They learned a lot about history and the plants and animals that live here, and the art kit gave them a hands-on experience to engage their creativity and imagination.”
This trip was sponsored by the Arlee CDC and funded by grants from the Cinnabar Foundation and the O.P. and W.E. Edwards Foundation. One of our chaperones documents the day here – check out her story!
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
This program sends one free book a month to kids from birth to age five. You can sign up online, or call 406-726-5550. The sign-up is quick and easy.
In our Little Library, we invite families to stop in for “The Tale of the Tiger Slippers” – a recent donation from the Hopa Mountain Storymakers program. It’s the story of a tiger cub's mother who makes him a sturdy pair of slippers. The cub is then able to work harder than before and eventually becomes very wealthy. It turns out the secret to his success wasn’t the slippers but his mother's love.
Youth Art Program
Thanks to Diné (Navajo) and Salish descendant Cameron Decker for teaching this series of workshops that combined hands-on art projects with field trips to see public art displays. Classes included making sculptures and having them scanned and 3-D printed, creating light drawings with glowsticks, and field trips to the Missoula Art Museum and Missoula Public Library. The kids had so much fun and found new sources of inspiration and new ways to express themselves.
Teen Art Project
Participants in our Teen Art Project created individual and collaborative artwork that are now displayed in public places throughout Arlee. Thanks so much to instructor Cameron Decker for all his work with our arts programs. Special thanks to artist Corky Clairmont for attending our “Beyond the Frame” art show and providing his insight and wisdom into what art means for us as individuals and as a community. Thanks to the Missoula Art Museum, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Montana Arts Council, and the Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation for supporting this program.
Yaya Dolls
The kids had a great time making yaya dolls out of fabric scraps and yarn in a recent workshop. They were invited to use the materials provided or bring their own for a personalized touch. It's fun to watch the fabric and yarn take shape and come to life. This is always a popular class and all the participants love having a doll to take home.
Art Journaling
In this workshop, kids learned bookbinding to create an art journal that they can use for inspiration as they explore their creativity and develop new artistic skills and ways to express their ideas.
Field Trip to GNP
Thirty fifth graders and one fourth grader from Arlee learned about the National Park Service and enjoyed art and cultural lessons on a recent trip to Glacier National Park. For a majority of the students, it was their first visit to a national park. The trip was sponsored by the Arlee Community Development Corporation (Arlee CDC) and funded by “Connecting with our Homelands,” a grant from Hopa Mountain with funding from the National Parks Service for Indigenous organizations and schools that want to bring youth ages 5 -18 and elders to a national park to share Indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, and traditions.
“It’s important to educate young people on our deep connection to the land around us,” Cameron Decker, youth program coordinator for the Arlee CDC. “Knowing more about how the land has nourished people physically, spiritually and culturally through the generations creates a deeper understanding that where we live affects how we live.”
The trip included a presentation from GNP education specialist Matt Daniel about the national parks system, the connection Indigenous people have long had to the park, the importance of conservation, and the endangered species that live in the area. Native artist Aspen Decker gave a lesson on the cultural importance of cedar for providing bark for canoes, baskets, and clothing. She spoke about the protocols and seasonal cycles for these gathering processes, and the importance of preserving natural resources. The kids also received backpacks with art supplies to encourage them to draw inspiration from the park’s natural beauty.
