Restoration Big Creek Complete!

The Glacier Institute has successfully completed its first-ever capital campaign, Restoration Big Creek, raising over $1.5 million to preserve and enhance its flagship youth education site. The project ensures that the historic Big Creek Outdoor Education Center will continue welcoming students for generations to come. To celebrate, a public event will be held on May 16, 2025, inviting community members, donors, and partners to experience the upgraded campus firsthand.

Launched in 2021, Restoration Big Creek set out to revitalize the historic Big Creek site, home to Glacier Institute school field trips and youth summer camps since 1988. The project was comprehensive and vital to the safety of participants and the protection of the historic structures, and it allowed for thoughtful expansion of the campus. Initiatives included creating a new foundation with a full basement for the main Mess Hall building on campus, remodeling the staff and participant cabins, and the creation of a septic system that will safeguard Big Creek (the site’s namesake) and the North Fork of the Flathead River. While finishing touches like landscaping, a new welcome loop with interpretive signage, and equipping the shop building for legacy woodworking programs are still underway, the site is now fully operational– and welcoming the next generation of outdoor learners, starting with the first class of the season from Kila School on April 2nd.

“After decades of bubble-gum and duct tape fixes on our beloved Big Creek, we realized we were at a make-or-break moment for the maintenance and stewardship of the campus,” explained Lance Fahrney, a long-time board member and interim executive director from 2019-20. “Taking care to ensure we will be able to serve students, schools, and families for decades to come was a top priority during our strategic planning sessions back in 2020.” The Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, located within the Flathead National Forest, has been a central part of the Glacier Institute’s mission since 1988 when the organization was granted access to the historic site. The Glacier Institute, the official education partner of both Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest, has provided hands-on outdoor education across the region for more than 40 years, helping people of all ages build stronger connections to the natural world.

The History of Big Creek

The Big Creek site has a long and storied history, and ensuring its preservation for future generations was a priority for the Glacier Institute and the Flathead National Forest. The site originally served as a strategic stopover point in 1911 for Forest Service ranger work further up the North Fork– roughly a day’s travel from Columbia Falls– and operated as a district headquarters through 1964. Permanent building construction began in 1927, and many of the original structures remain today, including the Ranger’s house, Mess Hall, and bunkhouses. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps added several buildings and supported campgrounds, trails, and fire readiness. Historically, Big Creek also played a critical role in timber production, especially in response to a 1950s Spruce Bark Beetle epidemic. As communication systems expanded, Big Creek became a hub linking Glacier National Park and fire lookouts across the Flathead region. In 1966, the site became home to a Flathead Interregional Fire Crew– one of the first Hot Shot crews in the region– solidifying its importance to fire suppression in Northwest Montana.

By the mid-1980s, technological improvements and centralized operations reduced the need for remote work centers like Big Creek. The site was largely unused until 1989 when the Glacier Institute was granted a special use permit to operate youth educational programs. Since then, Big Creek has become a beloved campus for environmental education. It officially earned its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 while adapting it to meet the needs of modern outdoor learning. Together, the Glacier Institute and Flathead National Forest recognized the unmatched potential of this location and have enjoyed a nearly 40-year partnership founded in shared stewardship and commitment to outdoor education.

A Milestone for the Glacier Institute and Outdoor Education in Northwest Montana

“The Glacier Institute is grateful beyond words to the supporters who made this campaign a success and continue to fulfill their pledges,” said Mady Rigg, Director of Development for the Glacier Institute. “As a kid who attended Big Creek myself, I know how deeply this place sticks with you. Because of the generous partners who answered the call, Big Creek will remain a thriving hub for outdoor education, wonder, and connection to the natural world for decades.”

The Glacier Institute extends heartfelt gratitude to its longtime partners at the Flathead National Forest. The guidance and collaboration from the Forest Service staff were instrumental throughout the project’s planning and execution. From navigating a complex permitting process to advising on structural upgrades and accessibility improvements, the Forest Service team demonstrated a shared commitment to thoughtful stewardship. The strength of this decades-long partnership made it possible to honor the site’s historic character while building a safer and more sustainable future for outdoor education.

“Glacier Institute is much more than just a special use permit holder that occupies the historic Big Creek Work Center – they are an important partner that delivers conservation education to thousands of kids every year,” shares Rob Davies Hungry Horse-Glacier District Ranger. “Glacier Institute has invested in our facility at Big Creek to provide comfortable, safe, and efficient indoor space that sustains housing and classrooms, critical for youth education programs. And without their hard work and partnership, this wonderful facility would face unyielding elements and a crumbling future. Their dedication continues and enhances the rich history of the Big Creek Work Center through preservation and interpretation. The Flathead National Forest highly values the partnership with Glacier Institute and hopes to maintain the relationship for many generation.”

Restoration Big Creek was completed thanks to the generosity of over 300 donors, each playing a role in protecting the future of this beloved program. The Glacier Institute would like to offer special recognition to several key supporters whose generosity helped make this vision a reality. Organizational contributors included Freedom Bank, The J.W Couch Foundation, The KOA Foundation, The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, The Pisces Foundation, Polebridge Mercantile and Bakery, Whitefish Community Foundation, and Whitefish Credit Union.

Individual supporters who played a significant role included Robert and Justine Bloomingdale, John and Kris Bruninga, Tim Cook, Paul and Wendy Faganel, Chris and Monica Graff, Benjy Griffith, Bob and Pat Jepsen, Sam and Pat Jones, Connie Lane, and John and Zoe Zardis.

The Glacier Institute is also deeply appreciative of the local businesses who offered in-kind donations of materials, discounted services, and their time. These include Alumaglass, Empire Building Materials, Hillard Construction and Concrete, Martel Construction, Milwaukee Tools, Montana Creative Architecture and Design, Rock Creek Plumbing, Terra Designworks, Thousand Hills Landwork, and Waatti Engineering.

“It was humbling for me to approach community members for support on the project and receive not only resources but stories,” expressed Anthony Nelson, executive director for the Glacier Institute. “Big Creek is such an integral part of the eclectic fabric that makes up the Flathead Valley, and so many community members share in that story. I can say, without a doubt, that this place has made a massive positive impact on our community– I know because you told us over and over throughout the project.”

The Restoration Big Creek Celebration

The public is invited to join the Glacier Institute on May 16, 2025, at Big Creek Outdoor Education Center for an immersive community celebration. Designed to be a heartfelt tribute to the power of outdoor learning, the event will offer guests a chance to experience the magic of Big Creek first hand—whether it is for the first time or the first time in a long time.

Throughout the evening, Glacier Institute outdoor education specialists will lead a sampling of the most loved camp programming, including hands-on stream ecology, skulls and pelts interpretation, and survival skills demonstrations. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the same educational experiences that spark a lifelong love of nature in thousands of local students each year.

Guests are invited to enjoy a casual, first-come, first-served dinner by the campfire, roasting hotdogs and s’mores in true Big Creek style. While there is no set mealtime, food will be available throughout the evening on a grab-and-go basis. Light refreshments and guided tours of the revitalized campus will also be provided, along with a brief program recognizing the many individuals and organizations who helped bring the campaign to life.

The event will be held at Big Creek Outdoor Education Center on May 16, 2025, from 5pm-8pm. To RSVP, please go to https://glacierinstitute1.ddockforms.com?form=9cd07d4e-415b-4db4-84c3-58ef413c3e58. More details will also be shared on the Glacier Institute website and social media.

This will be the first time the public is invited to tour the fully restored Big Creek campus. With it revitalized and ready for the coming generations, the Glacier Institute now looks to the future– with even greater opportunities to come.

For more information, interviews, or media inquiries, please contact:

Mady Rigg
Director of Development, Glacier Institute
406-755-1211
mrigg@glacierinstitute.org