Flathead Rivers Alliance Brings River Education to Partners & National Educators
May & June 2025 – West Glacier, MT — Flathead Rivers Alliance staff have been making waves with a series of engaging river education presentations in West Glacier and Greater Flathead Valley. From professional river guides to visiting university faculty, we’ve been busy sharing what makes the Flathead Wild & Scenic River system so unique—and how we can all protect it.
Continuing Education for River Guides
A huge thank you to our local partner raft companies for inviting Flathead Rivers Alliance to join your pre-season guide trainings. We’re proud to contribute to the ongoing education of guides who are on the front lines of visitor interaction each summer.
Our sessions focused on:
History and significance of the three forks of the Flathead River in the formation of the National Wild & Scenic River system
Principles of Leave No Trace and respectful river use
River safety and Cold Water Immersion awareness
Updates on the Flathead Wild & Scenic Management Plan
How guides can serve as on-the-water stewards and educators
Guides play a critical role in shaping the visitor experience. Their willingness to learn and lead by example helps protect this extraordinary river system during peak visitation season.
Glacier Guides & Montana Raft Co
www.glacierguides.com
Glacier Guides in 1983 to provide ecologically sensitive backcountry guiding and interpretation in Glacier National Park. Back then, there were just three of us! Four years later we added rafting on our Wild and Scenic rivers. Hence: Glacier Guides and Montana Raft.
Glacier Raft Co
www.glacierparkcollection.com/activities/glacier-raft-co
Glacier National Park's rafting experts since 1976. Glacier Raft Company is your launch point for outstanding Glacier National Park river-top adventures.
National Educators with The Glacier Institute
Flathead Rivers Alliance partnered with The Glacier Institute, where we were honored to teach professors from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
Visiting from across the country, these educators participated in a workshop exploring:
The ecological and cultural significance of the Flathead River Basin
FRA’s education and stewardship programs
Collaborative models for river conservation and community engagement
Their curiosity and thoughtful questions sparked great discussion about how university systems can connect students to place-based learning and environmental leadership.
The Glacier Institute is a non-profit organization focused on strengthening connections to the natural world through outdoor education in Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest. Learn more: Glacier National Park Educational Hikes, Tours & Summer Camps
AASCU shapes public policy and strengthens state college and university leaders as they expand student access and success and represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems. Learn more: Home | AASCU
Training Incoming Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation Field Staff/Interns
Flathead Rivers Alliance partnered with Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation (BMWF), where we were thrilled to partner with our longtime partner to teach their incoming staff and interns about the Flathead Wild & Scenic River.
Our sessions focused on:
History and significance of the three forks of the Flathead River in the formation of the National Wild & Scenic River system
Principles of Leave No Trace and respectful river use
River safety and Cold Water Immersion awareness
Updates on the Flathead Wild & Scenic Management Plan
BMWF provides access to and stewardship of Montana’s 1.6-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Their volunteer projects open trails, restore native habitat, mitigate user impacts, and engage youth and adults in wilderness experiences that change lives and instill a lasting land ethic. Learn more about BMWF: Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Donors
None of these educational outreach efforts would be possible without your support. Thanks to our generous donors and program sponsors, Flathead Rivers Alliance is able to continue delivering high-quality, science-based education to guides, educators, youth, and the public.
Want to help expand river education across the Flathead Basin?
Visit flatheadrivers.org to learn how you can donate, volunteer, or bring an FRA workshop to your school, business, or community group.
Together, we’re building a culture of stewardship, safety, and science—one river mile at a time.
—
Flathead Rivers Alliance Team
