HELENA – Montana State Parks received a $285,120.00 competitive AmeriCorps grant that will fully fund Montana State Parks AmeriCorps program through 2024.
Montana State Parks AmeriCorps (MSPA) promotes healthy, active and environmentally aware communities, connecting visitors with the spectacular natural, cultural and recreational resources of our Montana State Park system.
“We are delighted to receive funding from AmeriCorps for the MSPA program,” said Beth Shumate, Montana State Parks Administrator. “Our MSPA members serve as frontline ambassadors, connecting the public and communities with places of stunning natural beauty, cultural significance and outstanding recreational opportunities.”
MSPA members come from diverse backgrounds and increase the capacity of our park system by providing essential planning and visitor-related services such as education and interpretation programs, volunteer recruitment and management, community outreach and land improvement projects. They serve at state parks throughout Montana, from Makoshika State Park near the North Dakota border to Traveler’s Rest State Park near Missoula, and from Bannack State Park in southwestern Montana to Lone Pine State Park near the Canadian border.
The MSPA program has had a significant impact since its inception in 2012. More than 120,000 youth and adults have attended MSPA park-related interpretation and education programs. AmeriCorps members have also improved than 3,800 acres of park land – an area equivalent in size to more than 2,800 football fields – removing noxious weeds, restoring historic structures and park infrastructure and planting native vegetation.
Click here to view a video of MSPA.
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