By Joyce Lapp

With nearly 2 million visitors annually, Glacier National Park, Montana, faces expanding use and construction. These pressures harm vegetation, denude the ground, allow further invasion by exotic plants, displace animals, and can reduce the ecological and aesthetic values of the park. Soil erosion and loss of vegetation are particularly great in campgrounds and popular scenic areas.

To deal with these resource impacts, since 1988, Glacier National Park has developed a comprehensive native plant program to restore structure, function, and plant diversity of disturbed areas. Indigenous plant material is used to maintain genetic integrity. Whenever possible, native soils and plants are salvaged and stored for replanting. Seeds and cuttings are collected annually and propagated in the park’s native plant nursery for use in restoration.

A lasting solution to resource degradation is perhaps the greatest challenge in restoration. To that end, Glacier National Park has entered into an exciting cooperative relationship with several local schools to engage students in the park restoration program as advocates and practitioners. Funds from the Natural Resource Preservation Program and the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program have provided money for the construction of two cooperative greenhouses in neighboring schools on either side of the park. The greenhouses serve as laboratories for students and provide needed native plant materials for restoration in park areas.

In FY 2000, more than 900 students participated in environmental education activities as part of this Student Stewardship Program. In fall 1999, they toured the native plant nursery in the park and discussed the cause of disturbances, helped determine restoration needs, and collected seed at various campgrounds. During winter 1999–2000, park staff provided classroom instruction in botany, seed biology, and plant propagation and assisted students in the production of nearly 9,000 native plants. In late spring 2000 the students participated in site preparation, planting, monitoring, and removal of exotic plants. They used the seed and plants they had collected and grown. In summer 2000 the students assisted in the revegetation of more than 1 acre (0.4 hectare) of denuded ground in five campgrounds.

Also in 2000, park staff used funds from the Parks as Classroom program to develop a workbook called STARS (Students Taking Action for Restoration and Stewardship) for teachers. Modules of the workbook tie the activities of the Student Stewardship Program to the state-required science curriculum.

The Student Stewardship Program furthers lasting improvements in the park by an ethnically diverse group of staff, students, faculty, and community members. The program members’ exchange of ideas and application of skills in the restoration enhance public appreciation for resource management, land stewardship, and support of park heritage.