Among the Wildflowers: Bumble Bee Atlas Field Training Hike

Join Wild Montana and the Montana Bumble Bee Atlas for a full-day field training plus hike in the Highwood Mountains, starting at Thain Creek Trailhead. This roughly 6-mile hike offers a chance to experience a beautiful landscape while contributing to the conservation of Montana’s wild bumble bees. We’ll hike through outstanding wildflower habitat on the Helena – Lewis and Clark National Forest, stopping along the way to learn how to catch, photograph, and safely release bumble bees as part of the Montana Bumble Bee Atlas, a statewide community science project working to better understand and protect these essential pollinators. Michelle Toshack (Xerces Society) will guide participants through survey methods, bumble bee ecology, and identification, sharing how data collected by volunteers helps inform conservation for bees in Montana. This training is ideal for those who enjoy a good day hike, care about Montana’s wild places, and want to take an active role in stewardship through hands-on science.