Press Releases

QWEST HELPS NATIONAL LEWIS & CLARK BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIONS BRING EXPEDITION TO LIFE FOR MONTANA STUDENTS

EXPLORE! The Big Sky, Back to School with Lewis & Clark and Tent of Many Voices Provide Interactive Opportunities to Connect With Legacy of Expedition

GREAT FALLS, Mont., June 1, 2005 – In honor of the historic and cultural impact of the “EXPLORE! The Big Sky” National Signature Event in Great Falls and Fort Benton, the “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” education program will be available to teachers throughout Montana. Teachers can take students on an amazing journey in time with the “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” program, which includes complimentary CD-ROMs that teachers can order and a Web site comparing the isolation of the Lewis & Clark expedition to the vast array of technologies students have at their fingertips today.

The program is made possible by the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial and a $320,000 grant from the Qwest Foundation, Qwest Communications’ philanthropic program.

“I’ve previewed the CD-ROM as well as the Web site with my students, and we are loving it,” said Margaret Hauge, fourth-grade teacher at Lewis & Clark Elementary School. “I am so thankful to Qwest and the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial for bringing history alive to the classrooms in our communities.”

“EXPLORE! The Big Sky” and “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” are both funded in part by a Qwest Foundation grant to the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, the organization congressionally designated to coordinate the National Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. The grant supports eight bicentennial signature events in seven states, including two in Montana; the “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” educational campaign; and brochures, posters and other publicity materials. Qwest also is supporting the Tent of Many Voices journey through Montana through a $15,000 grant to the Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission.

“We are proud to support educational programs that illustrate the courage and accomplishments of the Lewis & Clark expedition as well as encourage dialogue about its legacy in Montana and throughout the West,” said Rick Hays, Qwest president for Montana. “The National Council’s commemorative and educational programs and the Tent of Many Voices truly link the Lewis & Clark expedition with 21st century America, and with the Qwest Foundation’s commitment to making a positive difference in the communities where employees live and work.”

• “EXPLORE! The Big Sky,” which runs June 3 through July 4 in Great Falls and Fort Benton, commemorates the fateful decision at the Marias River confluence, the portage end in Great Falls, and honors the native cultures of the Plains Indian tribes. Events are geared toward both families and Lewis & Clark aficionados who will enjoy the activities offered each day in rural and metropolitan areas. The event includes free and ticketed events.
• The “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” program includes complimentary educational CD-ROMs for teachers as well as a Web site comparing the isolation of the Lewis & Clark expedition to the vast array of technologies students have at their fingertips today. The CD-ROMs include insights from historians and American Indians, and allow teachers to easily incorporate three- to six-lesson units into existing lesson plans. The Qwest Foundation is distributing the CD-ROMs to schools across the United States.
• The Tent of Many Voices is a mobile 150-seat auditorium providing opportunities for authors, historians, storytellers and other presenters to demonstrate their traditions and share their perspective on the legacy of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Local presenters are encouraged to apply to perform. The Tent of Many Voices is one of two main features of the Corps of Discovery II, which introduces the Lewis & Clark story as it relates to the natural history, cultural resources and people of our nation before, during and after the Lewis & Clark Expedition. The Corps of Discovery II is a joint effort of federal and state agencies, private and nonprofit organizations, and American Indian tribes. The National Park Service provides major funding, exhibit design and production, transportation, and support staff through the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, based in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more information and tickets for “EXPLORE! The Big Sky” events, visit www.explorethebigsky.com or call the Mansfield Center Box Office 406-455-8514.

To learn more about the “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” educational program, visit www.BackToSchoolWithLewisAndClark.org.

The Tent of Many Voices tour schedule and presenter application information can be found at visit www.montanalewisandclark.org.

About the Qwest Foundation
The Qwest Foundation’s core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on K-12 education and economic development.

The Qwest Foundation’s philosophy is to help build strong communities through investing in people and the places where they live and work. For more information, contact www.qwest.com/foundation.

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Qwest Contact:
Vince Hancock 801-237-6902
vince.hancock@qwest.com

Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Contact:
Everett Dietle
314-454-3178
ead@mohistory.org