Community Invited to Birch Creek Open House on May 2

38 minutes ago
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The University of Montana Western will host an open house on Saturday, May 2, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Bender Center at Birch Creek.

The open house offers the campus and surrounding community an opportunity to gather and celebrate the start of a new season at Birch Creek. Attendees will also get a first look at newly completed murals designed and painted by students in classes led by Professor Michael Barrett.

The murals are the result of a collaborative effort between students in Global Visual Culture and 2D Fundamentals courses. Students in the Global Visual Culture course developed concepts inspired by the landscape, its inhabitants, and the history of the area. Those ideas were then brought to life by 2D Fundamentals students as large-scale, colorful murals that reflect both detailed observation and creative interpretation.

Student artists will be available from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. to discuss their work, share insight into the creative process, and answer questions about the mural project.

In addition to the murals, visitors will notice newly installed window coverings throughout the Bender Center. These were hand-sewn by students in the 2D Fundamentals course and reflect the theme of nostalgia, drawing on experiences connected to camps, cabins, and the outdoors. The red-and-white checkered pattern is intended to evoke familiar images of picnic blankets and summer gatherings.

Originally constructed in 1935 as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, the Birch Creek Center has a long history tied to outdoor education and community engagement. Since 1985, the University of Montana Western has operated the Bender Center, which now serves as a rustic setting for educational programs, retreats, and experiential learning opportunities.

The Birch Creek Center is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Dillon. Visitors can take Apex Exit 74 and follow the Birch Creek gravel road for 7.5 miles to the Education Center turnoff. Parking may be required at the turnoff depending on road conditions, with a short walk into the Center.