CARTER COUNTY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS A CENTRAL TENANT OF OUR MISSION. IN 2023 WE HELD A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL DINO SHINDIG, THE JUNIOR SCIENTIST PROGRAM, STAR PARTIES AND DARK SKY EVENTS, SCHOOL TOURS, SEWING SOIREES, YOGA, AND VACCINE CLINICS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARTER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. IN 2023, THE SHINDIG EARNED $14,281.75 IN PROGRAM REVENUE, WITH EXPENSES OF $8,817.61. A RECOVERY DESTINATION GRANT FROM THE MONTANA OFFICE OF TOURISM COVERED A TOTAL OF $15,091 IN ADDITIONAL ADVERTISING EXPENSES FOR THE EVENT. FOR THE 11TH ANNUAL DINO SHINDIG WE HOSTED 744 PEOPLE OVER A THREE-DAY PERIOD. SINCE 2013, THE SHINDIG HAS SERVED 13,612 PEOPLE. APPROXIMATELY 939 PEOPLE WERE REACHED THROUGH ON-SITE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, 16,228 THROUGH OFF-SITE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, AND 32,706 THROUGH VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.

MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT - EXHIBITIONS AT THE CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM FOLLOW THE NARRATIVE OF THE LANDSCAPE THROUGH THE DEEP PAST AND ITS EVOLVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIGENOUS AND RANCHING CULTURES. OUR COLLECTIONS WERE AMASSED OVER AN 80+ YEAR PERIOD AND REPRESENT 90 MILLION YEARS OF HISTORY AND PREHISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA AND CARTER COUNTY. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PROGRAM SERVICE INCLUDE THE CARTER COUNTY HERITAGE ORCHARD, MUSEUM DISPLAY FUND, HELL CREEK AMBER PROJECT, MUSEUM DISPLAYS, AND FEEK'S VISION DOCUMENTARY PROJECT, FOR WHICH WE ARE A FISCAL SPONSOR (INCOME $69,490, EXPENSES: $62,036.50). IN 2022-23, THE CCM PARTICIPATED IN THE NATIONAL STUDY FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF MUSEUM SOCIAL IMPACT, WHICH FOUND THAT THE CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY'S TOURISM AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, IN ADDITION TO BEING A VITAL HERITAGE RESOURCE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. THE MUSEUM RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE MONTANA OFFICE OF TOURISM AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $109,187 FUNDED THE LAMBERT ROOM LIGHTING PROJECT, BEGAN THE BIG SKY SEAWAY EXHIBITION, AND JOINED THE COLLABORATION FOR ONGOING VISITOR EXPERIENCE STUDIES. FINALLY, THE CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF THE BANNACK GROUP (BOZEMAN, MT) TO CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE MUSEUM RENOVATION AND EXPANSION CAPITAL PROJECT ($45,000 EXPENSE) AND SPENT $5,500 IN PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISING SERVICES TOWARD THE CAMPAIGN. A TOTAL OF 5,502 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE MUSEUM IN 2023, WHICH WAS A 6% INCREASE FROM 2022.