Lewis and Clark Trail 2021 Yearbook 

About this article: This article was published in the digital version of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 2021 Annual Report.

Photo: Claire Kolkmeyer, Park Interpreter.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, KY.

The Friends of Big Bone alongside Big Bone Lick State Historic Site staff celebrated both the expedition of the Corps of Discovery as well as Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s pivotal visits to Big Bone with Lewis and Clark Junior Ranger Day! Junior Rangers and other guests had the opportunity to tour and Lewis and Clark mock camp and complete the Junior Ranger program.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, OR, WA

In October 2021, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (LEWI) competed in Descriptathon 08, a challenge to audio describe brochures for blind and low vision audiences. Team Captain Catherine Ullery, along with Christina Caparelli and Jodi Vollmer joined from LEWI. Caitlin Campbell participated on behalf of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail. Lynette Kersey and Linda Jenkins helped the team develop and test audio descriptions and served as judges in the competition. The team adopted the Pacific Northwest's iconic Banana Slug as a mascot and placed third in overall points scored. Check out LEWI's audio described brochure!

Photos courtesy of Knappton Cove Heritage Center

Knappton Cove Heritage Center, WA

"Ocian in View!" Pictured here, an interpreter talks with a family and points to the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean during the center's July Encampment event. Knappton Cove Heritage Center, The Historic Columbia River Quarantine Station, celebrated the construction of a new viewing deck that points towards the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Volunteer Appreciation Party, Omaha, NE

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (NHT) celebrated its volunteers virtually in 2021 with a beach themed video soirée. Volunteers Kent Schlawin and Ken Schlueter are valued members of the Lewis and Clark NHT team. Kent researches and writes content for trail social media, where his interesting history posts have garnered an engaged following. Kent also takes awesome photos of scenes along the trail and helps edit park publications. Ken Schlueter has remained an essential member of the visitor center team, even after in-person opperations adapted. In 2021, the Lewis and Clark NHT visitor center in Omaha sent out 419 information packets to meet email and phone requests from visitors, an accomplishment that wouldn't have been possible without Ken's work.

Fridays with a Ranger Video Series

Fan favorite, Fig the Hamster, returned to set in 2021 for the Lewis and Clark Trail video series Fridays with a Ranger. In the video Where Have All the Elk Gone, Fig the Hamster portrays a frustrated Meriwether Lewis as he searches for elk to feed the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Fridays with a Ranger video series provided interpretation to the public while in-person facilities were closed due to COVID-19.

Photo: Dale Dufor. Travelers' Rest State Park Volunteer.

Travelers' Rest State Park, MT

In October 2021, Travelers' Rest State Park's AmeriCorps member Ryan lead a Trekker Kids program in which the kids made candles like they did on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Participants also became Lewis and Clark Trail Junior Rangers!