For Immediate ReleaseContact: Andrea Fountain, bhpf@blackhillsparks.org
Discover the mystery of ancient bison with Black Hills Parks and Forests Association and their partner Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (NNF&G.) The Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center, managed by NNF&G, will be open on select weekends during July, August, and September. The Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center is home to one of the most important paleo-archeological discoveries in North America. Visitors can tour the bonebed enclosure and discover the mysterious past of the Bison antiquus (extinct bison) that died there. The Center will be open for visitation from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm: July 15-16, July 29-30, August 12-13, August 26-27, and September 2-3.
The location is also host to the digital education platform Agents of Discovery. In Agents of Discovery, children ages 5 and up can play games, solve nature mysteries, and earn points at U.S. Forest Service locations, nature centers, state parks, and museums all across the country. To play Hudson-Meng’s Agents of Discovery game, download the app, search for Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, and download the missions (games) for Hudson-Meng before traveling to the location.
“Agents of Discovery encourages kids to move and connect to Hudson-Meng by making the location into a fun game. We are excited to help support our partner Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands by making this app available” says, Patty Ressler, Executive Director of Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. To learn more about Hudson-Meng and Agents of Discovery visit https://blackhillsparks.org/nebraska-national-forest-grasslands/
BHPFA is an official non-profit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Black Hills National Forest, Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands and the National Grasslands Visitor Center. BHPFA operates 16 retail stores for these seven agencies. This year, BHPFA is providing $70,000 to these partners for educational materials and programs.
Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center has two missions (games) that can be downloaded from the Agents of Discovery App. The Missions need wifi to download, but not to play. Once at the location, children can open the app and follow the interactive questions with the help of a character guide named Bartholomew Bison