Building Community Through Place

WRITTEN BY ANGIE WEIKERT

"Place" is my favorite way to describe the special spots that shape our community. It means more than just geography—it holds our shared history, personal connections and the stories that define us. Places shape who we are, contain our relationships and memories, and help us envision the future. They teach us about the world and connect us to something bigger than ourselves.

After two decades in the Gallatin Valley, a handful of places immediately come to mind when I think about what makes this community so special. As our town grows and new families settle in, I often reflect on how certain places have influenced my time here—and how they continue to shape the experiences of others, including the next generation exploring them through summer camps and outdoor programs.

The College M

I suspect I’m not alone in that my first Bozeman hike was up the College M. Wearing jeans and completely underestimating the “steep way,” I had just moved from Michigan to Montana, and this poorly planned adventure made me late for my first job interview in town. Over the years, this trail has become a place of reflection and renewal, helping me navigate grief and loss, celebrate recovery from injury and work through life’s inevitable transitions. For me, this trail is community—it connects me to the quiet past and to the excitement of new residents and visitors discovering it for the first time.

Beall Park

That job interview I showed up late for, thankfully, led to a role at Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS), where I spent summers leading camps that launched daily from Beall Park. Each morning began with games of tag and laughter on the green space before we loaded into vans bound for trailheads and field sites. Beall Park represents the friendships and community connections I built through MOSS—teaching, developing curriculum and discovering the incredible landscapes of Montana. This place is a reminder of how outdoor education can foster deep community ties.

Jane’s Gate at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center

I was welcomed into the ski education program at Bohart Ranch (now Crosscut Mountain Sports Center) in the winter of 2005-06. One of the program’s unique offerings, Adventures in Winter Ecology, blended standards-based science curriculum with ski instruction through a partnership with MOSS. This program was, and still is, the only one like it in North America. My job was often to guide the “never-evers” (kids who had never been on skis before); introducing them to the sport and the wonders of the landscape in their own backyard was an incredible experience. My groups were always the last to arrive for lunch and the last to board the bus home—not just because they were novice skiers, but because I was determined to take them on epic journeys. We sought out the best views of the Bridger Range, searched for animal tracks in the fresh snow and explored as many trails as possible. The sense of accomplishment these students had after their first day on skis was immensely gratifying. When I ski at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, I can’t help but ski to Jane’s Gate and pause. This is by far my favorite place in Bozeman.

Honoring Place Through Partnership

Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen our community rally to support these and many other special places. I’ve also witnessed how nonprofit partnerships have strengthened these efforts. The nonprofit landscape is evolving rapidly—not just in the Gallatin Valley but nationwide. Organizations are finding creative ways to protect and enhance the places that define us.

In a full-circle moment, my new role as CEO of Crosscut Mountain Sports Center allows me to be part of an exciting milestone: Welcoming MOSS to a permanent home at Crosscut. This partnership unites two missions dedicated to place-based outdoor education, fulfilling MOSS’s long-held dream of securing a permanent base—an idea that first took root during their collaboration at Bohart Ranch in 2003. My colleagues and I at Crosscut are honored to provide a home where MOSS can continue to grow and inspire future generations.

As our community evolves, I believe it’s essential to recognize that our well-being is tied to the health of our surroundings. Place-based education turns our community into a classroom, helping kids and adults alike connect local experiences to global challenges. It empowers us to see ourselves as part of a larger world, one in which they can make a difference.

For me, these places serve as markers of time, growth and connection. They remind me that our community is ever-evolving yet deeply rooted in the landscapes we cherish. I hope you find similar meaning in the places you hold dear.

Angie Weikert has dedicated her career to education and fostering a connection to the natural world. She was born and raised in Michigan and has been in Bozeman since 2005. In addition to jobs with MOSS and Crosscut, Angie’s career also includes more than a decade of leadership at the Museum of the Rockies. She holds both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Education from Montana State University, with research focused on building community partnerships to support place-based education. She is the CEO of Crosscut Mountain Sports Center.