Can individuals apply?

Individuals who are interested should contact Mary Alice Carlson (mary.carlson5@montana.edu, 406-994-5232). We will admit individuals as space allows once all the teams are selected.

How will you choose teams?

We are excited to work with youth from all kinds of backgrounds. You don’t have to be “good at math” to participate in Montana Models!

We are funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. In our grant, we promised we would work hard to recruit from rural areas. This doesn’t mean we won’t involve groups from larger towns and cities, but it does mean we have to be intentional about reaching out to groups from smaller, more rural parts of Montana.

Do we have to be in 4-H to participate?

No (although we think 4-H is awesome and encourage you go join). Any team of middle/high school youth may attend along with adult mentors. Adult mentors not already cleared through 4-H will have to complete a background check.

If we are in 4-H, does our whole club have to come?

No. You can come as a club, combine clubs, or assemble a new group just for our camp. Your county agent will be a great resource when it comes to assembling teams for Montana Models.

How many teams will be at camp?

We expect to have between 6 and 8 teams at camp.

A couple of our 4-H club members are entering 6th grade, rather than 7th. Can they come too?

We don’t want members of your club to feel left out. We will do our best to accommodate teams that don’t fit neatly into the 7-12 grade band. Contact Mary Alice Carlson to talk about this some more (mary.carlson5@montana.edu, 406-994-5232).

What if our team is not accepted?

We will hold summer camp again in 2020. We will reach out to teams who applied this year and are still interested. If your team is from a rural community, we will give you priority for acceptance in 2020.

Do we have to have a math project in mind to apply?

No. One of the things we are most excited about is learning more about you and your communities. Everyone has to solve problems and make decisions in their everyday lives. Sometimes, these don’t really seem like math problems. Our project leaders LOVE thinking about how math intersects with our everyday lives and want to talk with you more. If you have an idea, great! If not, we can help you identify a problem that is interesting and exciting to you.

How much does this cost?

Montana Models is free to all participants and mentors.