Missoula, Montana based Ecology Project International to celebrate 15th anniversary with open house on June 5

Scott Pankratz and Julie Osborn founded Missoula, Montana based Ecology Project International EPI http://www.ecologyproject.org/ in 2000, and their mission was to hire local teachers in places like Costa Rica and Mexico to teach students to address critical conservation issues, and to facilitate cultural exchange programs. The organization has experienced growth beyond their wildest dreams, accelerating by 20 percent every year for the past five years in terms of staff, students and revenue.

Today, EPI employs 99 people worldwide, including 35 in Missoula. In the next few weeks, their 20,000th student will complete one of their field science programs.

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, EPI will be hosting a First Friday celebration at their headquarters at the historic Swift Building at 315 S. Fourth St. E. on June 5 from 5-8 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will feature complimentary beer and wine, local food and live music from New Orleans-style brass band Soul City and bluegrass musicians Local Yokel. There will be a live bug and groundwater flow activities for kids guided by the Watershed Education Network, photography by local artists and tours of the building. EPI will be selling $25 raffle tickets for their annual Galapagos cruise for two, and the winner will be drawn at 7:30, although you don’t need to be present to win.

DAVID ERICKSON [email protected]

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/business/local/ecology-project-international-to-celebrate-th-anniversary/article_4da66f7e-7b0a-5f09-adfa-c4a53b3c2c7a.html