Cartography Comes Alive

Join us at Xplorer Maps' new world headquarters in Missoula, MT, for our monthly event series, Cartography Comes Alive (CCA). From September through May, we feature extraordinary explorers, engaging storytellers, and expert educators who share their incredible journeys and insights. Whether you're an adventure seeker, travel enthusiast, national park lover, or history buff, these events are sure to inspire.

All CCA events are held at our Missoula brick-and-mortar location, 1245 S 3rd St W Seating is limited, so be sure to secure your spot for this unique experience that brings maps to life like never before!

This family-friendly event is open to all ages. Admission to Cartography Comes Alive is free, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. To guarantee a seat, we recommend picking up tickets early at the Xplorer Maps store.

For more information or to reserve tickets, visit us at 1245 S 3rd St W, Missoula or call 406-546-4972.

December 11th • 6:30-7:45pm

Connecting to Our Land and Our Relatives

Lailani, a journalist, filmmaker, educator and entrepreneur of Iron Shield Creative, a creative cultural consultancy encompassing Indigenous storytelling will connect you to the ancestral homeland of the Siksikaistapi (Blackfoot) or otherwise known as the Montana landscape through her people’s connection through stories, traditional ecological knowledge, traditional values, undocumented indigenous history, and her own personal journey. Indigenous stories offer a unique way to understand the power of the natural world and our human connections to it, and our animal relatives. Listeners will learn about a​ personal, soulful​ relationship of our natural world through Lailani’s sharing. Lailani will guide you to understanding a keystone relative, the Iinnii (buffalo). She will her share​ her how she uses her creative gifts in the Rematriation of the return of buffalo to native lands. Folks will walk away with a fresh look at our world and our human and carnivore​ relationship. The discussion will offer listeners to ponder their own personal responsibility and stewardship to the earth through the lens of an Indigenous mom, grandmother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend, and ponder ways they choose to act on behalf of our future generations and wildlife relatives.

January 15th • 6:30-8 pm

Hooves and Howls: The Ecology of Yellowstone Wolves and Bison

Sam Archibald is a naturalist, guide, and Lead Field Educator for the Yellowstone Forever Institute. Along the trail toward environmental education, Sam developed outdoor leadership programs as a Peace Corps volunteer, led YCC work crews as a park ranger, and earned his master’s degree in environmental management (Western Colorado University).

He currently teaches field courses on wolf ecology, birds & blooms, Yellowstone Communities and Kinship, and other topics related to Yellowstone geology, ecology, and management. Sam is grateful for every day he gets to spend out in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and looks forward to the continual discoveries offered by this wild and wonderful landscape.

Presentation:

Bison and wolves are two of most ecologically and culturally significant animals in North America. Both are keystone species that shape the landscapes around them, and both have a long history intimately intertwined with humans that continues through the wildlife management challenges we see today. The ongoing research and long history of these species in Yellowstone provides an opportunity to understand bison and wolves in all their complexities.

March 12 • 6:30-8 pm

10 years of Monitoring Elusive Carnivores in the Southwest Crown

Swan Valley Connections' Luke Lamar (he/him) will discuss results from 10 years (2012-2022) of wolverine and Canada lynx monitoring in the Southwest Crown of the Continent. In collaboration with valuable partners, SVC has been monitoring rare carnivores in the Swan Valley since the 1990s, focusing on species like Canada lynx, wolverine, fisher, and marten.

As interest in these carnivores has grown, SVC has continued to collaborate with other entities on the Southwestern Crown Collaborative Carnivore Monitoring Project to collect more detailed data on their distribution, abundance, and genetics. During his presentation, Luke will also share incredible game camera footage from the Southwest Crown of the Continent.

As one of SVC's Managing Directors, Luke oversees the organization's conservation programs. Born and raised in the Swan Valley, Luke has developed deep roots and personal connections with the landscape. He has spent most of his life learning the land, people, and wildlife of the Swan, and studying its interconnected processes and relationships. Luke attended the University of Montana, where he earned a B.S. in wildlife biology.

In addition to serving as a wilderness ranger in the Mission Mountains Wilderness for 12 years, his career within the Swan Valley has entailed a wide spectrum of field biology projects that have focused on wildlife species such as grizzly bears, wolverines, and Canada lynx.

FAQ

Are tickets free?

YES, they sure are! Admission to Cartography Comes Alive is free, but seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to secure their spot early by picking up their ticket(s) at the Xplorer Maps store. To accommodate all guests, any unclaimed reserved seats will be opened up to walk-in attendees at time if event on a first-come, first-served basis.

How do I get tickets or reserve my seat?

To reserve your FREE tickets, visit our headquarters at 1245 S 3rd St W.

When should I arrive?

Doors open 30 minutes before show time. Seats are first come, first serve. We encourage you to pick up tickets early.

Please arrive by 10 minutes before the storytelling starts. If you are unable to make it, give your tickets away or let us know, so we can give them away for you.

What if I didn't get tickets?

Admission for non-ticket holders is not guaranteed and will depend on availability. We recommend arriving promptly at show time to increase your chances of getting a seat.

To accommodate all guests, any unclaimed reserved seats will be opened up to walk-in attendees at time of event on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where is Cartography Comes Alive located?

Join us at Xplorer Maps' headquarters in Missoula, MT.

Address: 1245 S 3rd St West, Missoula

Phone: 406-546-4972

I have more questions.

If there are other questions we can answer for you, please give us a call at 406-546-4972 or visit us at 1245 S 3rd St W, Missoula.