MAPS Program Expands Beyond Ravalli County

A $25,000 grant from the Greater Montana Foundation has helped Hamilton’s MAPS Media Institute bring its media instruction program to areas outside of Ravalli County. MAPS has been teaching 8th graders through 12th graders about video and other media production in free after-school programs for 15 years. MAPS stands for Media Arts in the Public Schools and over of the years has even received Regional Emmys for its students’ work.

The grant, added to previous grants, has enabled instructors to equip a "tech" van that can bring the media instruction throughout Montana. Program director Clare Ann Harff said that they often in rural areas, but have also done work in Helena. Harff said MAPS has been concentrating on Lake County, with their next projects planned for the new Boys and Girls Club in Ronan. With the many different program offerings in the Hamilton classes, Harff described the creative energy of the students as "The Pinball Machine" with all the ideas bouncing around the room. Check out their website for more information.