By Missoula Current

The University of Montana will host the 2017 Montana Geographic Bee from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 31, in various locations around campus.

The Montana Geographic Bee is put on each year by the Montana Geographic Alliance and sponsored by the National Geographic Society. One hundred eighth-grade students will travel from all over Montana to Missoula to compete.

The winner will then go to Washington, D.C., in May to represent Montana in the final round.

Each year, thousands of students in fourth through eighth grade participate in the National Geographic Bee, which is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms and spark student interest. Montana has not won the National Geographic Bee since 1994.

The schedule follows:

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Registration, giant map display and light brunch for participants, Payne Family Native American Center.

11:30 a.m. – Welcoming remarks, Payne Family Native American Center.

Noon – Preliminary round, various buildings on campus.

2 p.m. – Final round, Social Science Building Room 352.

Hosting this event is an honor for UM and allows students and teachers to collaborate outside the classroom.

For more information about the 2017 National Geographic Bee, email Laura Caplins, Montana Geographic Alliance program manager, at mga@mso.umt.edu.

More From Missoula Current