Part of a series of articles titled Lewis and Clark Trail 2021 Annual Report.
Article
Outdoor Visitor Center 2021
![Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Visitor Center Rangers with Prairie Dog 4 rangers in National Park Service Uniforms smile. One holds a black tailed prairie dog.](/lecl/learn/images/VCO-staff-with-Miss-Penny-Blossom-the-Prairie-Dog_Nate-Sarah-Shannon-Baylea_2021-08-15.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
Photo: NPS
About this article: This article was originally published in the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 2021 Annual Report.
Adapting to Serve the Public
Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 saw visitor center operations moved outside for a time, allowing rangers to provide in-person visitor services while maintaining staff and visitor safety. Employing an NPS-branded tent to shield them from the sultry summer sun, rangers installed both temporary exhibits and information libraries and provided interactive Junior Ranger programming and area orientation.
—Sarah Stannard | Visitor Center Operations Manager
![Outdoor-VC-LECL-Digital-Annual-Report Two rangers stand in front of outdoor visitor station. Tent reads Lewis and Clark Trail. Portable history displays.](/lecl/learn/images/Outdoor-VC-LECL-Digital-Annual-Report.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Photo: NPS
Meeting Visitors Outside
Ranger Baylea and Teacher Ranger Teacher (TRT) Jerrold stand ready to meet the public outside. A local middle school teacher, Jerrold worked with the Lewis and Clark Trail through the TRT program which partners teachers with the National Park Service.
Location
Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Visitor Center. Omaha, NE.
![Junior Rangers at Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Visitor Center-2021 Ranger leads group of children in Junior Ranger Pledge. All stand wit their right hands raised. Bridge in background](/lecl/images/Jr-Ranger-LECL-VCO-Outside_2021-06-13.png)
Photo: NPS
By the Numbers
In the summer of 2021, Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Outdoor Visitor Center staff,
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Contacted 15,723 people
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Inducted 891 Lewis and Clark Trail Junior Rangers
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Sent out 419 Lewis and Clark Trail information packets to meet email and phone requests
![VCO Ranger shannon with Newfoundland dog and visitors_2021 Two visitors and their dog pose with ranger at urban park. Dog is a black Newfoundland. Ranger holds black dog stuffed toy.](/lecl/learn/images/Ranger-with-Visitors-and-Dog-Lewis-and-Clark-Trail-Visitor-Center.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Photo: NPS
New Friends
The outdoor visitor center gave rangers a chance to engage with a whole new set of visitors and their humans! Ranger Shannon loves to tell tales about Captain Lewis’ Newfoundland dog Seaman and inspire pups and people alike to have adventures of their own along the Lewis and Clark Trail.Last updated: January 24, 2022