Summer is off to a busy start at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. With the weather heating up, they are seeing more visitors walk through their doors. Some people are even traveling across the world to see what Montana has to offer.

During the Interpretive Center's Bicentennial Celebration, more than 70,000 people visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. And even though visitor traffic is down a bit, organizers say they have managed to stay busy because of the variety of programs they offer.

Children in Great Falls were busy hammering tin lanterns, making candles and playing with dradles on Monday at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. They are learning what life was like 200 years, during the Colonial era. It's all part of the Interpretive Center's day camp for local children.

Jane Weber, the Center Director says, "They've learned a bit about how difficult it was to live 200 years ago, very difficult than the conveniences that we have to day."

While some places are cutting back with the economy, that is certainly not the case at the Interpretive Center. They are rolling out the special events every week to keep people coming back for more.

Weber noted, "We offer a lot of free opportunities and we change it up so every Friday, every Saturday, it's a different program for folks to come and enjoy for free."

And it seems to be working. Jason Flora and his family have spent the past few days traveling across he state. With gas prices lower than last Summer, Jason says now is a better time than ever ever to visit Montana. Flora says, "I came here for work and then I brought my kids out for the 4th. There's a lot of history in Montana, I didn't want them to miss any of it, so I thought well this is a good place to start."

In fact, Adriano Peiretti and his wife traveled thousands of miles from Italy to Montana to recreate the Lewis and Clark journey. He says many of the photos he's captured will be featured in his local newspaper back home.

Peiretti says, "I read the book about the diary of Lewis and Clark and I decided to remake this journey." It's a journey the Interpretive Center is hoping many people will take throughout the Summer.

If you are interested in having your children attend the day camp at the Interpretive Center, the next one will be taking place the week of July 20th. The camp is open to children in 1st through 6th grade. To sign up, call the Interpretive Center at 727-8733.