Montana Natural History Center March 2004 Newsletter

Building Update

With a signed buy/sell agreement and a positive environmental assessment, our vision of natural history museum and discovery center is becoming clearer. We are working with Missoula architectural firm MMW to create the blank canvas that will let us begin to design individual exhibits. We will move in this September with new classrooms, new library space, five times the exhibit space, a new gift shop and hot running water! This month students in our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Program will be helping us by designing an exhibit about something they’ve learned this year. If YOU have ideas to share email them to us at [email protected].

We have come a long way on this project, but we really need your help. Please consider joining us; download or print out a pledge sheet from the front page of http://www.TheNatureCenter.org. Together we can make this happen!

Ice Age Floods Institute meeting: Thursday, March 4, 4-6 pm

MNHC is happy to be partnering with the Ice Age Floods Institute to host their March meeting. The IAFI will hold its regular business meeting from 4pm until 5pm. The public is invited to attend from 5pm to 6pm for discussions and videos about the floods unleashed when Glacial Lake Missoula burst through its. For more information contact Larry Lambert, President of the Missoula Chapter of the IAFI at [email protected] or follow the link listed at the bottom of this message.

Bitterroot Birding and Nature Trail Community Meeting

You’re invited to help shape the Bitterroot Birding and Nature Trail in 2004. What is the Trail? It’s a nature tourism effort, a conservation project, a celebration of the "nature" of Lewis and Clark, and most important a Trail to be created and supported by residents. The Trail will be a network of approximately 25 outstanding birding and nature viewing sites from Lost Trail to Lolo Pass.

The Bitterroot Birding and Nature Trail marks the pilot trail for the state of Montana. Birding Trails are taking off in more than 20 states in the country with dramatic results–bolstering economies, supporting conservation efforts like Important Bird Areas, and building constituencies who care about birds, wildlife and protecting habitats.

This pilot project was made possible by a grant from the National Forest Foundation. The Montana Birding and Nature Trail Steering Committee (a multi-partner group that includes tourism and natural resource agencies, nonprofit groups and Universities) oversees the project.

Bitterroot Birding and Nature Trail Community Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, March 9: DARBY–Darby High School cafeteria
Wednesday, March 10: HAMILTON–Hamilton Public Library
Monday, March 15: MISSOULA–Missoula Public Library
Tuesday, March 16: LOLO: Travelers Rest State Park
Thursday, March 18: STEVENSVILLE: North Valley Library

Saturday Discovery Day: March 13, 1-4 pm
Pam Voth, Nature Photographer, will captivate you with "How to capture the moment…and not the telephone wires"

Nature Photography 101: Composition and Timing. We’ll explore what is it about nature photographs that appeals to us individually; discover ways we can compose nature photographs to communicate our desired visual message; and learn techniques to improve our timing when shooting nature photographs. This class is open to ages 10 and up. Participants are invited to bring a camera (conventional or digital is fine), film (or digital media), and a tripod if you have one. If you don’t have a camera there will still be lots to learn with the visualization exercises. We will go outside to practice what we learn, so please dress for the weather. Class Fee: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. To register, please contact the Montana Natural History Center at 406-327-0405

Kids Fair at Missoula’s Southgate Mall: March 13, 10 to 9pm

Southgate Mall, sponsor of our Traveling Educational Trunks Program, throws Kids Fair every year. If it has anything to do with kids, it will probably be at the mall for Kids Fair. Stop by our booth and meet some of the staff!

Spring Equinox Icebreaker Books: Saturday, March 20

The Montana Natural History Center’s required reading list will debut March 20th at local bookstores. Books in two categories (Children’s and Nature & Outdoors) have been selected. On the 20th Kate Davis will be at Shakespeare and Company, Donna Love will be at Waldenbooks in Southgate Mall, Radd Icenoggle will be at Fact and Fiction, and Wayne Phillips will be at The Book Exchange signing their books. Hastings author and time TBA. For updated information, check out our current events listing at http://www.TheNatureCenter.org

Astronomy Series Kickoff: Saturday, March 20, 7:30 pm

The Western Montana Astronomical Association’s Astronomy Series will start with “Exploring the Solar System”.
Mike is an experienced astronomer and a member of the Mission Valley Astronomy Club as well as a long time member of the WMAA. Viewing will follow the presentation, dependent on clear skies. Telescopes provided by the WMAA.

Thanks to The Missoulian

On January 30th, Jane Rider did a terrific article describing our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Program. Matt Erickson, Charles Miller and our Volunteer Naturalists have hosted over 550 students from area schools and home schools groups learning about Winter Ecology. Then, on February 26th, Daryl Gadbow wove the story of Winton Wedemeyer’s life and the MNHC’s acquisition of his collections into a superb article. MNHC wishes to extend special thanks to Dale Burk, of Stonydale Press, for his invaluable role in having the collection come to the MNHC. Read Daryl’s article at http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/02/26/outdoors/od01.txt

Montana Naturalist in your mailbox this April

Thinking ahead to summer day camps? Check out our Summer Science Discovery Day Camp offerings as well as events from April through August. Not on our snail-mail list? Send your address to [email protected] to have Montana Naturalist delivered to your home or business.

March Montana Natural History Links

KUFM has supported MNHC’s Field Notes radio show for over 12 years. Show your support of KUFM during March 13-21 during their on-air fundraiser. Learn about the fun premiums, including some from us, at http://www.kufm.org. As in past years MNHC volunteers will take their turn answering the phones. Want to help? Contact Betsy! [email protected]

Check out Montana Natural History Center’s Glacial Lake Missoula website at http://www.GlacialLakeMissoula.org with pictures by Mark Wilson.

Visit the Ice Age Floods Institute website at http://www.iceagefloodsinstitute.org

Visit Stoneydale Press’ website at http://www.stoneydale.com

Copyright © 2004 Montana Natural History Center