Montana Natural History Center May 2004 Newsletter

What’s Happening Outside?

Serviceberries, chokecherries bloom

Migrants return

Marmots awake from hibernation

The common blue is one of the earliest butterflies of spring

Morels grow on leafy forest floors

Listen for the trills of toads as they lay eggs

Adult dragonflies escape from their exoskeleton

Get ready for getting outside with Field Notes, natural history essays on KUFM, Thursday at 9:30 and Sunday around noon.

Register for Summer Science Discovery Day Camps

How do you want your kids to spend their summer vacation? Spend the summer with us, exploring nature! Descriptions at http://www.TheNatureCenter.org or call and ask for a copy of Montana Naturalist, featuring a complete listing of camps. Members receive 25% off regular registration fees!

Summer Camp for Seniors 55+

On the Trail with Lewis & Clark: A Montana Natural History Journey

Session 1: June 27 – July 2

Session 2: August 1 – 6

Join the Montana Natural History Center for a season of education and adventure! If you are 55 or older, the Elderhostel program offers a week-long opportunity to retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark across the Rocky Mountains. Cost for locals is only $295 for a full week of natural history programming, including most lunches & dinners and transportation.

These Elderhostel Lewis and Clark programs offer a unique opportunity for local seniors to get behind-the-scenes looks at the historic sites and natural history right in their own backyards! Experts will present programs and augment field trips with fascinating looks at the native plants and encounters with wildlife that the Corps of Discovery experienced. The week-long sessions are all-inclusive with guided bird walks, evening presentations, and special trips to the National Bison Range, and expedition sites in the Bitterroot Valley and Lolo Pass. Programs include a combination of classroom and outdoor activities. Field trips include sites at high elevations with uneven terrain.

Space is limited; registration is required.

To register, call the Montana Natural History Center at (406) 327-0405 or visit http://www.TheNatureCenter.org.

May’s Calendar of Events

Saturday Discovery Day: May 8, 8:30 am -12:00 pm

Return to Black Mountain: Fire Ecology

Registration required.

$10 members/$15 non-members

May 11, 7-8 pm

Rocky Mountain Natural History

Author Dan Matthews & naturalist Will Kerling

Missoula Public Library, Small meeting room

May 15, 11:30-noon

Bird Basics

Missoula Children’s Museum

Cost: admission fee

Astronomy Series: May 15, 9:30 pm

Galaxies and Galactic Structures presented by John Mandler
John, a retired nuclear physicist, will present an interesting program for the general public and astronomy buffs alike. For more information about the WMAA, visit their website at: http://www.bigskyastronomy.org/

Prairie Keepers:

Tues. May 11- Fort Missoula Native Plant Prairie

Learn about gardening with native plants by taking a guided tour of the Nature Adventure Garden and Fort Missoula Native Prairie. You’ll learn about hummingbird and butterfly plants, and learn some common native wildflowers and grasses that thrive in gardens. Then help us to transplant wildflowers and grasses. For more info, call 327-0405. Meet at the Nature Adventure Garden 6 pm.

Sat. May 15 – Native Plant Sale – Missoula Farmer’s Market

The Clark Fork Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society has its annual native plant sale fundraiser. Come down and buy healthy native wildflowers, shrubs and grasses grown ethically by Society members. For more information, contact MNHC at 327-0405. North end of Higgins Ave at the Farmer’s Market starting at 9 a.m.

Sat. May 15 – Rock Creek Restoration Part 2

If you are skipping the Farmer’s Market today, please join Five Valleys Land Trust for a day of planting willows along this Blackfoot tributary near Ovando. This project is part of a continuing effort to restore this troubled native cutthroat trout stream. For more info, call Grant at 327-6796.

Tues. May 25 – Woad Warriors Part 1

Help the Clark Fork Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society pull this invader off the slopes of Mt Sentinel. We’ll earn money for the Society while restoring an urban prairie. Meet at the M trail at 6:30 p.m. and be ready to walk a few miles. For more info, call MNHC at 327-0405

Volunteer!

We have many programs and office needs this summer that could use your help.

Youth Programs

-Volunteers can help out with our Summer Science Day Camps – a great volunteer opportunity to gain experience working with kids.

Community Programs

-Be a part of our Saturday Discovery Days, our astronomy series and Prairie Keepers. You can also be trained as a Volunteer Naturalist and give tours of the Zoological Museum at the University of Montana or help out with field trips.

Field Notes/Field Notes for Kids

-Research and write Field Notes radio programs aired on Montana Public Radio weekly. You can also write a Field Note with a child.

Nature Adventure Garden

-Do you have a green thumb, or love to pull weeds? We could use your help! Work in our native plant garden and learn about Montana’s indigenous plants.

Special Events

-Be a part of the fun! Staff an interactive nature craft table or answer questions about natural history at one of our many public appearances at various locations around Missoula.

Administrative Work/Receptionist

-Help the Montana Natural History Center by answering phones, copying educational and promotion materials and assisting the visiting public.

For more information about these and many other volunteer opportunities, contact Gabrielle at 327-0405.

Congratulations to Conservation Awardees

On Earth Day 2004, three noted Missoula area conservationists were honored for their work. Retired ranger Bud Moore received the Arnold Bolle Award as the outstanding resource professional. Bud started working for the Forest Service in 1934. As chief of fire for the Northern Region, Bud was an influential voice in the role fire in wilderness. Bud is the author of The Lochsa Story Land Ethics in the Bitterroot Mountains. Ron Erickson received the Don Aldrich Award presented for long service to environmental protection. A Montana Legislator since 1998, Ron retired from UM after helping to found the university’s environmental studies program. The Burke/Brandborg Award for outstanding individual contributions in a given year was presented to Gary Matson for his leadership with Friends of Two Rivers, a group of Milltown and Bonner residents committed to the cleanup Milltown Reservoir and the removal of the Milltown Dam.

Building Update

Plans for turning our new building at 120 Hickory in the new Montana Natural History Center are moving ahead. Architects Kent Means and Lucas Dupuis of MMW are completing the construction documents for Phase I of our remodel. We are making plans to move into our new home September and are thinking about creating new exhibits. If you want to help, please consider making a gift or pledge today, we need to raise $113,000 to complete the life and safety work that must happen before we can use the building for offices and public space.

As we include community space at 120 Hickory, we’re pleased to announce our first collaboration……

Turning the Wheel Productions Inc. Presents “The Stringmaker”, May 10-22 with performances May 21-22

Turning the Wheel Productions, a Boulder, Colorado based intergenerational dance/theatre company, is returning to Missoula for a two-week residency in partnership with Lizzi Juda and a collection of schools, colleges, after school programs and community centers. The project will begin on Monday May 10 and end with two performances of “The Stringmaker” on Friday May 21st and Saturday May 22 at 7:30 pm at the Montana Natural History Center’s downtown location at 120 Hickory St. (formerly Big Sky Brewing Company).

The Residency includes a series of workshops, classes, and a fully staged production of “The Stringmaker”, a professionally crafted, community based dance experience which will be performed by a cast of sixty, including Missoula children, youth, adults and seniors from a wide variety of backgrounds and ability levels in combination with Boulder, San Francisco, Boston and Missoula artists. The Cast will work together to create the Missoula version of “The Stringmaker”, a breathtaking and innovative theatrical production. No experience is necessary to participate. All rehearsals and performances will be held in the MNHC’s downtown facility at 120 Hickory St. across from Missoula Parks and Rec. For more information about Turning the Wheel Productions visit them online at http://www.turningthewheel.com. Please call 327-0405 for more information.

Community Campaign

A community campaign to help fund the building is in formation. Co-chaired by board member and Susan Estep, and Dr. Phil Gardner, the committee is charged with raising money to make the building “move in ready.” Other members include Adrian Arleo, Peter Bensen, Holly Carnes, David Duncan, Russ Fletcher, Molly Galusha, Harry and Sandy LaForge, Kerry Maier, Wendy Ninteman, Marty Rausch, Sue Reel, Minie Smith, Marcie Valeo, Alexandra Volkerts. If you’d like to join us, please email [email protected]. Between now and the end of May, we’re looking for help in soliciting building supplies. We’re looking for free or reduced cost for sheetrock, plumbing, flooring, concrete, painting, roofing, landscaping, excavation and electrical and mechanical contractors.

MNHC announces a Non-Auction Year

Last year’s auction, ably co-chaired by Karen Dial and Susan Estep, was a great success as both a fun raiser and a fund-raiser. Missoula’s artistic and retail communities once again were great supporters. But this year we’re having so much fun that we can’t wait to party just one night! MNHC is going to forgo our Down by the River Auction and replace it with a number of other events. We have great plans for 2004! Stay tuned for:

Les Junque, a high-end rummage sale on June 19th –go thru your attic now and donate those treasures to MNHC (contact us for more information [email protected].).

Hoot, Howl and Boogie, July 17th, a day of music, food and fun with MNHC, Raptors of the Rockies and Wild Sentry

RiverFest benefit concert with Confluence, September 17 and the community festival in Caras Park on the 18th celebrating Wilderness, Wildflowers and Water.

There’s still more to come including a festival of wine, chocolate and food on October 22-23.

May’s Montana Natural History Links

Celebrate National Wildflower Week, May 3-8, learn more at http://www.wildflower.org

Go wild with the 27th Annual International Wildlife Film Festival, May 1-8. For a schedule of events, visit http://www.wildlifefilms.org

Montana Audubon and the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge are teaming up for the Bitterroot Birding Festival, May 21-23, in Stevensville. Main Street Festivities, May 22, will feature family oriented activities taking place in downtown Stevensville from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. For a complete list of field trips and programs check out http://mtaudubon.org/html/birdwatching_field_trips_and_programs_03.htm.

MNHC is an independent, non-profit educational organization. Membership gifts support MNHC’s mission
of promoting understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of nature through education.

Members receive special discounts on programs (including camp registration).

MNHC is proud to be a member of Montana Shares. Join us today!

Copyright © 2004 Montana Natural History Center