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Montana Natural History Center June 2004 Newsletter

What’s Happening Outside?

Elk are beginning their migration to higher elevations where the bear grass is in bloom. Both mule deer and elk are calving. Bitterroots and clarkia are blooming. The salmon flies are hatching just in time for the emerging trout fry. Hummingbirds are returning to feed on blooming columbine. Merganser families are out and about and the fox kits can be seen playing in the sunshine. (Thanks to Sue Spanke for these natural history notes). You can buy her wonderful annual calendar in our gift shop!

Summer Science Discovery Day Camps are filling fast

Spend the summer with us, exploring nature! Descriptions and registration forms at http://www.TheNatureCenter.org or call for a complete listing of camps. Members receive 25% off regular registration fees!

June Summer Science Day Camps: More in July & August

Bats to Bears, Montana’s Mammals: June 14 – 18

Eco-Mystery: for Girls 11-14, June 21-24

Frogs, Fish and Fun: June 21-24

Moose Tracks and Mouse Trails: June 28-July 2

June’s Calendar of Events

Celebrate National Trails Days with “Creepy Crawlies”: June 5, 11:30-noon

At the Missoula Children’s Museum in the Florence Hotel. Cost: MCM admission fee

Saturday Discovery Day: June 12, 1-4 pm

Bear Basics presented by the Great Bear Foundation

Space is limited – Registration required. $10 members/$15 non-members

Join internationally known bear expert Dr. Charles Jonkel, along with Julie White, GBF’s Education and Outreach Coordinator for a hike in Pattee Canyon. We’ll look for bear sign, and learn about the wild foods bears eat. We will discuss safe travel and responsible living in bear country, along with preventing and handling encounters. Meet at MNHC at 1:00 pm to carpool to Pattee Canyon. Please come prepared for the weather, and bring snacks, water, and binoculars if you wish.

Le Junque: June 19, 8 am – 5 pm

THE high-end rummage and bake sale of the year! We already have an antique oak rocking chair, a white water raft, an electric mulching mower, neoprene waders, silver serving pieces, an antique sofa, a set of Dresden porcelain figurines of art and more see http://www.TheNatureCenter.org Go through your attic and donate those treasures you don’t use to MNHC. There is a special preview party for those who donate 6/18 from 5 -8 pm (contact us for more information [email protected].). We need bakers for the bake sale. If you want to offer your best scones or your grandma’s favorite rhubarb pie, please call Betsy at 327-0405.

Astronomy Series: June 19, 10:00 pm

$2 donation requested

Saturday, June 19 at 10:00 pm join the MNHC and the Western Montana Astronomical Association on for Earth’s Nearest Star: the Sun presented by Matt and Klyle Crawford. Find out how the daily activities of the sun affect us here on Earth. The presentation will be held at the MNHC. WMAA member telescopes will be set up outside for the public to view the night sky. There will be a ½ hour meeting for club members only or anyone who may want to join the WMAA at 9:30 pm. For more information about the WMAA, visit their website at: http://www.bigskyastronomy.org/

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

Cost: $295 full week of natural history programming, including most lunches & dinners and transportation

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. 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.

Prairie Keepers Series:

Tues. June 8 – WOAD WARRIORS PART 2

Meet at the M trail at 6:30 p.m. and be ready to walk a few miles.

Tues. June 22 – CLARK FORK NATIVE PRAIRIE

Learn to ID local grasses and pull out some nasty species. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Waterwise Garden on 4th St, behind the Missoulian. For more info, call Marilyn at 243-6642.

Sat. June 26 – NATIVE PLANT GARDEN TOUR

Start with a lecture and book signing by author Carole Rubin (How to Get Your Lawn Off Drugs, and How to Get Your Lawn Off Grass), then tour local native plant gardens. Begins at 10 am at the University Center Theater on the UM campus.

Tues June 29 – WEEDS TO WILDFLOWERS- LEARN TO ID THEM!

Walk through grassland restoration projects on the saddle of Mt. Jumbo. You’ll learn to identify Missoula’s common noxious weeds and lovely summer wildflowers. Meet at 7 p.m. at the top of Lincoln Hills Drive.

Teacher workshop

Middle School Teacher Professional Development:

Investigating and Evaluating Environmental Issues & Actions

July 11-16, Lubrecht Research Facility (30 mi. NE of Missoula)

FREE workshop. Learn how to engage students in environmental problem solving, investigate issues and interpret data. Instruction, lodging and food provided. Limited to 12 teachers. To register contact Anita at 327-0405 or [email protected].

Building Update

MNHC is proud to announce the purchase of the building at 120 Hickory St! We have a lot of hard work ahead of us but by fall we will occupy the western third of the building. Our offices will be located on the second floor and the main floor will be prepared for educational use and exhibits. We are very pleased to announce that a $10,000 gift from the Gallagher Western Montana Charitable Foundation, Inc. and a $15,000 anonymous donation have put the campaign total at $215,000 since October 2003. Our goal for this campaign is $335,000. Thank you to everyone who has supported this project. Special thanks go out to the Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable Foundation for their $10,000 pledge payment towards our building project! To find out how you can help us build the dream contact [email protected]

June’s Montana Natural History Links

Explore the world of native plants by visiting the Montana Native Plant Society at: http://www.umt.edu/mnps/

At http://www.greatbear.org/bears.html you can learn more about bears of the world and Montana.

Discover the cosmos! http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Learn more about the YWCA’s Father’s Day Taste of Missoula, June 20th. http://www.ywcaofmissoula.org/

UM researchers are promoting ecological education. Visit ECOS at http://www.bioed.org/ECOS

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!

If you do not want to continue to receive this newsletter electronically please click here we will promptly remove you from the list. Feel free to forward this to friends who might enjoy learning more about the Montana Natural History Center.

Copyright © 2004 Montana Natural History Center

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