Montana Natural History Center April 2004 Newsletter

Building Update

The Montana Natural History Center was founded with the dream that it would, one day, be a Museum and Discovery Center near downtown Missoula. In a few days we close on 120 Hickory Street which lays the foundation for the future. Phase I will renovate the building and give us a base camp for our programs and exhibits. We are half way to our goal of $300,000. Please consider making a gift or pledge, every dollar counts.

Saturday Discovery Day: April 10, 11am-3 pm

$10 (includes door prizes and refreshments), with a coupon for a $10 discount on membership with IAFI and/or MNHC

Learn about Glacial Lake Missoula and the Ice Age Floods at the Montana Natural History Center. Discover how this incredible geological event shaped the local landscape into what we know today. Presentations offered throughout the day will focus on different aspects of the lake and floods.

Glacial Lake Missoula Saturday Discovery Day, hosted jointly by the Montana Natural History Center and the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute. The Ice Age Flood Institute is a regional, non-profit organization of citizens committed to telling the story of the cataclysmic floods that swept across Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Its Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter encompasses Montana, particularly those parts of the state once covered by the ice age lake.

For more information, call the Montana Natural History Center at (406) 327-0405 or visit http://www.TheNatureCenter.org. More information about Glacial Lake Missoula is available online at http://www.iceagefloodsinstitute.org and http://www.glaciallakemissoula.org.

Volunteer Training: April 10, 12-4 pm at Maclay Flats

Who should attend :

-All volunteers who would like to instruct or assist with spring, ecology field trips

-People interested in learning more about the natural history

-Anyone who would like to become a volunteer with MNHC during the summer

Training topics will include:

-Introduction to the Visiting Naturalist program and spring field trip

o Riparian habitat and function

o Diversity and abundance of bird species

o Aquatic insects

o Fire Ecology

-Introduction to teaching in the field

o Using inquiry

o Outdoor group management and strategies

o Tour of nature trails and teaching sites

Come prepared to spend extended periods outside. Snacks and beverages will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch. Please RSVP, by April 9, to 327-0405.

Wild Walk Parade Prep: April 15 (4-7 pm) & April 24 (12-4) at 120 Hickory

Go with the flow! The flow of the Clark Fork River that is! Join MNHC’s “float” as we create costumes of critters that depend on the river for the International Wildlife Film Festival’s Wild Walk Parade (occurs May 1, meet at the XXXs on north Higgins at 10 am). Materials provided or bring your own special creations!

Astronomy Series: April 24, 9:30 pm

Earth’s Natural Satellite “The Moon” presented by Bill Elison. Bill is a very experienced astronomer and one of the Founding members of the Western Montana Astronomy Association. Bill is also a member of the Mission Valley Astronomy Club. For more information about the WMAA, visit their page on our website at: http://www.thenaturecenter.org/WMAAFolder/WMAAMain.htm

10th Annual Clark Fork Watershed Festival: April 29-30

The Clark Fork Watershed Festival staff and 28 classes from around the community are gearing up for this year’s annual festival. The Watershed Festival involves hundreds of volunteers, teachers and students in a celebration of our water and where it comes from. As part of their sixth grade earth science curriculum, students are learning from their teachers and from a University of Montana class to prepare for the educational and fun field trip days, scheduled for April 29 and April 30. Volunteers are welcome!

Get involved by calling Watershed Festival Coordinator, Anna McNairy at 327-0405.

Fifth Annual International BEAR HONORING: April 30 – May 2

Learn about current bear issues in science and culture at the University Theatre, April 30 from 1-4pm. Come eat the food that bears eat and learn more about current issues in bear conservation from 5-9 pm at the Montana Natural History Center. Saturday, May 1, we will travel to SKC and attend the Kicking Horse Job Corp PowWow to explore the role of bears in culture in the Mission Valley. On Sunday, head to Glacier National Park for a day of learning about bears in their habitat, and look for bears in avalanche chutes. For more information, please contact the Great Bear Foundation at 406-829-9378 or at [email protected]. A schedule of events coming soon to http://www.greatbear.org

Registration Begins for Summer Programs

Summer Science Discovery Day Camps

Thinking ahead to summer day camps? Descriptions at http://www.TheNatureCenter.org. Members receive 25% off of registration fees!

Elderhostel for Seniors 55+: On The Trail With Lewis And Clark: A Montana Natural History Journey
Join the Montana Natural History Center for our popular Elderhostel program this summer. Local participants can take advantage of special commuter rates. Expedition journals will guide us as we study the plants and animals Lewis and Clark encountered and named. Learn from local experts about the historical uses of plants, the tools and weapons of the Expedition and how archaeologists are uncovering this fascinating story. Discover Montana’s natural heritage, then and now!

June 27th – July 2nd
August 1st – 6th
August 29th- September 3rd

For more information, contact Gabrielle, Community Programs Coordinator (406) 327-0405, or [email protected]

April’s Montana Natural History Links

Curious about the Ice Age Floods Institute? Glacial Lake Missoula and more at http://www.iceagefloodsinstitute.org!

Be first in line for the 27th Annual International Wildlife Film Festival, May 1-8. For a full schedule of events check out http://www.wildlifefilms.org.

Congratulations to Kate Davis for Outdoor Pro 2004 Award from the Ben Meadows Company.

Learn more about Kate’s work at http://www.raptorsoftherockies.org.

MNHC is proud to be a member of Montana Shares. Charity starts at home! Montana Shares is an organization that helps Montanans learn more about Montana organizations working to make Montana a better place. You may donate directly to Montana Shares or an employer can set up a workplace giving campaign. For more information about Montana Shares check out http://www.montanashares.org.

MNHC is an independent, non-profit educational organization. Membership gifts support MNHC’s mission of promoting understanding, appreciation, and conservation of natural systems through natural history education. Members receive special discounts on programs (including camp registration), special invitations and the knowledge that they are good people.

Join us today!