Montana Natural History Center

Snow Geese Migration at Freezeout Lake - March 21

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:44:21 +0000

Freezeout Lake is Montana’s primary snow goose staging area, a place where as many as 300,000 snow geese and 10,000 tundra swans gather and rest before flying onward. In a series of shorter flights, the geese make their way to nesting grounds on the windswept extreme northwest arctic coast of Canada. The snow geese usually reach Freezeout in early March, where they rest up from a nearly 1,000-mile flight from California.

Spend an inspiring day watching thousands of migrating snow geese (and other birds) at Freezeout Lake. Trip will be hosted by snow goose expert and FWP volunteer Mike Schwitters.

Date: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Time: 7 am to 6 pm
Cost $30 MNHC members, $40 non-members.

Call 327-0405 to register. Space is limited.
Teachers: 3 OPI credits available.

Native Plant Garden Workshop - May 1

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:20:50 +0000

Join David Schmetterling to learn how to turn your yard into a place that wildlife and people will enjoy. Learn elements of garden design, use of space and structure to create a yard that environmentally friendly and affordable. Participants are encouraged to bring any garden plants that they have for discussion and planning. The workshop will finish with a visit to a spectacular, established native plant garden.
Date: Saturday, May 1st
Time: 1-4 pm
Cost: $35 MNHC members, $40 non-members
Call 327-0405 to register. Registration required, space is limited.

Spring Plant Walk with Paul Alaback - May 8th

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:21:47 +0000

Join Paul Alaback, UM Forest Ecology professor, for a wild and beautiful spring plant walk. Dr. Alaback will cover basic flower and plant identification as well as talk about his citizen science program Project Budburst that keeps track of when plants leaf, bloom, fruit, etc. Check out more at: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/.
Date: Saturday, May 8th
Cost: TBD
Time: 1-4 pm
Call 327-0405 to register.

Natural history of bark-beetles (and the effects that they are having on Montana forests) -June 19

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:42:15 +0000

Join UM Forest Entomology Professor Diana Six for an educational day in the field looking at several sites around Missoula that have bark beetle infestations. Dr. Six will provide interesting look at the bark beetle, the damage that it has inflicted on Montana forests as well as the potential future impacts.
Date: Saturday, June 19th
Time: 9 am - 1pm
Cost: $15 MNHC members, $20 non-members
Call 327-0405. Registration is required.

Special Winter Art Offer!

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:28:40 +0000

Buy a lovely piece of art and support MNHC’s nature programs for children at the same time!
100% of the proceeds go to supporting our Youth Programs, including our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Program and our Summer Science Day Camps.

FOR SALE:

Two original textile pieces by nationally-renowned Montana artist Dana Boussard.
Check out Dana Boussard’s website here >>

"He Zigged, She Zagged"

"Split Second Magic"

Artist: Dana Boussard

Medium: Textile Art

Dimensions:
“He Zigged, She Zagged” - 40″ x 56″
“Split Second Magic” - 47″ x 61″

Condition: Very Good

Fair Market Value:
“He Zigged, She Zagged” - $3900
“Split Second Magic” - $4100

Significant multiple purchase discount available - please contact us for details! Offers considered!

Contact Arnie Olsen at 406.327.0405 or aolsen@montananaturalist.org for more information, or stop by our building at 120 Hickory St. to view the pieces.

Project Learning Tree Educator Workshop - Apr. 17

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:47:57 +0000

Topic: Schoolyard Gardens: Connecting Children with Nature through Plant Education
Date: Saturday, April 17th, 2010
Time: 9:00 am to 3:45 pm
Cost: $13

Educators are invited to attend a one-day work shop in which we’ll explore ways to use Project Learning Tree (PLT) curriculum to introduce students to native plants, pollinators, invasive weeds and conservation principles. Topics covered can be catered to individual requests, but will include native gardens, community resources, seasonal and year-round curriculum models, and outdoor learning strategies. Registration fee includes all materials, a K-8 PLT curriculum guide, lunch and snacks. 6 OPI credits available. Space is limited to 15. Applications are due April 2nd. Download the PLT Application and send to

Leah Grunzke, Restoration Ranger
Montana Natural History Center
120 Hickory St.
Missoula, MT 59801

Project Learning Tree is an award-winning national environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation’s Center for Environmental Learning. Through indoor and hands-on, multi-disciplinary activities, PLT teaches students how to think, not what to think, about complex environmental issues. PLT’s modules for PreK-12 contain multi-disciplinary activities to teach about forests, wildlife, water, air, energy, waste, recycling, climate change, invasive species, community planning and a sense of place. PLT materials are aligned with state and national educational standards. For more information visit www.plt.org.

For more information contact MNHC Restoration Ranger Leah Grunzke at miss_grunzke at yahoo.com

Mt. Jumbo Weed Pull - May 1

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:05 +0000

This event is open to anyone who is interested in restoring Mt. Jumbo. This year we will focus on three species - spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax and cheatgrass.

All pullers will be trained on plant ID, will be directed to particular areas of the mountain, and will be given a bag of native seeds to revegetate the areas where they pulled the weeds. Bring gloves, water, sunscreen and sturdy shoes.
Cash prizes for champion weed pullers.

What: 4th Annual MT Jumbo Weed Pull
When: Saturday, May 1st from 10am - 1 pm (registration begins at 9 am)
Cost: Registration fee - $5 (don’t forget the cash prizes for pullers)
Contact: Giles Thelen at 406.543.2532 or giles at mso.umt.edu with questions.

Sponsored by the Mount Jumbo Advisory Committee (MJAC - an advisory group to Parks and Rec and The City of Missoula.

Summer Montana Master Naturalist Class - June 26-July 1

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:42:23 +0000

Sign up now for a week long intensive course that will give you the skills to call yourself a Montana Master Naturalist*! Learn local plants, birds, insects, mammals and more in the beautiful setting of Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge.

Dates: June 26th - July1st (optional service day July 2nd - for certification)
Time: June 26th - 6 - 8 pm introduction at MT Natural History Center
June 27th-July 1st - 7 am - 3:30pm at Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge
Cost: $295 with $50 deposit to reserve your spot. Balance due 1 month before class begins.

*Master Naturalist Certification possible with additional post-class work

*College Credit: 3 credits available pending approval

Montana Master Naturalist Course 2010 - Register Now!

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:02:25 +0000

The Spring 2010 Montana Master Naturalist Class is currently filled, but we are accepting names for the wait list. The cost of the course is $295. A $50 deposit must be paid upon registration to hold one’s spot.

The class will run from February - May 2010. There will be two sections, one on Monday and the other on Thursday, from 4:00-7:00 pm. Call MNHC at 327-0405 or e-mail office@montananaturalist.org to register.

Learn More about the Montana Master Naturalist Course>>

MNHC now on Facebook!

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:35:11 +0000

Check out upcoming events! See fun event photos! Become a fan!

It is all possible now that MNHC has a Facebook page.

Check it out at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Missoula-MT/Montana-Natural-History-Center/92854982739