Montana Natural History Center November 2005 Newsletter


What’s happening outside
Snowshoe hares are changing from brown to white. Northern fall storms will begin bringing in rough-legged hawks which replace most of the red-tailed hawks by December. Ruffed grouse stay near aspens and cottonwoods for their food supply of buds. Elk moving down from higher summer and early fall elevations. Most, if not all, osprey have left and bald eagles have replaced some of them. Gray jays, Clark ’s nutcracker and Stellar’s jays appear to move up and down in elevation according to temperature changes

What’s happening at your Discovery Center
October 26 – Volunteer Naturalist Training for the Visiting Naturalist Program
9:00 – 10:00 am , MNHC, 120 Hickory Street Join us for training on November’s monthly classroom visits to 500 Missoula area students.

October 29 – Saturday Discovery Day with Special Guest Clare Walker Leslie
“The Art of Keeping a Field Journal” 10:00 am – 12:30 pm , MNHC, 120 Hickory Street $15/$10 MNHC Members The workshop will take place both outdoors and indoors. Registration Required. Call MNHC at 406.327.0405 for more details.

October 29 – 11th annual Down by the River Gala & Adventure Auction
6:00 – 9:00 pm , Governor’s Room at the Florence Hotel
$50/each (MNHC Members only $45/each!) – TICKETS ON SALE THROUGH OCTOBER 25 . Please call or email Peter to reserve your spot. You can pay at the door, but we need a count for the caterer. See a complete listing at www.MontanaNaturalist.org . Auction item calling your name but still can’t make it? Call Peter and he’ll arrange for a proxy bidder. Winners of this year’s Natural History Educator Awards will be honored. This is MNHC’s major annual fundraiser and the time you can a make a real difference with our educational programs. Thank you!

November 5 - Getting Started in Backyard Astronomy
7:00 - 8:00 pm , followed by a sky viewing, weather permitting; MNHC, 120 Hickory Street $2 donation requested
Presented by Mike Hawkaluk and the Western Montana Astronomical Association. Are you interested in astronomy but don’t know where to begin? Learn the basics such as finding your way around the sky, good reference material for beginners and helpful viewing accessories. After the presentation, WMAA members will set up their telescopes for the public to view the night sky, weather permitting. This is a great opportunity to learn about the planets and constellations visible from Missoula and talk to WMAA members about astronomy in general.

November 12 - Humans, Bears, and Befuddlement: Be a Forensics Detective
10:00 am - 12:00 pm , University of Montana (Registration Required: 406.327.0405)
$7/$5 MNHC Members, $15/$12 MNHC Families
Is it human or animal? Male or female? Join the Montana Natural History Center at the University of Montana for this fascinating and fun program designed for middle-school aged children through adults. Learn how bones can help us solve crimes and find out how our understanding of natural history has led to great advances in forensics. Garry Kerr, a physical anthropologist who assists in the State Crime Lab with autopsies and forensic recoveries and teaches at the University of Montana , will walk us through the process. Then we'll get a chance to solve a mystery ourselves!

November 17 - Glacial Lake Missoula Open House with the Ice Age Floods Institute
6:00 pm, MNHC, 120 Hickory Street
FREE! and Open to the Public
Enjoy complimentary local wine, cheese, beer and coffee while watching Glacial Lake Missoula and the Ice Age Floods presentations, including an update on the effort to establish the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. Ice Age Floods Institute will co-host with MNHC in the new Discovery Center at 120 Hickory Street . You won’t want to miss this! RSVP to info@thenaturecenter.org or call 406.327.0405 by November 14.  

It’s the Season for Workplace Giving Campaigns Look for MNHC as a member of Montana Shares in your workplace charitable giving campaign. If you want more info rmation about MNHC to give to co-workers or want the option of Montana Shares in your workplace campaign you get in touch with Betsy .

Free Admission for Members! Admission for MNHC Members is always free at our new Discovery Center on 120 Hickory Street ! Open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 – 5:00 .

 Links of the Month
November 3, 9:00 - 10:30 am in the Governor’s Room at the Florence Hotel; Celebrate Missoula with the Missoula Forum for Children and Youth! Cookies and activities to celebrate all that makes Missoula a great place for youth and families. Learn more at www.missoulaforum.org .

November 8–10, Free Educators FireWorks Master Class at the Northern Rockies Training Center and Fire Sciences Lab. Class size is limited to 30. Jane Kapler Smith 406.329.4805. Visit New West http://www.newwest.net/index.php/ for the latest on-line news and commentary about the Rocky Mountain region.

MNHC is an independent non-profit organization celebrating its 15 th Anniversary. Become a member and support MNHC’s mission of promoting and cultivating the appreciation, understanding and stewardship of nature through education. Members receive discounts on programs, special invitations, free admission to the MNHC Discovery Center , and the knowledge that they are supporting natural history education in local schools.
MNHC is a proud member of Montana Shares .

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Copyright © 2005 120 Hickory Street , Missoula , Montana 59801 phone 406.327.0405