January 2006 at the Montana Natural History Center

What’s happening outside Cold weather is still ahead but the days will start getting longer! Huge flocks of snow geese and swans are still moving through Missoula at high altitudes, usually just before the cold fronts. Owls will begin to hoot as it is the beginning of their mating season. Active winter decomposers would be housefly maggots, tree bracket fungi, molds, bark and wood boring beetles and earthworms. Grizzly and black bear cubs are being born while female bears are in hibernation! Mule deer are shedding antlers.  

The Center is Now Open for Discovery Tuesday through Saturday! MNHC, your base-camp for discovery, is now open on Saturdays from 12 – 4. Bring your family to see what fun activities and natural history exploration we have each Saturday. Admission for MNHC Members is always free at our new Discovery Center on 120 Hickory Street . MNHC is also open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 – 5:00 .

Introduction to Botanical Illustration Using Graphite
Beginning January 4, Wednesdays through February 8
6:00 – 8:30 pm , MNHC, 120 Hickory Street , $135/ $125 MNHC members; includes a $25 non-refundable deposit required at registration. Nancy Seiler Anderson will teach you how to create a classical botanical illustration in graphite in this popular six-week course for adults with some drawing background. CLASS IS FULL BUT YOU CAN ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

January 4 - Volunteer Naturalist Training *** Volunteer Opportunity ***
4:00 - 5:00 pm , MNHC, 120 Hickory Street Join us for an info rmative program and training on “Adapting to Winter” January’s Visiting Naturalist in the Schools topic. Then help teach what you learned by volunteering to help in one of the 25 classroom visits that will take place this month.

January 7 - Saturday Discovery Day: Winter Ecology on Snowshoes
10:00 am – 4:00 pm , MNHC, 120 Hickory Street
Adults - $20 / $15 MNHC members, Children 12 & under - $15 / $10 MNHC members (children MUST be accompanied by an adult and be able to walk for long distances). Space is limited - Registration Required. Bring a brown bag lunch. Head into the Bitterroots with MNHC Naturalists for this exhilarating trek to explore the winter wonderland. Snowshoeing novices welcome. Call MNHC at 327.0405 for snowshoe rental and transportation info rmation.

January 21 - Winter Ecology Field Trip Training
10:00 am - 3:00 pm , Meet at MNHC, 120 Hickory Street
Learn about winter ecology in the northern Rockies while getting the tools and techniques for teaching in the field. This workshop serves as a Volunteer Naturalist training day for our February winter ecology field trips so participants attending the training session are asked to commit to helping us with winter ecology field trips in February. Please bring a sack lunch and be prepared to be outside!

January 24 - Becoming a Naturalist Class at the University of Montana
Class meets Tuesday evenings from 4:10 – 7:00 pm beginning January 24th through May 9th. $295, includes all materials and field transportation. Space is limited and $50 non-refundable deposit to MNHC is required to hold your spot in this course.

January 25 - Community Watershed Education Class at the University of Montana
Class meets Wednesday evenings from 4:10 – 7:00pm . FREE! Learn about the Clark Fork Watershed from an array of perspectives, and share that knowledge in local 6th grade classrooms! You will be trained to participate in MNHC’s 12th annual Clark Fork Watershed Festival where over 600 sixth-graders come to learn and celebrate. To register for this class, please contact the Montana Natural History Center at 327.0405.

January 28 - Saturday Discovery Day: Introduction to Botanical Illustration Workshop
10:00 am - 4:00 pm, MNHC 120 Hickory Street
$40/$35 MNHC Members, Space is limited - Registration Required
In this one day class, Nancy Seiler Anderson will give you a general overview of the art of botanical illustration, breaking it down into manageable tips, tricks and techniques. This class is meant for students with very little drawing background or students who would like to see if botanical illustration is for them before they sign up for one of Nancy ' s six-week in-depth classes.  

February 2 - Volunteer Open House
2:00 – 4:00 pm , MNHC 120 Hickory Street
Come visit MNHC and learn about the many volunteer opportunities available.  

Not a member? pronunciation: 'mem-b & r
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English membre, from Old French, from Latin membrum;
one of the individuals composing a group
a constituent part of a whole: one of the elements of a set or class
one of the functional units composing a body <a structural member>

The Montana Natural History Center is kicking off our 15 th anniversary year with a Member Drive ! Memberships provide MNHC with funds to sustain programs and exhibits. As a member, you receive free admission to MNHC and discounts on programs and in the MNHC Market. Visit www.MontanaNaturalist.org to join on-line or use the form on the back of your copy of Montana Naturalist (if you didn’t get the Naturalist in the mail in early December let us know and we’ll put you on the list). Become one of MNHC’s functional units;join today!

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 this year.
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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120 Hickory Street , Missoula , Montana 59801

Copyright © 2006