June 2006 at your Montana Natural History Center
www.MontanaNaturalist.org 

What’s happening outside:Calliope hummingbirds, Montana’s smallest bird, are incubating their jellybean-sized eggs.  Look for chokecherry, stonecrop, blue flax, fairy slippers, and Indian paintbrush in bloom.  Moose and pronghorn calves are born. June 21^st marks the Summer Solstice and the longest day (shortest night) of the year.

Montana Natural History Center is your base camp for discovery. Visit us Tuesday – Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays noon to 4 pm.  Bring your family to enjoy fun activities and natural history exploration each Saturday, and admission for MNHC Members is always free. Learn more at www.MontanaNaturalist.org  

New full day camps for students entering 3^rd-5^th grade!  No Child Left Inside with MNHC’s Summer Science Day Camps! These week-long camps are filling fast but there are limited openings! Call, email, or come to MNHC to reserve your space today!  Learn more about our complete selection of Summer Science Day Camps at www.MontanaNaturalist.org. 

Calling all Cakes!  An elk made of pound cake? A waterfall of frosting over a cheesecake mountain? Help celebrate the Montana Natural History Center’s upcoming 15th Anniversary by entering a unique nature-inspired cake in our cake contest! Amateur and professional bakers can register to enter this contest by sending back the registration form by June 14th – The earlier we have your registration, the earlier we can start advertising your participation. Open to the first 25 entries! Download a cake contest application and join in the fun.  Our celebration will be held on July 15th from 12 – 4 pm.  

Other exciting events with MNHC in June
June 6 - Prairie Keepers Woad Warriors, Part II
6:30 pm, M trail of Mt. Sentinel
 
June 10 – Saturday Discovery Day - Mammal Sketching Workshop
10:00 am - 3:00 pm, MNHC 120 Hickory Street – registration required
 
June 14 – Volunteer Recognition Picnic
Volunteers, please RSVP to Jazz to get directions to this local picnic

June 17 – Saturday Discovery Day - Black Mountain Fire: Three Years After
9:00 am - 11:30 pm, start at MNHC 120 Hickory Street – registration required
 
June 20 - Prairie Keepers Woad Warriors, Part III
6:30 pm, M trail of Mt. Sentinel  

June 26 – 28- MNHC Leads Free Plant Walks for the Lewis & Clark in the Rockies Bicentennial Festival!
Visit the Festival’s website for details and walk locations at: http://www.lewisandclarkintherockies.com

It’s all about Membership!
Become a member today and a generous grant from the Cinnabar Foundation will match your gift.  You can make your gift online at www.MontanaNaturalist.org or contact Betsy. Help celebrate 15 years of MNHC discoveries!  

Community Links of the Month
Missoula’s Riverfront Neighborhood Council “Celebrate the Riverfront” at Montana Natural History Center on June 10^th from 11:00 – 3:00.  Meet, help, join, and party with your neighbors!  Learn more at www.MontanaNaturalist.org.

The Great Burn Study Group 2006 needs your help!  Backpack and explore as a volunteer to continue monitoring the Great Burn!  For information about the hike schedule, please email thegreatburn@yahoo.com. 

Don’t miss June’s Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales Family Reading Program at Missoula Public Library!  Learn more at www.missoula.lib.mt.us.

Montana Discovery Foundation and the Helena National Forest are hosting a Leave No Trace Trainer Course in the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness near Helena June 17 and 18^th for free.  Techniques for teaching outdoor ethics to youth, adults, and community groups will be developed. Contact Samsara Chapman 406.495.3718 or e-mail to samsarachapman@fs.fed.us.  

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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120 Hickory Street, Missoula, Montana 59801
406.327.0405
www.MontanaNaturalist.org
Copyright © 2006