Montana Natural History Center July 2007 E-mail Newsletter

If you have questions about your e-newsletter please call 327-0405 or e-mail Jessie at programs@montananaturalist.org.

July 2007 at your Montana Natural History Center
www.MontanaNaturalist.org

The Montana Natural History Center is your base camp for discovery.

Note our Spring Hours: Tuesday – Friday from noon – 5 pm and Saturdays from 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.

What’s happening outside:
American dippers, robins, mountain blue birds and house wrens are re-nesting.
Look for elephant head, cinquefoil, fairy slipper and lupine blooms.
Berries begin to ripen.
Rufous hummingbirds arrive with the red wildflowers.
Young bald eagles are leaving their nests.

Summer Science Discovery Camps in full swing
Our camps have been going wonderfully. The only camps that we have space in are the 6th-8th grade camps – From Seed to Table and Map your World. Campers must be at least 9 years old to be eligible for these camps. Camps meet from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm with extended drop off and pick up hours from 8:00-9:00am and 4:00-5:00pm. Visit our website to see what exciting topics we’ll explore this summer! To register, visit us at 120 Hickory Street in Missoula, print and mail your registration from home or call 327-0405 and register by phone!

If you’d like to be notified about Fun Kids’ Activities happening this summer and fall please send Jessie an e-mail at programs@montananaturalist.org or call 327-0405. Be sure to check out our July kids’ activity on butterflies later in this e-mail.

Calling all bird enthusiasts!!! We are looking for volunteers to provide natural history information about ospreys at the Missoula Osprey Baseball Games this summer. I will provide training and in-depth information on ospreys. Contact Jessie for more information by e-mailing at programs@montananaturalist.org or calling 327-0405.

Saturday, June 30
Saturday Discovery Day - Black Mountain Fire - 4 years later

8 am - 11am
Meet at Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St.
$20 Class Fee, $15 MNHC members
Join local experts Sue Reel and Dick Hutto for another chance to visit the Black Mountain fire site on Blue Mountain. Bring your binos to check out species that thrive after fire: black-backed woodpecker, mountain bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire and dark-eyed junco. We will also see plenty of bark beetles, butterflies and wildflowers.
Sue Reel is a wildlife educator for Lolo National Forest. Dick Hutto is an ornithologist at the University of Montana and Director of the Avian Science Center.
Space is limited. Registration is required.

Saturday, July 14
Saturday Discovery Day – The Ancient Pines of Primm Meadows

10 am – 2 pm
Meet at Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St.
$10 Class Fee, $5 MNHC members
Join the Montana Natural History Center for an awe–inspiring day among 400 year-old ponderosa pines that were recently in the midst of a fire and emerged unscathed. The agenda includes a fascinating aquatic ecology talk by local biologist Sean Sullivan, aquatic insect sampling from the stream, viewing “The Pines of Primm Meadows” a short historic documentary, and the opportunity to picnic among the colossal ancient pines. Bring a sack lunch, water and walking shoes.
Sean Sullivan is a biological technician for Rithron Associates, an aquatic ecology consulting firm, in Missoula, MT. Sean has a background in water resources management and specializes in aquatic insect ecology.
Space is limited. Registration required. Call 327-0405 for more information.

Bitterroot Weed Pull and Float- Prairie Keepers
Saturday, July 14, All Day Event

Float the Bitterroot River to pull new invaders. Contact Bryce or Lindsey at Ravalli County Weed District (777-5842) or Morgan at Missoula County Weed District (258-4211.)

Saturday, July 21 - Le Junque Garage Sale!!!
8:30 am – 2 pm Montana Natural History Center120 Hickory St.
Framed art, office furniture, education supplies, posters by Kendall Jan Jubb and more! Hot deals! Everything must go!

Saturday Kids Activity for July!
Join us Saturday at 2 pm for a different exciting children’s program at MNHC. Admission is 50 cents for kids, $1 for adults and MNHC members are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared to go outside. Programs run about an hour to an hour and a half. Great for kids ages 5 and older.
July 21 - Butterfly Splendor
How long is a butterfly's tongue? We'll learn this and more cool facts about butterflies. We will also see a puppet show, solve a metamorphosis mystery and do an art project.

Wildflower and Wild Grass Seed Collection Workshop - Prairie Keepers
Tuesday, July 24, 7 pm

Meet at the Nature Adventure Garden at Fort Missoula.
Get the early bloomers: prairie smoke, june grass and more. This is a great activity for children and families. Seeds will be used in local restoration efforts and volunteers may take some home.
Call 327-0405 or see http://prairiekeepers.dbs.umt.edu for more information.

Membership supports educational programs and exhibits!
Join our Membership Drive and give the gift of education. You can make your gift online at www.MontanaNaturalist.org. Help celebrate 15 years of MNHC discoveries!

MNHC is an independent non-profit organization.
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.

Feel free to forward this to friends who might enjoy learning more about
the Montana Natural History Center.
120 Hickory Street, Missoula, Montana 59801
406.327.0405
www.MontanaNaturalist.org
Copyright © 2007

 

 


© Copyright 2007 Montana Natural History Center. All Rights Reserved.