Montana Climate Events
JULY 2009
July 22, July 29, August 5. Best of Big Sky Camp: WildWatch Wednesdays.
The Big Sky Institute WildWatch Wednesdays occur every Wednesday through August 19th as part of Camp Big Sky’s Best of Big Sky weekly camp schedule. In the weekly WildWatch kids will learn how to track nature’s changing cycles in their own Big Sky backyard. Each week, campers will monitor different natural features and track how they change throughout the summer. As always, fun games and crafts will enhance each week’s science activities. Participants will learn about plant growth cycles, stream levels and flow, soil moisture, climate and more! The program will wrap up with a presentation and picnic for friends and family on the final day. 1pm – 4pm every Wednesday from July 15th to August 19th Ages: Entering 1st - 5th grades Register with Camp Big Sky at http://www.bigskymt.org/bscc/camp-brochure.php
Single day participants are welcome.
July 29. Mountains & Minds Lecture Series: Science in Big Sky’s Backyard. Watershed Science Under the Big Sky, Presenter: Dr. Brian McGlynn, Montana State University. Dr. Brian McGlynn is a truly world-class scientist, yet much of his research happens right here in our backyard! As head of the Montana State Watershed Lab, Dr. McGlynn leads a slew of students and scientists on a variety of research projects that look at water, people, land, plants, and animals – and then take on the hard task of discovering how they all work together. Come learn about groundbreaking research in your backyard, the Big Sky watershed.
Time: 7:00pm. Wine and chocolate served! Location: BSI Big Sky building, in Westfork Meadow next to the Chamber of Commerce.
July 30. Homeword's Equinox Grand Opening. See Homeword's latest affordable & green housing development. WHEN: 4-6pm; WHERE: 1515 Liberty Lane (near corner of Broadway & Russell), Msl. Music, refreshments, tours.
July 31. Family Science Friday: Click! Science Photo & Film. These full-day science and adventure outings are designed for the whole family to enjoy together. For this Science Friday, you’ll join film specialist Hatton Littman, professional photographer Kene Sperry, and BSI assistant director Twila Moon to discover how to make fantastic photos and film cuts, and then how to use them to tell a story about the ecosystem around us. Time: 10am to 4pm. Cost: $20/person, registration required. Note: Science Friday activities do require focus and participation – please take this into consideration before signing up younger members of your family. Parents are responsible for their children during all activities.
July 31. Free Showing of "Home" WHEN: potluck 6:00 pm; movie at 7 pm (1.5 hours long). WHERE: First Christian Church Meeting Room on Fairgrounds Rd., just across from the high school. The Great Turning Group presents this ode to the planet's beauty & delicate harmony. Through the landscapes of 54 countries, film makers take us on a unique journey around the world, to contemplate our beautiful blue planet. Every breathtaking shot shows our Earth as we have never seen it before, treasures and wonders we can still preserve. HOME awakens in us a reverence for our home planet, and embraces the major ecological issues that confront us and shows how everything on our planet is interconnected. FREE. For more info, call Roger Williams 360-3629.
July 31-Aug 2. Protect & Enjoy the Rockies on Wilderness Trips With Great Burn.
Volunteers needed for summer field projects. Join experienced leaders for 2-4 day trips in the roadless backcountry. We will monitor weeds, wildlife, trail conditions, signs, and other information critical to understanding and managing northern Rockies wildlands. Contact Beverly Dupree at 406-240-9901 or thegreatburn@yahoo.com for more information or to sign up. This week's trip is to: Roland Point
AUGUST 2009
Aug 1. Rain Barrel Water Catchment (how to make). WHEN: Aug 1, 1pm. WHERE: MUD
Aug 1. 4th Annual BSI Evening Gala. Don’t miss Big Sky’s premier fundraising event! Dine on the creations of By Word of Mouth catering and dance to the music of Montana Rose. A spectacular live auction raises money for BSI’s local efforts. Every year is a sell-out so reserve your seats now! For more information, visit the Gala website: http://bsi.montana.edu/gala2009 Time: 7:00pm. Location: BSI’s property (adjacent to Ophir School). Cost: $100/person, tickets required.
Aug 2. Farm Tours of Moiese Valley hosted by Montana Sustainable Growers Union. Meet the young farmers. 9:45 meet in parking lot of Good Food Store to carpool. 11am Blue Barn Farm; 12:30 Thunderhead Gardens, 2pm Ploughshare Farm. 3pm Lowdown Farm. 4. return to Msl.
Reserve space in van & a lunch with Sally at (406) 543-7576. $15 for transportation and lunch.
Aug 5. UM Sustainable Campus Committee meets. WHEN: 3:10-4:45pm; UM Main Hall 004 (downstairs). For more info, email cheri.peacock.
Aug 6. UM Recycling Committee meets to hammer out a budget, plan recycling parties, and celebrate UM Recycling's debut on youtube. All Welcome. WHEN: 11am; WHERE: UM Facilities Services' conference room. For more info, email UM Recycle.
Aug 8. Sheep Mountain Research Natural Area in Rattlesnake Mountains. MT Native Plant Society field trip. All welcome. Info: Steve 329-3041.
Aug 8-9. Great Burn Backpack, Fishing & Service Outing. Enjoy the high country of the Great Burn and help clean up lakeshore campsites. This trip takes you to Cedar Log Lakes on the Montana side of the Bitterroot divide. The trail winds along the divide in and out of Idaho, past Kid Lake to Upper Cedar Log Lake. Indian paintbrush, beargrass, hemlock, sub-alpine fir, moose, bears, and wolves. Bring your rod and MT fishing license. Plan to spend time packing up trash and cleaning up heavily-used campsites. This is a joint trip with Sierra Club and Great Burn Study Group. Space is limited. To sign up, email Beverly Dupree at thegreatburn@yahoo.com.
Aug 11. Green Stuff at the Western MT Fair in Missoula. The West Lawn Market features: fresh food market vendors, locally owned and sustainable businesses, educational demonstrations, acoustic music, kid stuff, and a Locavore Cookoff. Learn new techniques on local food production, composting, 4 seasons gardening, food preservation, sustainability and more. More info on the Sustainable Business Council web site.
Aug 11-13. Children’s Environmental Health Summit: Greening our Schools and Daycares. Sponsored by MT Children’s Environmental Health Network, EPA and DEQ. WHERE: Holiday Inn-Parkside in Missoula. Evening events on 8/11 and 8/12 are free; Registration for the Summit, 8/12-8/13 is required. Contact Diana Hammer for info, 457-5040.
Aug 13. The Power of Community in Uncertain Times. Visionary thinker Margaret Wheatley leads a discussion on planning to survive as a community by taking care of one another. WHEN: 7pm; WHERE: MCT. $5 suggested donation. Sponsored by WORD, Sundog Ecovillage, Living Art and Rocky Mountain Development Group. For more info email Chris or call 244-2466.
Aug. 14. Premier event of Food, Inc., a film from filmmaker Robert Kenner. This film lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that’s been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Presented by the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition and Garden City Harvest. Join us at the Wilma Theater, Friday August 14 at 6:00pm as Missoula’s community Food and Agriculture Coalition (CFAC) and Garden City Harvest promote resources for local solutions. Enjoy a sample of Dixon melon from the Good Food Store and enter to win a $100 Good Food Store shopping spree! For more information please visit www.TheWilma.com.
Aug 15. Annual Blackfoot River Weed Pull. WHEN: Aug 15, 10am-noon. WHERE: Russell Gates Fishing Access, Highway 200, MM35. Persecute spotted knapweed and leafy spurge along the Blackfoot River. Bring gloves & we'll provide the trash bags & drinks! For more info, contact Ali.
Aug 20. Garden City Harvest Farm Party at the PEAS farm. Live music, great food, good times with your friends and neighbors. More info at 406-523-3663 or email GCH.
Aug 21-23. Protect & Enjoy the Rockies on Wilderness Trips with Great Burn. Volunteers needed for summer field projects. Join experienced leaders for 2-4 day trips in the roadless backcountry. We will monitor weeds, wildlife, trail conditions, signs, and other information critical to understanding and managing northern Rockies wildlands. Contact Beverly Dupree at 406-240-9901 or thegreatburn[at]yahoo.com for more information or to sign up. This week's trip is to: Moose Mountain
Aug 22. The Basics of Seed Saving. WHEN: Aug 22, 1pm. WHERE: MUD
Last April Burpee's sold out of all its seeds and had to put thousands of orders on backorder. Don't let this happen to you! Learn how to collect and store your precious heirlooms for next season, and tell you which seeds are hybrids and which are sterile. Also, keep your eyes open for a Seed Saver Swap in late October!
Aug 22-23. THE GREEN ECO SHOW. WHERE: Western Montana Fairgrounds Missoula for more info, call 1-405-846-1252 or email.
Aug 23. Glacier Park Centennial Celebration kick-off. WHEN: 11am-4pm; WHERE: Lake McDonald Lodge & Glacier Park Lodge. GATE FREE DAY. This 'Picnic in the Park' will unveil a calendar of activities, including educational programs, commemorative events, official licensed products, and legacy projects! Music and activities. Glacier Park, Inc will have picnic style lunches for sale and free birthday cake! For more info, email Kassandra of National Park Service.
Aug 25. Tune in to Womens Voices for the Earth virtual book club webinar and discuss Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry, the award-winning book by Stacy Malkan. When: 6pm. https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=xi0c5l19590w
Aug 28. MUDs Annual Garden Party Fundraiser. WHEN: Aug 28, 5-11pm. WHERE: MUD
Dance the night away to some great live music, indulge with local beer and a silent auction. A delicious dinner and entertainment are included in the entrance fee. All proceeds directly benefit MUD and help ensure that next year will be as fruitful and productive as this past year.
Aug 28-30. Protect & Enjoy the Rockies on Wilderness Trips with Great Burn. Volunteers needed for summer field projects. Join experienced leaders for 2-4 day trips in the roadless backcountry. We will monitor weeds, wildlife, trail conditions, signs, and other information critical to understanding and managing northern Rockies wildlands. Contact Beverly Dupree at 406-240-9901 or thegreatburn@yahoo.com for more information or to sign up. This week's trip is to: Rawhide
SEPTEMBER 2009
Sept 2. UM Sustainable Campus Committee meets. WHEN: 3:10-4:45pm; UM Main Hall 004 (downstairs). For more info, contact cherie.peacock@mso.umt.edu.
Sept 4-6. Ennis Fly Fishing Festival. Carpool with Sierra Club. Email Bob or call 406-549-1142.
Sept 11-12. Missoula Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days. Missoula Water Quality District collects household haz waste for safe disposal. Help protect your drinking water. Details here. To volunteer, email Pam or call 258-4890.
Sept 20. Rankin Peace Center annual fundraiser party. Caras Park.
Sept 26. National Public Land Day. One of the many service opportunities (more added later):
Sept 26. Ninemile Watershed Restoration Day. at Little McCormick Creek (a tributary of Ninemile Creek) northwest of Missoula. Help plant grasses & trees in key trout habitat. Part of a watershed restoration project of TU, Sierra, Lolo National Forest, and MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks. If coming from Missoula, meet at the Missoula Public Library parking lot at 8:00 am or (from the Ninemile) meet at the Ninemile Ranger Station at 9:00 am. We will return to Missoula by 5 pm. All Welcome; lunch and transportation provided. Info, call 406-549-1142.
