Wonders of Wetlands and Riparian Areas Workshop for Educators Project WET, Flathead Audubon and Flathead Conservation District are hosting a one-day, interdisciplinary workshop for K-12, formal and nonformal educators. This workshop is intended to increase your knowledge of local wetlands and of riparian areas (located nearby lakes, rivers and streams). It will also help to connect the following science concepts across the curriculum: wetland and riparian area’s functions and values, local wildlife and plants, and habitat and conservation, through the use of a newly developed Education Trunk. The Trunk can be borrowed and used in the classroom and in the field. If you attended last year's Project WET and Webfoot workshop, this is an excellent follow-up, which includes more activities, instructional information and an Education Trunk that you can borrow. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST 9AM -4PM, LONE PINE STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER - Designed for K-12, formal and non-formal educators - Indoor & Outdoor Components - Interactive and Interdisciplinary Activities - Guest Speakers - $10 (includes materials and lunch) - OPI Credit Available. PIR credit also available by registering on PIRNet (class code#2836) - All activities meet MT Content Standards MATERIALS TO TAKE HOME: The Wonders of Wetlands: An Educators Guide Sign-out to Borrow Wetlands and Riparian Area Studies Education Trunk Project WET: Curriculum and Activity Guide SIGN UP: to borrow the Wetland/Riparian Education Trunk Please send in your registration by February 6, 2009 CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM, .pdf format - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Flathead CORE Nov. 13 Meeting Minutes Flathead CORE Nov. 13 Meeting Minutes NEXT FLATHEAD CORE MEETINGS: January 8, March 12 and May 14, 4pm at the Flathead County Main Library, 247 1st Ave E., Kalispell ***NOTE! January 8 meeting location change -- Flathead National Forest Kalispell Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, south of Glacier High School. CALENDAR: April 9th, 2009 Crown of the Continent Ecosystem Education Consortium meeting in the Blackfoot Valley hosted by Nancy Schwalm and the Blackfoot Challenge. March 19-21 the Montana Environmental Education Association annual conference in Helena, MT.  CLICK HERE FOR MEETING MINUTES, .pdf format - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Great Backyard Bird Count February 13-16, 2009 Attention Birders and Budding Birding Enthusiasts! The next Great Backyard Bird Count is February 13-16. Check out the website for ways to get involved. It's easy! http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc Great project for schools and students -- count the birds for at least 15 minutes during any one of those days. Count the birds you find outside your school. Teacher's materials available. For more information contact Nancy Zapotocki with Flathead Audubon, naz@centurytel.net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Montana Student Riparian/Wetland Project Eric Vincent, a middle school teacher in Great Falls has a group of 7th graders participating in the Lexus Eco-Challenge.(http://www.scholastic.com/lexus/) The students are involved in an project that seeks to repair and sustain riparian and wetland areas across Montana. Working in conjunction with agencies like the Missouri River Conservation Districts Council, Assistant State Conservationist, Montana Wetlands Legacy Partnership, MT Fish Wildlife and Parks, and others, the group is developing a feasible method of involving students across the state in helping to protect the wetland and riparian areas of Montana. Eric and the students are asking middle/high schools to create “Riparian Repair Teams” that consist of 5-15 students—one school could have several teams. Once established, each team would be designated a riparian or wetland site close to their physical location and would be asked to visit this location one to two times a year to provide necessary improvements to the site; partnering and sponsoring agencies will identify the area, threat, and action required by each team, while we would participate in and help coordinate the efforts. Typical duties of a “Repair Team” may include: monitoring water quality and/or fish and bird populations, eliminating noxious weeds, planting native plants, or perhaps even assisting in river bank restoration. The idea is that each site will be assigned multiple teams, thereby requiring a team to commit to only one visit per year. Our goal is to have a working calendar by spring of 2009. For more information about Eric's project: Eric Vincent, Holy Spirit Catholic School,2820 Central Ave, Great Falls, MT 59401 For ideas on local wetlands/riparian areas to adopt contact Patti Mason with the Flathead Conservation District,pattim@flatheadcd.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Flathead CORE Sept. 2008 Meeting Minutes *Revised CORE brochure available. CLICK HERE FOR FULL MEETING MINUTES, .pdf format /font> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Montana Children and Nature Summit Update Summit was held Sept. 23 Over 200 people attended the state's first summit that addressed the challenges and potential solutions for keeping kids and getting kids connected to nature, here in Montana. Governor Schweitzer addressed the crowd, encouraging participants to continue reaching out to kids, getting them outside to play. The Governor also introduced his and the First Lady's Math and Science Initiative, http://www.mathscience.mt.gov/. Panel speakers presented research on the implications for the health and well-being of our children from the loss of connection to the natural world. At the summit, local, state and federal land and recreation resource managers, health care professionals, educators, and representatives of non-profit groups and private industry discussed the importance of nature to children and brainstormed cooperative strategies to reconnect youth to Montana’s outdoors. The summit was sponsored by the Governor and First Lady’s Math and Science Initiative, Montana Recreation and Parks Association, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program, Montana Office of Public Instruction, Montana Environmental Education Association, Montana Outdoor Science School, Rim Country Land Institute, and Montana Natural History Center. For more information about the summit, links, and soon to be posted summit proceedings visit, http://www.mtrpa.info/summit.php - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Educational trunks available in the Flathead Region CLICK HERE FOR TRUNK LIST, .pdf format A 2008 list of educational trunks available from organizations in the Flathead Valley. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -       TOP OF PAGE       privacy policy   ::   terms of use   ::   contact us COPYRIGHT CORE, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.