Flathead Community of Resource Educators Gathering
September 11, 2024 – Wayfarers State Park
Monica Elser, Flathead Lake Bio Station
Mikala Itrich, MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks Americorps Member /Wayfarers State Park District
Kelly Minear, Glacier Institute/FL Bio Station
Eryn O’Brien, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks Americorps Member/Lone Pine State Park District
Derrick Rathe, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Flathead Lake District
Cara Rathke, School District 5, K-8 Community Involvement
Julia Smit, Freelance
Zack Story, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Flathead Lake District
Margarite Thomas, City of Kalispell
Teresa Wenum, Flathead National Forest
Flathead CORE Updates
October 17 teacher workshop – “Learning by the Lake” — 9am to 4pm – Flathead Bio Station
Teacher Workshop – FLBS (umt.edu)
For teachers in grades 4-12 – space limited to 20 – lunch provided – registration closes Sept. 27 – hosted by Flathead CORE and Flathead Lake Bio Station – explore local educational trunks, hands-on stream water quality monitoring, investigate equilibrium beaches
Thank you, Monica, Eryn and Jessie, for making this happen!
CORE Website – WHO IS CORE? – Flathead CORE
Thank you, Julia, for caring for our website!
Working on how best to structure and display information under the Resources page, make it easier to navigate – split out resources targeted to Educators and Families. Plus looking at ways to improve the map feature on the Outdoor Education Sites and Programs Guide. Guide does need a content review and updates – checking in with site providers. With a few updates/additions to listings, guide could also target a Senior audience – include more prominent accessibility information.
Welcome suggestions on how best to display and structure information under the Resources Tab.
**Need to renew website provider services before November 26.
What’s happening
Margarite Thomas, City of Kalispell — updating portions of the Flathead Raingarden Initiative
done in cooperation with the Flathead Conservation District and the Western MT Conservation Commission – would like to focus on getting more raingardens installed at area businesses. Did you know there is a raingarden installed at the Flathead Co Fairgrounds!
Eryn O’Brien, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks – busy summer at Lone Pine, highlight cooperative program with Flathead Natl. Forest celebrating Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday with a self-guided, ¼ mile storybook walk at the park – story of Smokey Bear – and ranger led guided storybook walks reaching over 80 people. Check out the September Speaker’s Series at Lone Pine (3) Facebook
Monica Elser, Flathead Lake Bio Station – 125th Anniversary for the Bio Station this year! Hosted four weeks of Boy Scouts from Melita Island this summer! In 1973 Yellow Bay Sewage Treatment Plant built as a demonstration in pollution control – state of the art at the time – still exists. Station building a new state of the art treatment plant using new technology, that stores sewage in containers. Station plans to showcase the new plant next year, a demonstration of improved wastewater treatment. Watch for upcoming Science on Tap events at the Flathead Lake brewing Company – next event, Oct. 3.
Derrick Rathe, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks – moving into the third phase of a 10-month Bat Monitoring program – placing bat houses in 17 locations (2 houses per location); once installed move to the planning for the citizen science portion of program.
Cara Rathke, School District 5 – stepping in behind Chau Young as the K-8 Community Involvement Coordinator. District working to streamline field trip experiences for whole grade levels being able to participate in identified experiences. Goal for every grade level to participate in 2 field experiences.
Mikala Itrich, MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks – busy summer, leading 35 evening programs, bringing in several guest speakers and currently planning for the Fall Fest event, Oct. 12 from 10am to 2pm, at Wayfarers State Park.
Julia Smit, Freelance – leading two mushroom courses for the Glacier Institute this fall; and doing a bat program at Lone Pine in October.
Zack Story, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks – focus on ranger education around stewardship at state parks; new archery range at Big Arm State Park.
Kelly Minear, Glacier Institute/FL Bio Station – recently wrapped up position with the Glacier Institute will be starting in her new role as the Education Coordinator at the Flathead Lake Bio Station. Glacier Institute programs filled well this year. All Kalispell 3rd graders able to experience a day program in Glacier worked in coordination with Matt Daniel, GNP Education Specialist. Member Only classes filling. There is a teacher discount for attending classes.
Teresa Wenum, Flathead National Forest – Summit Nature Center wrapping up summer season Sept. 15, over 15,000 visitors reached, stopping in the center, or meeting along the Danny On Trail.
Smokey Bear turned 80 this August, families and kiddos ages can take part in the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge through Nov. 28. Families, schools and youth groups can check out Smokey Bear Live 4, a Virtual Learning Adventure four episodes taking place in October.
From the Flathead Conservation District – public meeting on Oct 8, 7 to 8:30pm at the NW MT History Museum – An Overview of the East Flathead Valley Groundwater Investigation, presented by the MT Bureau of Mines and Geology.
From the Western MT Conservation Commission
4 competitive grant programs under development for stormwater and septic leachate pollution!
- Tentatively set to open January 2025
- For more info and to review the grant guidelines see this page: Grants & Resources – Western Montana Conservation Commission (westernmtwaters.com)
Community-Based Social Marketing Workshop
- November 6-8, 2024
- Three virtual half-days: 8:30 AM – 12:45 PM MST
FREE! WMCC is covering the approx. $900 per person value! - WMCC is bringing a virtual, Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) Workshop with Dr. Doug McKenzie-Mohr, the founder of CBSM. Office hours with Dr. Doug McKenzie-Mohr will be held following each day for anyone who has questions.
Learn how to:
- Target unsustainable behaviors, and identify the barriers to change
- Understand various commitment strategies
- Communicate effective messages
- Enhance motivation and invite participation.
