FlatheadCORE 9_13_12 Mtg (download pdf)

Joyce Baltz, Director of the Glacier Institute, shared exciting information about a grant contest they are finalists in, Tom’s of Main, “50 States of Good” . The Institute’s project, “ Alternative Energy Surrounds Us” is a project for Big Creek to get alternative energy -solar/wind display.  Vote on Facebook once a day, every day until Oct. 9. Vote at http://www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine

Tim Sievers, Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County, introduced an idea for a “GO Passport” (Get Outside) to get kids to get out and connect with nature. It would need 15 sites that would be places for families/kids to go and get their passport book stamped.  The book would also have a place for the child to record something about what they did. Over the course of the year, if you could get to 10 sites or so, you would get a prize/reward.

  • Please email [email protected] if your agency would like to be one of the sites in the passport book.
  • Patti Mason  will check the list of places in the “Teacher’s Guide to Outdoor Education Sites in the Flathead Region” tp see of some of them would be good candidates.
  • Tim will contact Teresa Wenum for more feedback as the Flathead NF did a similar project with the school district in the past.

Evie Bradley said that Creston Fish Hatchery could possibly host an event if we needed a site for the end of the season get together for the passport.

Raptor Day – lots of people were there for bird walk. Focus was more family oriented this year and people came and stayed around for a long time. Beth Watney Is stepping in for Lynn Vaught  to operate Wildlife Return . Her contact info. Is bearden1947 @yahoo.com or phone 406-250-1070.

Project Learning Tree, www.plt.org  and Flathead CORE will host a pre-conference session for the MT Association for the Education of Young Children (MT AEYC) statewide conference, Oct. 18, www.mtaeyc.org

Project WET workshop, Oct. 19, full day at Bigfork Elementary School, $35 and scholarships are available. Deadline to register is Oct. 1. Registration and scholarship forms are available by clicking the “Attention Teachers: Project WET Workshop” heading under the “Announcements” section of the Flathead Lakers’ homepage:   www.flatheadlakers.org

The updates to our website are now being handled by Chany Ockert. Patti sent her the info. For logins and what we need changed. Follow UP – on Sept. 24 Laura and Patti worked with Chany to make the changes we needed to the Word Press site. The website committee will need to meet to discuss how best to update the local providers list and to create the forms for resource providers to send us in order for us to put events on the website.

New education trunk from the Conrad Mansion, Sue Corrigan is the contact  [email protected]  .

Flathead Watershed Sourcebook is now available on CD, 2nd edition from the Flathead Conservation District, Patti Mason.

Teresa Wenum is working on hiring staff to conduct snowshoe programs this winter.  See the Flathead NF website, http://www.fs.usda.gov/flathead  for information or Teresa, 758-5218.

Forest Inspirations Artist Event displaying for Forest Artist Wilderness Connection.

Great American Backyard Campout, http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Great-American-Backyard-Campout.aspx – Amy Grout is interested with having this be an event at Lone Pine. Funding would help to plan and coordinate this event.  The date does not have to be on the National Day. Other suggestions were to inlcude using Herron Park or the Foys to Blacktail group to help in order to have more space.

Mini-grants up to $15,000 from MEEA due by Oct. 30th, www.montanaeea.org,  EPA Region 8 also has grants available, http://www.epa.gov/region8/newsevents/index.html

Whitefish Legacy Partners have been taking kids out on trails and into nature., www.whitefishlegacy.org

Ashley Mason is now the COCEEC Coordinator with Justin Mckeown. The next COCEEC meeting is at Glacier Institute’s Field Camp site. Please contact Ashley Mason if you are interested in attending, [email protected]

Certified Interpretive Guide Program – designed for anyone who delivers interpretive programs to the public is being held at FVCC this fall.

MT is hosting the National Envirothon Competition, http://www.envirothon.org/  next August in Bozeman. Flathead Conservation District has been hosting a team from Whitefish every year for at least the past 7 years.  Anyone interested in helping with this national one can contact Patti Mason.

Evie brought pictures of the Outdoor Classroom at Creston Fish Hatchery. It’s the first certified “Outdoor Classroom” in Montana. A tour can be arranged through her office.  The target grade level is 3rd grade. The public can visit on the weekend but it is still a work in progress. Anyone who wants to be “Friends of Creston Hatchery” they can help support these amazing projects. Contact Evie, 758-6869, [email protected]

Flathead Conservation District School grant program funds projects for conservation related materials.

Meeting Schedule 2012-2013:

 Nov. 8, 2012

January 10, 2013

March 14, May 9, 2013.