Outdoor news
Glacier National Park will continue its "citizen science" opportunities this summer. Volunteers are needed to count mountain goats and loons, observe pikas and look for Clark's nutcrackers. First time volunteers will need to attend a training session. For high country citizen science, which includes pikas and mountain goats, training dates are July 8 and 18. For more information, contact the Crown of the Continent Research and Learning Center at 888-7986.
Hike for Heroes, a hike to honor Montana's law enforcement personnel who have fallen in the line of duty and to benefit the Montana Hope Project and C.O.P.S., will take place on the Danny On Trail at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, July 9. Registration will take place at 8 a.m. The $25 fee includes lunch at the summit and a T-shirt. For more information or to print registration forms, visit online at www.hike-for-heroes.com.
The Glacier Institute recently purchased two multi-functional vehicles for its upcoming 2011educational field season with help from a Whitefish Community Foundation grant. The Chevrolet Corbeil multi-functional buses seat 14 passengers and a driver, meet Glacier National Park's vehicle size restrictions for Going-to-the-Sun Road. Both vehicles and do not require a commercial driver's license. Marking its 28th year of educational programs, the Glacier Institute serves adults and children as an educational leader in the Crown of the Continent ecosystem, with Glacier Park at its center. For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org or call 755-1211.
The Polebridge Mercantile will host a Bear Fair on Saturday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Representatives from the Forest Service, National Park Service and Fish, Wildlife and Parks will present information on how to prevent bear-human conflicts.
Smith's Food and Drug Center in Columbia Falls will again sponsor a "Round-Up for Glacier" promotion for the Glacier National Park Fund from June 29 through July 31. Customers will be asked to round up their bills to the nearest dollar, with all donations going in support of the Transporting Kids to Glacier National Park program. Kroger Foods, will match these donations up to $2,500. For more information, call 892-3250 or visit online at www.glacierfund.org.
Glacier National Park Fund will host Friday hikes in Glacier National Park from July 8 through Sept. 16. Participants will learn about Park accomplishments supported by GNPF donors and partners and learn about upcoming events and activities. A hiking schedule is available online at www.glaciernationalparkfund.org. To sign up, e-mail kelly@glacierfund.org or call 892-3250.
Flathead Native Plant Society is looking for volunteers for the Glacier National Park Noxious Weed Blitz on Thursday, July 28. Participants will learn how to identify five targeted non-native invasive plant species, how to conduct invasive plant surveys, and how to map locations using GPS units. Participants will then break into smaller groups and head out to areas around West Glacier to pull weeds. For more information, contact the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at 888-7986 or by e-mailing glac_citizen_science@nps.gov.