Community briefs for July 31

Football camp

The Whitefish Youth Football Camp is Aug. 6-8 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Whitefish High School practice field. The camp is for students in third through eight grade. Players will receive basic football skills development, and instruction in all offensive, defensive and special teams positions. Cost is $45 and includes a T-shirt and water bottle. Athletes must bring cleats and a water bottle. For questions, contact Coach Chad Ross at 250-7111.

Art at library

Stumptown Art Studio visits Whitefish Community Library on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 10:30 a.m., offering a free art session for kids, with instructor Anne Couser.

Stumptown Art Studio instructors have made art opportunities available to kids and adults, both at their studio, and off-site, since 1995. Stumptown’s home studio is currently located at 145 Central Avenue in Whitefish.

This art session is one event of the Library’s Summer Reading Challenge. The final Summer Reading Challenge guest will be Alpine Theatre Company, visiting Thursday, August 8 at 10:30 a.m. The Edible Book Contest on Saturday, Aug. 17 marks the end of the Challenge for 2019. For more information about events, call the Library at 862-9914.

Bee talk

Join Leah Grunzke at Center for Native Plants for an introduction to native solitary bees on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. Grunzke will show us the types of solitary bees, how they differ from honeybees and bumblebees. Gardening tips to encourage native pollinator conservation, and how to establish and care for wild bee nesting sites. Grunzke is a botanist and educator based in Lewistown. She has spent the past two decades studying native plants and pollinators, working with nonprofit organizations on conservation outreach, developing curriculum for schools and informal science education programs. She also builds wild bee houses to accompany her workshops on backyard pollinator conservation. For more information about Leah Grunzke http://montanaflora.blogspot.com/ Bring your lawn chair as seating is limited. Co-sponsored by the Center for Native Plants.

Big Mountain Run

The Glacier Nordic Club will hold its 37th Annual Big Mountain Run on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. The race starts at the Danny On Trailhead at Whitefish Mountain Resort and ends at the summit — a 3.8 mile course. Runners will compete for the titles of King and Queen and Prince and Princess of the Mountain. Dogs, with a runner, will compete for the “Top” Dog. Hikers are welcomed. All runners finishing the course in a time less than their age (women - age plus 10 minutes) qualify for the Birthday Club and receive a cupcake. All registered runners (except dogs) receive a free chair lift ride back to the base. Registration by Aug. 1 is $15 per individual, $40 per family, $10 Juniors (16 and under). To register visit runsignup.com. Late registration is $5 additional per person. The proceeds benefit the nonprofit Glacier Nordic Ski Team which serves over 200 youth each winter. For more information visit glaciernordicclub.org

Trail camp

Now in its fifth year, Whitefish Legacy Partners’ Forest Explorers Camp offers a unique opportunity for kids ages 6-10 to explore the Whitefish Trail during a four-day camp. Campers enjoy fun-filled days with hikes, arts activities, and games while connecting with the natural world and meeting new friends. Whether learning about forest critters, building fairy houses, or capturing the views in a painting, campers learn about the animals and ecosystems that surround them through creativity, play, and exploration.

Two weeks of camp are offered, Aug. 5-8 and 12-15 with morning and afternoon sessions, and spots are still available! The cost of Forest Explorers Camp is $40 for WT Friends and Families and scholarships are available.

Learn more and register at https://www.whitefishlegacy.org/youth-programs/

The Whitefish Trail is the anchor project of Whitefish Legacy Partners and the result of collaborative partnerships providing public access and recreation while protecting clean water, thriving forests, and prime wildlife habitat on open lands surrounding Whitefish Montana. To date, Whitefish Legacy Partners and the City of Whitefish have established over 42 miles of a recreational trail system accessed by 12 trailheads. The Whitefish Trail continues to pioneer conservation, education and recreation initiatives, with strategic partners, volunteers, and financial support from the community.

For more information about programs, visit www.whitefishlegacy.org or call 406-862-3880 or email info@whitefishlegacy.org.

Raffle

Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana is running its fourth annual summer raffle through Aug. 15. The drawing will be right after fair parade at noon at the CAPNM main office in downtown Kalispell. Tickets are $5 each, or five tickets for $20. Winners do not need to be present to win, and tickets can be purchased at the main office right up until the drawing. Raffle items this year: his/her bikes, patio set (table, chairs, fire pit), variety of indoor/outdoor games.

CAPNM exists to provide direct services, advocate to alleviate poverty, improve lives and strengthen our communities. CAPNM serves Lake, Lincoln, Flathead and Sanders counties through community services, education and training, fuel assistance, housing and weatherization programs.

For questions or to purchase, tickets contact Jackson at 758-5432.

Bibler Gardens

Tickets are on sale for the Bibler Home and Gardens Splendid Summer Evenings and Sweet Summer Days. Hosted by the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation in partnership with the Bibler Foundation, proceeds from these events support student scholarships at FVCC.

The Bibler home is renowned for its exquisite collection of antiques, sculptures and Persian tapestries and its vibrant gardens. With the exception of privately arranged tours, the home and gardens are accessible only through the FVCC Foundation events during select spring and summer weekends.

Sweet Summer Days are scheduled for Aug. 1 and 2 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. All events include a two-hour guided tour of the home and garden with an opportunity to address questions to the Bibler’s head gardener.

Tickets for all events are limited and must be purchased in advance by calling 756-3632 or visiting www.biblergardens.org.

Fair tickets

A limited number of discounted wristbands for the carnival at the 2019 Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo are on sale now at all Whitefish Credit Union branches, the fairgrounds office, and Michael’s Exxon on Highway 2 West and North Meridian Road in Kalispell.

Purchased in advance, the wristbands cost $25 each and allow one person unlimited rides for one day. The wristbands can be used any one day of the carnival from Aug. 14-18 and are the lowest priced way to experience the rides. Fairgoers can purchase the wristbands until 5 p.m. on Aug. 13 or while supplies last. Wristbands will be available at all carnival ticket booths during the fair for $35 each.

Admission into the fairgrounds is not included in the price of the carnival wristband. Advance gate admission tickets can be purchased at all Whitefish Credit Union branches for $4 each until 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16. Regular gate admission to the fair will be $8 for adults and children ages 13 and up, $5 for senior citizens ages 65 and up, $5 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children age 5 and under.

“Make the most of your fair experience by purchasing your tickets early and saving money,” Flathead County Fairgrounds Mark Campbell said.

For more information about the events planned for this year’s Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo, visit www.nwmtfair.com.

Audubon

The Flathead Audubon Society will be hosting a nature hike in the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. until noon. This is a wonderful opportunity to join retired Biology Professor Jeanette Oliver for an information-packed stroll in the portion of OSNA near her property on Leisure Island. The group will go on an easy walk across the summer season dry portion of the Stillwater River to explore OSNA’s Big Island. Focus will be on identifying typical flood plain vegetation, as well as spotting birds along the way. The trip is limited to 20 participants. For meeting directions and to sign up, contact Jeanette at 406-755-8622 or jopjoliver74@gmail.com.

For more information, visit http://www.flatheadaudubon.org/

Audubon

Join the Flathead Audubon Society on this cooperative trip with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 8:30-11 p.m. The group will go to a site with known bat activity and use electronic equipment to detect the ultrasonic calls of bats flying overhead. Mist nets will be used to capture bats for closer inspection. Wildlife biologists Lewis Young, Lisa Bate, and Chris Hammond will demonstrate the equipment, handle bats captured in mist nets and talk about the amazing adaptations bats have for survival. It is an incredible experience to see bats up close and learn about these amazing mammals! Participants will NOT be allowed to touch or handle bats. Headlamps or flashlights are necessary. Please wear suitable clothing for the weather. The trip is limited to 25 participants. To sign up contact Kathy Ross, 837-3837 or mtkat67@gmail.com.

For more information, visit http://www.flatheadaudubon.org/