Montana Audubon Center News
March 2022
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Greetings!
This past month has been filled with lots of fun activities and programs. ANTS field trips continued with lessons on tracking and birding, as well as erosion and the rain shadow effect. The Homeschool classes have continued their path to mad science learning about aerodynamics and biomimicry. The Preschool and Nature Nuts programs had some fun with sled races around the Center. Master Naturalist registration is currently open and many other events and programs are also scheduled. We look forward to seeing everyone this month as we explore new subjects and ideas.
Biomimicry (the design and creation of materials, structures and systems that 'mimics' those items in nature) is a great lesson for when the weather gets too cold. After learning about different ways biomimicry has been used, our Homeschool class took their own crack at it. The entire class competed in an egg drop competition to see who can make the best "exoskeleton" for their egg. Nicer days are perfect for learning about aerodynamics. After learning about the different forces involved in flight, the class got to make some paper airplanes and see those forces put to work.
Our LINKS program is also right around the corner. This fun program pairs up high school mentors with younger children. This a great opportunity for mentors to gain leadership experience and build up their resume as well as providing the kids with a fun event to look forward to every week.
See you outside,
Nick Goelkel
Teacher Naturalist - Big Sky Watershed Corps Member
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Meet our new Director
Over the last year and a half the Center has been under the diligent guidance of Center Director Gabi Morey, who took the position during a time of uncertainty as we grappled with COVID. During her time Gabi has provided a firm foundation for our programming and engaging conversation as staff envisioned the long term impacts of COVID on in-person programming, to now when it seems that there's a light hinting towards an end. Staff are fortunate to have worked alongside Gabi and greatly appreciate all she has done.
Now filling the Center Director position is our very own Emily Chilcoat who will be moving from her position as Volunteer and Intern Coordinator to guide the Center's initiatives for the foreseeable future. Emily has been a part of the Center staff for 5 years and is excited and honored to be able guide the Center's continued growth and legacy.
Please join us in sending warm wishes to Gabi and Emily as they begin their next adventures.
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Former Director, Gabi Morey |
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Our new director, Emily Chilcoat |
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Fundraising for a new 'Tiny Home' |
As the Center and its programs continue to grow, we have outgrown our available classroom space. With that in mind, we are raising funds in 2022 for a new ‘tiny house’ to be the home base for some of our preschool classes. This essential addition will open up areas in our main building, the Norm Schoenthal Field Lab, for more programming as well as workspace for staff to collaborate on programs and projects together.
Your contribution to the Center today will help make this dream a reality. Click here (and scroll down to one-time donation) to donate today!
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We're Hiring!
We are looking to hire multiple teacher naturalists to teach in our ANTS and summer camp programs. If you would enjoy spending times outdoors teaching kids, consider applying. It's an amazing place to work - check out all the job descriptions and application directions on our website.
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LINKS
LINKS stands for Leadership Institute for Nature, Kids, and Stewardship. This amazing program pairs up local high schoolers with children from the Friendship House organization. Mentors will get to teach kids all sorts of activities such as fishing, catching macro invertebrates, building forts, and more. This is a great way to gain leadership experience and build up a resume. If you know a high schooler who may be interested, please send them the application below.
This program take place on Thursdays 3:30-5:15 and run from March 31st to May 19th with training taking place the weeks prior.
Applications are due by March 9th. High schoolers Apply Here. If you have any questions please contact Nick Goelkel
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Community Programs
We are pleased to be able to offer community programs that get you and your family outdoors, enjoying the Montana Audubon Center! Please join us!
FAMILY PROGRAMS
Nature Nuts Preschool Program: Every Tuesday 10 - 11am
Nature exploration comes naturally, especially for kids! Children ages 1 to 4 (and an accompanying adult) join our teacher naturalists for guided outdoor play and learning about nature in Billings and beyond.
Suggested donation $5/child
Free for members
Weekend Wonders Family Program: 2nd Saturday of the month from 10:30am-12pm
This naturalist led program is perfect for people of all ages! Every month features a nature theme, an outdoor adventure, and a hands-on learning experience. Time to get some fresh air, learn something new, and have some fun in nature with your friends and family. Monthly themes posted on our website.
Suggested donation $5/person or free for members.
Owl Prowl: Friday, March 18th, 2022 6:30-8pm
We'll talk about the different species of owls that live in the area, and go for a hike to look and listen for them. Please bring a mask and boots (our trails may be muddy!) for our search for these winged marvels.
$10/person, $5/members, children <12 free
ADULT PROGRAMS
Bird Stroll: 2nd Saturday of the month from 8:30 - 10am
Enjoy a morning stroll by the river and learn a few birds along the way.
Great for beginning birders! On this monthly birding adventure, we will cover some birding basics, learn some bird calls/songs for ID by ear and work on our description skills to visually ID the species that we see. Come with your own gear or borrow some from us; we have binoculars and guidebooks available to check out. Rain, snow or shine, we'll be out there birding. We hope to see you there!
Suggested donation $10/adults, $5/students, or free for members
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Native Plant Symposium
Attention all native plant and pollinator enthusiasts! Spring is around the corner and so are the opportunities to learn about native plants! Come join us virtually for our 5th Annual Native Plant Symposium on March 26th, from 9:00am - 12pm. The theme for this year is Urban Gardening for Wildlife. By partnering with local experts from MSUB, Billings City Parks, and the Yellowstone County Weed District, we hope to educate on how you can build ecosystem connectivity for wildlife in your own backyards using native plants and helpful gardening practices. Gardening for Wildlife is not only good for our fellow animal species, but it can also save on water and fertilizer use, help store carbon, and in the big picture help to connect all of us more closely to the natural world.
This event is donation based, with a minimum $1.00 donation.
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Master Naturalist
Are you someone who loves to study and observe nature? Then the Master Naturalist course at the MT Audubon Center is a way for you to enhance your skill and learn more. This course is designed for adults who want to deepen their knowledge of the natural world. We’ll explore everything from birds and insects to geology and plant ID. You’ll hone your naturalist skills as we practice journaling, animal tracking, and the art of observation.
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Volunteer Updates
iNaturalist (Year-round)
Let us know what you see around the center! The Montana Audubon Center uses iNaturalist to help catalog the flora and fauna seen on site. See what we discovered so far on our iNaturalist page.
Montana eBird (Year-round)
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Montana Audubon Adventure Camps 2022
It’s never too early to start thinking about summer and our Adventure Camps start on June 13th! Get a head start on registering by becoming a member of the Center. Camp registration opens March 21st for members and March 28th for the public. Benefits of becoming a member include:
- Early camp registration
- 10% off programs
- Free admission to our recurring community programs
Become a member today to get the registration link and discount code! Just click here!
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Spring Field Trips
We are currently booking field trips for our spring season! As always, April and May are among the busiest months of the year for us, with all our programs in full swing. If you are interested in bringing a group out for a field trip, please contact Alina Garner (agarner@mtaudubon.org) as soon as possible! Popular field trip offerings include canoeing, birding, insect collection, freshwater macroinvertebrate collection, native games, fort building, nature walks, and native plants. We offer field trips for groups of all ages and abilities, from preschool to adult. In addition to our busy spring season, we also offer field trips year-around, including in the month of March.
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Don't forget to renew your membership!
Summer camp registration opens in March, and Center members have the opportunity to register for camps a full week before the general public, and they receive 10% off the cost of camps and other programs! If you're due to renew your membership in the next month, make sure to do it soon to receive the special discount code for members.
Member Benefits include:
Free entry to recurring programs
Free canoe use at Saturday Open Houses
Discounts on classes and programs
Early registration for select programs
Montana Audubon printed newsletter (2x/year)
Not to mention the joy of supporting the high quality outdoor, nature-based programs that reach thousands of people yearly, in Billings, Montana.
Membership levels start at just $30/year
For more details and to sign up to be a member, visit our website.
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Thank you!
Thanks so much to all those who share in our vision and our work - we truly
couldn't do it without you and your support. Thank you to the following individuals, organizations, and corporations that made contributions to our programs, including through membership, AND in donations for our Tiny Home preschool classroom fundraiser in the month of February.
Teresa Blaskovich
Adrienne & Jeff Reynolds
Madeleine & Kevin Hammond
Micki Kuhlman
Jennifer Poons
Laura Bare
Ben Lewis
Heather & Mark Nitz
Barbara Gregovich
Shari & Bob Dayton
Jim & Lillian Hartung
Robert Mackin
Andrea Bushnell
Rita & Donald Cetrone
Joan Griffith
Michael Hugdahl & Molly Jo Morgan
Kristina Johnson
Carolyn Jones
Cary Lund & Susan Witte
Daniel & Reatha Montoya
Mike & Dona Penfold
Lisa & Bryan Pepper
Don & Nancy Sasse
Mary Frances Ruffatto
Amber McDermott
Joan Schey
Mary Schrecengost
Elizabeth Waddington
Stephanie Rodriguez
Debra & Randy Bell
William Clagg
Sondra Daly
Ellen Finch
Staci & Ryan Grimm
Brian Henderson
Amber McDermott
Pam Pipal
Anna & Caleb Rogers
John Schaack
Tiffiny Spire
Carol & Charles Ward
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A snowy bench by Wills Marsh |
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Montana Audubon Center
406.294.5099
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