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Montana Audubon Center News
May 2022
Greetings!

This April was filled with so much fun. Spring field trips for ANTS got into full swing with canoeing, restoration, and an erosion river walk. Homeschool is working on their Outdoor Oologies lessons. They have been learning different ology's every week all the way from fish with ichthyology to rocks in geology. Our fledglings preschool is getting closer and closer to graduation and soon they will be taking flight.

Our volunteers were hard at work this past month. On Earth Day they braved the weather for a trash clean-up around the center, Norms Island, and River front park. The following weekend a group of volunteers harvested willow stakes from Norms Island. These branches will be used in a future riparian restoration project.


See you outside,
Nick Goelkel
Teacher Naturalist - Big Sky Watershed Corps Member

Montana Audubon Summer Adventure Camps
Summer Camp at the Audubon is more and more popular each year. We were almost completely sold out within three weeks of registration opening, which happens toward the end of March. Waitlists for camps range from 4 to 20 kids. We have almost the same exact capacity and staff as last year, so we didn't downsize, we just filled up unexpectedly fast! We only have a few Olders (entering grades 6-9) camp spots open. Although you are unable to see how long the waitlist is, you can always register and try it. Summer months are still a while away, but make other plans as necessary if you are on the waitlist. When camp weeks get closer you will be notified if you are still on the waitlist, where you are on the waitlist and if there is any movement towards being able to join camp.
We are so excited for this summer season! Thanks for your support!
Check the website for more updating information on Summer Camp openings and waitlists: https://mtaudubon.org/center/summercamps/
Community Programs


Family Programs

Evening Exploration: 1st Tuesday of the month, April-August, 4:30pm-7:30pm
Bring your friends and family down to the Center to celebrate the change of seasons in nature! Explore and enjoy the ponds, the wildlife and the changes in our plants as we move from winter to spring and spring to summer. Ask a naturalist your essential questions about animals and plants. Borrow field guides, insect nets, and binoculars. Or get in a canoe and explore the ponds with the setting sun. Choose your own adventure and enjoy this special time outside with your friends and family.    

Suggested donation $10/canoe, Free for members

Advanced registration requested via our website: mtaudubon.org/center/familyprograms/

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. Please see our website for weekly themes!

Suggested donation $5/child
Free for members

Advance registration is required - visit www.mtaudubon.org/center/familyprograms/

Weekend Wonders Family Program: 2nd Saturday of the month from 10:30am-12pm 
This expert led program is perfect for people of all ages! Every month features a nature theme, an outdoor adventure, and a hands-on learning experience from an expert in their field. Time to get some fresh air, learn something new, and have some fun in nature with your friends and family.  

Suggested donation $5/person or free for members.

In order to limit group size, advance registration is required - visit www.mtaudubon.org/center/familyprograms/

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

Advance registration is requested - visit www.mtaudubon.org/center/adultprograms/workshopsclasses/


Walk with a Naturalist: 4th Tuesday of the month from 6:30 - 8pm 
April- September 2022
The weather is warming up, plants and animals are waking up, and we’re ready to get outdoors exploring! Join us to make observations, follow our curiosity, and share naturalist knowledge with each other. Each month we’ll explore a different natural area in and around Billings. Please see our website for new locations each month! 
Please bring any naturalist tools you like to use (binoculars, field guides, magnifying glasses, journals, etc.). We’ll also have some equipment you can borrow. 

Suggested donation $5-10/person. 

Advance registration is requested - visit www.mtaudubon.org/center/adultprograms/workshopsclasses/


Montana Master Naturalist Course: Week Long Intensive Course
June 27th-July 1st, 2022, 8:30am-4pm
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 mammals and plant ID. You’ll hone your naturalist skills as we practice birding, journaling, making connections in nature, and the art of observation.
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)
Submit bird lists and participate in citizen science! Learn more here.

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.
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 April. 

Malinda Siegel
Lisa Lannen
Adela Awner
Kara Landry
Brittany Haupt-Eby
Kathy and Caleb Jobes
Pattie Doble
Todd Kowalski
Katherine Ballerini
The osprey protecting it's new nest.
Montana Audubon Center
406.294.5099