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Eastern Office - Programs & Information
March 19, 6:45pm April 6, 5:30pm For the first in our Wednesday Walkabout series, get to know the prairie in early Spring. Look for signs of the changing season and introduce yourself to the landscape. April 13, 5:30pm Learn birding basics and practice them in the field at Cove Canyon. Observe migratory birds as they return to Montana and spot a few of the familiar species that have been there through the winter. Sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited. April 17, 7:00pm April 20, 5:30pm April 23, 6am April 23, 8am April 27, 5:30pm
We're going to have a great summer at Rim Country, and you can help! If you are interested in helping with any of our programs--leading hikes, helping with setup, watching out for kids, etc., please contact Carolyn. Training provided, program fees waived. |
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March 2011 Newsletter
Greetings! Professor Glenn Albrecht, professor of sustainability in Perth, Australia, in 2009 coined the term soliphilia. He defines it as: The love of and responsibility for a place, bioregion, planet, and the unity of interrelated interests within it. The word was created in contrast to another new word that describes the sense of homesickness and distress we feel when we see places that we love under assault, solastalgia. As Professor Albrecht states, both of these terms "give expression in the English language to a fundamentally important relationship between people, communities and their home environment." Our task at Rim Country is to help re-capture this soliphilia by providing a space to examine and engage. Like all relationships, the one we have with our place is far more meaningful when we spend time and energy, investing ourselves and leaving space to listen. We invite you to join us--at a workshop, guided walk, or other program--in doing just that. See you on the prairie! *Read more of Professor Albrecht's work at: http://healthearth.blogspot.com/ Moonlight Hike This SaturdaySaturday, March 19, join naturalist Carolyn Sevier for an evening walk on the prairie. Watch the sunset and full moon rise, take in the open landscape, and return to a campfire for stargazing. Bring a story or a song (instruments welcome!) to share or just enjoy the conversation. 6:45pm, dress for weather. $10/person, reservations required. 696-8622 or carolyn@rimcountry.org
The program also requires participants to use their training for community education, which is where Rim Country comes in. We will be planning a series of workshops this summer involving medical residents as instructors and staff. Topics may include back-country travel, wilderness first-aid and preparation, map and compass skills, and others. Watch this newsletter, plus our website and facebook page, for more information about our summer program plans. On a related note, the MFMR program will be hosting an Advanced Wilderness Life Support class in Billings on May 5-8. Course is open to the public and will include some field work at Cove Canyon Grasslands. For more information, contact: 406-247-3306. Go local, go deep Walks are designed for both a one-time introduction or for a chance to really get to know the grassland over an entire season. Season passes are available, $50/person or $125/family. Passes admit holder to all guided walks through 2011 and are fully transferable. All walks are held at Cove Canyon Grasslands (see directions on website). Plan on a 15 minute commute from the West End and 30 minutes from most other places in Billings. Dress for weather, reservations recommended (required for Moonlight Hikes). Wednesday Walkabouts Join us every Wednesday evening, Starting April 6th, for a chance to learn or explore. Certainly there will be some of both each week, but we've split our regular walks to focus on a particular topic every other week and use the intervening weeks as a chance to really get out on the prairie. Learning topics will include birds, flowers, fire ecology, grasses, geology, and other aspects of the prairie ecosystem. Explore days will include whatever the prairie and the people want to discuss, as guided by one of our trained naturalists. See sidebar for April-May schedule. Early Morning Wild Bird Walks Early in the AM is the best time for birds and those who want to watch them. Each Saturday before a scheduled Cove Canyon Crosswalk (see below), meet at 6am to see prairie birds in action. Wild Bird Walks and Wild Bird Wednesdays sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, 111 S. 24th Street, Billings. Cove Canyon Crosswalk: Cove Canyon Grasslands is 3,000 acres of grassland plateaus, sandstone canyons, stands of Ponderosa, and plenty of surprises! It is a landscape best enjoyed with a little time and a lot of curiosity. Bring a friend and a lunch as we explore the landscape with a naturalist guide. Full Moon and Campfires Every time the moon is full, join us for a special evening program on the prairie. Take a short walk to learn more about the landscape, watch the sunset and full moon rise, and return to the campfire for stargazing and warm drinks. Bring a story or a song to share if you would like (instruments welcome!), or just enjoy the conversation. Time depends on sunset.
Early Signs of Spring Here's how you know that it's Spring on the mixed-grass prairie: Bluebirds are back Bumblebees buzz Sumac sprouts The red berries also stay on the plant through the winter (great food for birds and deer), so a few bushes may have both dried fruits and new flowers before leaves start to grow.
E-mail Phone Directions to Cove Canyon Grasslands, prairie home of Rim Country, can be found at: http://www.rimcountry.org/directions.php |
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