ECO Spring Update

Spring coincided with a marked uptick in group visits. Visitors planned for the coming summer, and dove into projects.

Walter Lujan from the Missoula Conservation District brought a group of students from Hamilton High School to prepare for the Sate Envirothon. The group visited the education garden and then toured the frontside of the ranch to look at restoration efforts.

C.S. Porter Middle School brought half of the sixth grade class to visit on a field trip. The students started their day exploring the education garden.

In the afternoon, they hiked in the Northern Floodplain and engaged in a group writing project.

Students then took individual time to create poetry based on their experience.

Jill Alban and Kascie Herron from the Clark Fork Coalition visited to plan future collaborations between agencies. MPG and CFC will work together on a Bitterroot River cleanup and to retrofit fencing between MPG and the Sapphire Ranch to make it more wildlife friendly.

Community volunteers assisted Raptor View Research Institute and MPG researchers to monitor the spring raptor migration. MPG Ranch sits on a migratory route that sees heavy use during both the spring and fall migrations.

Sussex School brought a group of third and fourth graders to visit for a class field trip. The students were challenged to observe as many different species as they could over the course of the day. In all, they noted over 20 different species.

The students also found many treasures.

They observed fresh beaver activity. Note the tail tracks by the base of the tree.

Following lunch, the class broke off individually to write in their journals. It is impressive that students of this age spend time in ‘sit spots’ to observe and record the natural world.