Cycling for Slides

Avalanche slide paths along the Going-to-the-Sun Road provide key late-Spring ecological niches for early season foragers, grazers and opportunists: deer, elk and grizzly bear. Avalanche occurrence and dynamics are a function of terrain, weather, snowpack and a triggering mechanism. Come join us on this cycling excursion from Avalanche Creek to Logan Creek (8 miles round trip or perhaps the Loop: 15 miles round trip) to stop often to observe and discuss the dynamics of avalanche slide paths and their ecological role in the landscape.

Date(s): May 23, 2010 - Sunday
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 5:00 PM
Age: Ages 12 and up are welcome with an adult
Meeting Place: Avalanche Lake Trailhead Parking Area
Activity Level: Easy
Instructor(s): Paul Rappaport, M.S.
Course Fee: $65
Credits: 8 OPI
Student Limit: 13

Work Weekend

Want to help out, do some good work, get some lunch, and work on your tan all at the same time? Join us for Work Weekend May 15th!

We need volunteers at Big Creek Outdoor Education Center on the North Fork and Glacier Park Field Camp in West Glacier for some light maintenance, cleaning, raking, trail clean-up and more.

Please come prepared to work hard, play hard, get dirty, make friends, eat some good food and do some great volunteer work. Contact the main office if you would like to join us: 406-755-1211 or register@glacierinstitute.org.

We hope to see you there!

The Glacier Institute welcomes Tyler Nordgren

There is a new instructor at the Glacier Institute this year.

Tyler Nordgren is an astronomer and Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Redlands in California.

He earned his Ph.D in Astronomy from Cornell University where he used some of the largest telescopes in the world to study dark matter in galaxies. In 2004 he was part of a team of seven astronomers and artists who converted the camera calibration targets on NASA's Mars Rover into functioning sundials still in operation on the Red Planet today. For the last four years he has been a member of the National Park Service Night Sky Team working closely with astronomers and park rangers to protect our dark skies and promote astronomy education through their continued enjoyment.

In 2008 he was one of Glacier National Park's Artists-in-Residence because of his photography of the night sky above the nation's parks.

In celebration of Glacier National Park's one hundred year anniversary Tyler will be presenting Astronomy and Night Sky Awareness August 6th and 13th and Astrophotography of Glacier's Night Sky on August 7th and 14th.

Please join us for these exciting new courses and welcome Tyler this summer!

Burgers for Big Creek

Join the Kalispell Wendy's and the Glacier Institute this Wednesday, March 10th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for BURGERS FOR BIG CREEK!

Wendy's is hosting the fundraiser to support educational scholarships for students of the Flathead Valley to attend Big Creek Outdoor Education programs. A portion of all proceeds go towards providing educational opportunities for local students.

Join us for fun, food and Frosties to support Learning Gone Wild!!

It's not too early in the season for an adventure in Glacier National Park. Join us on March 13th for Stories in the Snow.

Glacier’s blanket of snow reveals a frenzy of footprints, offering glimpses of wildlife activity that goes otherwise unseen. We’ll take a three to four mile (round trip) hike focusing on the forest carnivores that remain active in the winter, such as lynx, fisher, pine marten, mountain lion, and wolverines interpreting the tracks, signs and stories that they leave behind.

For more information visit the Glacier Institute web site at www.glacierinstitute.org.

Kintla Valley Cross-country: A Predators Shangri-La

Join us for our Kintla Valley Cross-country course on February 19 - 21, 2010. This course will be a challenging and rewarding adventure into a hidden paradise, Glacier National Park’s Kintla Valley.

This wild and remote valley is the an ideal place for deer, elk, and moose to spend the winter. For more information contact the Glacier Institute office at 406-755-1211.

Learning Gone Wild in 2010!!

Join us in the new year for special Centennial series courses along with many of your favorites. Our 2010 course schedule is available online at www.glacierinstitute.org. The catalog will be available shortly so if you would like a hard copy please let us know.

Here's to an exciting Centennial year in Glacier National Park!