Chasing after elusive wolverines in Glacier National Park. Wandering through meadows of wild flowers. Snorkeling McDonald Creek. The Glacier Institute has kicked off another summer of adventuring through Northwest Montana’s Crown of the Continent ecosystem.
Since 1983, the private nonprofit organization based in Kalispell has led an array of educational and adventurous field courses for all ages. The programs run primarily inside Glacier Park but also travel the Bob Marshall, Great Bear and Scapegoat wilderness areas. Instructors, who range from experts in their fields to published authors to wildlife biologists, lead the programs in an outdoor classroom setting, like mountain trails and river basins.
“It’s the best place in the country. We just want people to learn about these special places,” said Joyce Baltz, executive director of the Glacier Institute.
The summer series began recently and runs through September. The bulk of the programs are in June and July. There are separate opportunities for adults and children. The courses vary, from wildlife to geology to ecology. For example, a June 22 field course will focus on birds of prey along the Rocky Mountain Front. On July 6, Glacier’s grizzlies and black bears will be spotlighted. On July 23, author Doug Chadwick will explain the curious lives of wolverines before leading a hike through the animal’s prime territory above Logan Pass. The children’s programs include a mountain goat hiking day, June 24-28, and a wooly bugger fly fishing camp, July 29-Aug. 1. The institute also offers overnight youth science adventure camps at the Big Creek Educational Center on the Flathead National Forest for ages 7-16.
“We value the educational programming that the Glacier Institute offers about the natural and cultural resources of the park,” Chas Cartwright, Glacier’s superintendent, said in a statement.
In partnership with Glacier National Park, the institute’s courses are not meant to take advocacy stances, just emphasize field-based learning experiences through objective and science-based information.
“The goal is to educate about the subjects at hand and all of what we teach on are the themes of Glacier,” Baltz said.
Scholarships are available for courses and an application can be found on the institute’s website, www.glacierinstitute.org.
Each course includes tuition for instruction, materials and transportation. Members of the Glacier Institute receive a 10 percent discount on courses and lodging.
To register or for a complete listing of this summer’s courses, call 406-755-1211 or visit online, www.glacierinstitute.org.