By Michael Howell
Since being banned from dealing directly with officials at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge and having a cash donation to a refuge project returned to them, the board members of Friends of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge are doing their best to see that their money can somehow, through some round about avenue, end up benefiting the refuge in the end. So far they have found two opportunities that fit the bill.
At a recent meeting in Stevensville the group decided to donate $6,000 to the Montana Natural History Center (MNHC) to be used in the Visiting Naturalist in the Schools program. The primary target group for the program is fourth graders but it includes third and fifth graders, too. It involves classroom visits as well as field trips, many to the Lee Metcalf Natural Wildlife Refuge.
Arnold Olsen, Executive Director of the MNHC, told the board members of Friends of the Refuge that 60 classrooms are currently being served by the program. The goals of the program are to develop the skills of an artist, writer, and scientist to explore the natural world; to become familiar with the process of scientific inquiry; to understand how form relates to function in the natural world by studying the adaptations of Montana flora and fauna; and to develop a relationship with a naturalist mentor.
“The overall goal is to re-connect kids and adults with nature,” said Olsen. He said it was more important than ever with the average American kid spending 7 to 8 ½ hours in front of some sort of screen.
Besides the Naturalist in the Schools Program the MNHC also offers evening lectures, workshops and a Master Naturalist Course, all of it science based and information based, according to Olsen.
Another major avenue identified for funding by the Friends of the LMNW Refuge is the Bitterroot Land Trust. The Friends gave the Bitterroot Land Trust $15,000 in 2011. Bitterroot Land Trust Executive Director Gavin Ricklefs, President John Ormiston and Conservation & Stewardship Manager Kyle Barber gave the Friends an overview of what the Friends’ donation helped accomplish. It consists of some large conservation easements established in the Burnt Fork area east of Stevensville.
Ricklefs said that the donation from the Friends allowed them to “ramp up their work in the Burnt Fork drainage.” It allowed them to do the necessary base-line studies and other work necessary to see some conservation easements through to completion. Ricklefs said that word of mouth promotion by landowners already successful in establishing easements has lit a fire of interest in the area. He said they were adding staff to meet the volume of interest being expressed.
“It’s a great problem to have,” he joked.
The easements in the Burnt Fork will protect the land for agriculture and wildlife and other natural resources. The easements are located just a few miles upstream from the Refuge and will help protect the water quality in the area as well as a wildfowl corridor that is much used.
“This partnership is really working,” said Ricklefs. “You’ve given us the confidence to step up and take on these projects.”
The Friends of the Refuge is also testing the waters in a sense by offering some more direct funding to the Refuge to fix an aging asphalt path in the Wildlife Viewing Area. They are offering to pay the cost estimated at $6,722.10 to repair and seal the path.
The group is also hoping that the Congressional delegation meeting with USFWS officials may be able to restore the group’s standing.