Outdoor news
New DREAM director
Cheri DuBeau is the new executive director of DREAM Adaptive Inc., which provides outdoor recreation opportunities for disabled people, including skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort. DuBeau has volunteered with Eagle Mount, a Billings organization that worked with disabled people. She also worked as the events coordinator at Belton Chalet and created several Montana businesses throughout her career. She replaces Bruce Gibson, who headed up DREAM for nine years.
Online auction
The Glacier Institute is holding its second annual online auction to support youth education at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center through Wednesday, Dec. 5, at www.charityauctionstoday.com/store/glacier25. Bidding starts at $1 for gifts, paintings and more. Marking its 29th year of educational programs, the institute is a long-time partner with Glacier National Park, the Flathead National Forest, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Flathead Valley Community College offering family programs, youth science adventure camps, Discovery School at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center and adult educational programs. For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org or call 755-1211.
Park retirement
A retirement reception to celebrate Chas Cartwright’s 40 Years of government service will take place at the Community Building in Glacier National Park’s Headquarters Area on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Formal presentations will take place at 4 p.m. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served compliments of the Glacier Association and Glacier National Park Fund. For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact Connie Stahr at 406-888-7901.
Horsemen meet
The Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead will hold their regular monthly meeting at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices, 490 North Meridian Road, in Kalispell, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome. The Back Country Horsemen is a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting stockowners’ use of wilderness and backcountry trails, education of horse owners on Leave-No-Trace principles and support to backcountry agencies. For more information, call 212-8107.
Park Fund
The Glacier National Park Fund recently contracted with Jake Bramante to be the nonprofit’s new outreach coordinator. Bramante, whose relationship with the Park Fund began in December 2010 when he began to hike and video record all 734 miles of Glacier Park’s trails, will handle the Park Fund’s public relations and marketing. He can be e-mailed at jake@glacierfund.org. For more information, visit online at www.glaciernationalparkfund.org.
Trapper course
Registration is open for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Trapper Education Course for Northwest Montana which will be conducted by Montana Fur Harvesters Instructors on Dec. 7 and 8. The class is not required of trappers but it is strongly recommend. This is not a wolf trapper certification class. Classes will be taught at the FWP offices in Kalispell on Friday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. and t the Flathead Valley Clay Target Club north of Kalispell on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, stop by the FWP offices in Kalispell or call 752-5501.
Boating class
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will offer a free boating safety class on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m., at the FWP office in Kalispell. Montana had 11 boating fatalities in 2012. Six occurred west of the Continental Divide. The class will include an overview of boating safety equipment requirements and the rules of safe operation. Montana law requires youths 13 and 14 years of age to pass a boating safety course in order to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft without an adult on board. Class participants will learn how to obtain the motorboat operator certificate. Paddle craft operators also will learn about training for non-motorized vessels. Participants should be at least 12 years old and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To register, call 752-5501 or visit FWP’s office at 490 North Meridian Road, in Kalispell.