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Spring Grizzly Bear Workshop
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 Grizzly Bear © Janet Reynolds |
Date:
May 13–May 19, 2006
Time:
Full day activities
Overview:
Daily field trips into occupied grizzly habitat, lectures and audio-visual programs combine to make this an exciting and fulfilling opportunity. Timed for the best in spring scenery, (as well as bear activity), this workshop will expose participants to some of the most magnificent wildlands left in the United States. Emphasis will be placed on first-hand learning in the field; topics will include grizzly habitat requirements, food habits, reading sign, management and more. This session is designed for adults of all ages and experience levels.
Experience the 2005 Spring Grizzly Bear Workshop in photos and narrative.
The field trips for this workshop involve traveling roads and trails into the beautiful, remote areas that grizzlies inhabit. The Rocky Mountain Front of Montana and Alberta is home to North America’s last prairie grizzly bears, and our explorations will lead us into the diverse habitats of this ecosystem, including Glacier National Park and The Nature Conservancy’s sprawling Pine Butte Swamp Preserve. Our hikes are conducted at a pace designed to accommodate group needs. Frequent stops are made to discuss the local natural history and bears. Several of our walks will be in mountainous terrain, at elevations from 4,000-6,500 feet. Round-trip lengths of the hikes are usually between 2-7 miles.
We will strive to see and respectfully view wild bears, although this, of course, cannot be guaranteed. Montana grizzlies are intelligent and cautious animals, often sensing and avoiding people undetected.
The Instructor:
Dr. Charles Jonkel is regarded as one of the world's eminent authorities of bears. He has conducted research on bears for more than 40 years, including 25 years focused on grizzly bears. “Chuck” has also led extensive research projects on black and polar bears. He has spent thousands of hours in many parts of wild Montana studying and observing grizzly bears.
In the field, Chuck is a rare delight, a storehouse of information about the land and its wild inhabitants. His sense of humor, dedication to his work, and his expertise combine to make him an exceptional instructor.
See Chuck in action:
View Postcards from the Field: Searching for Grizzly Bears in Montana
Assisting with this workshop will be Eric Bergman and Jean Placko, Pine Butte’s resident naturalists. Both bring broad understanding and experiences in botany, ecology, and environmental education, in addition to an intimacy with this landscape. Through The Nature Conservancy programs, Eric has been teaching about the ecology of the Rocky Mountain Front for 5 years, and has been exploring Montana’s wild places his entire life. Jean has worked as an environmental educator in Washington, Mexico and the Galapagos Islands, in addition to 3 seasons at Pine Butte.
Cost:
Cost for this workshop is $1500 per person, which includes airport shuttle service to/from Great Falls, food, and lodging at Pine Butte Guest Ranch. We require a non-refundable deposit of $475 per person in order to hold your reservation(s). A portion of your fee ($375) is considered tax-deductible.
Enrollment is limited to 16 participants.
Accommodations:
You’ll stay at the historic Pine Butte Guest Ranch, set in a spectacular mountain valley surrounded by thousands of acres of wilderness. It’s the perfect place to "get away from it all" and enjoy outstanding food and cozy lodging.
Learn more:
• Travel to the ranch
• Reservation form
• What to bring
We look forward to hosting you at Pine Butte Guest Ranch!
