Horse bonding program

On March 20 through the 22nd, a group of folks in Belgrade will put on a Horse Expo featuring clinician Josh Lyons at the Circle L's heated indoor facility, which is located four miles northwest of Belgrade. Josh's program, "The Next Generation," features the Lyons' conditioned response training methods. This gentle training method uses the horse's respect while creating a safe and willing partner. This is Josh Lyons' first time in Montana. The trade show's activities include clinicians, a ranch sorting demonstration, a stallion alley, private treaty horses, vendors and concessions. Call Rod Cline at 581-0697 or Lisa Armstrong

570-5711 for more information.

Trout Unlimited

On March 21 at the Helena Civic Center at 6 p.m., the Missouri River Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host its banquet. Event includes no-host cocktails, dinner, original art, raffles and other things.

Tickets are $35 and are available at Cross Currents, Montana Fly Goods, Capital Sports and the Trout Shop. Call 495-2675 for more information.

Hike and soak

On March 21 and 22, hike or snowshoe near White Sulphur Springs. The trip will be followed by a soak and stay at the Spa Hot Springs Motel. Call early for reservations at 449-7971.

Bike Club presentation

Come hang with the Helena Bicycle Club on March 24 at 7 p.m. at Valley Bank on Fuller Avenue. The club will host a "A Tour of Italy" by Will Snider. Snider will discuss the trip that he and his new bride Kris took through Italy last year. The presentation will include photos, experiences and insights from their self-contained bicycle ride from northern Italy to Rome over five weeks. There is no charge, and the public is welcome.

Montana's butterflies

On March 24 at 7 p.m., Steve Kohler will present "Montana's Butterflies and Their Plants." Steve Kohler will talk about some of the work he has been doing on the food plants of butterfly larvae. Free in the large meeting room at the Lewis and Clark Library.

Jennifer Lowe-Anker

On March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Base Camp, the Helena Outdoor's Club will host Jennifer Lowe-Anker. The author of "Forget Me Not," Lowe-Anker will present a slide show and read from her memoir regarding her life with world-renowned climber Alex Lowe and her marriage to his partner Conrad Anker. For more information, call 406-310-1293.

Hone your shooting skills

Sign up for the Helena Trap Club's Spring League takes place on March 25 at 5 p.m. at the clubhouse on North Montana Avenue. The league will start the following week and continue each Wednesday for a total of eight weeks. The fee for eight weeks of 25 clays each evening is $40. You can organize your own squad of five shooters or just come out and you will be placed on a squad. New members are always welcome and club members will be glad to share advice with new shooters.

This year the club will offer Sporting Clays Five Stand practice consisting of 25 clay targets on league nights. You will need a shotgun capable of shooting two rounds and extra shells since you are allowed to take more than 25 shots.

Club members will offer basic instruction, including safety, for anyone who would like to try this shooting sport. This is a great way for bird hunters to tune their skills for the hunting season.

Party with the horsemen

On March 27, the Last Chance Backcountry Horseman chapter of Helena will host its 2009 Backcountry Horsemen of Montana state convention.

The theme for this year's convention is "Traveling in the Back Country." Backcountry chapters from around the state will have displays of their activities with information, handouts, and membership applications. There will also be a photo contest with a variety of categories.

Raffle tickets are $3 each, 2 for $5, or 5 for $10. Tickets can be purchased from any Last Chance Backcountry Horseman member or by

e-mailing mules2ride@msn.com.

Women take your mark...

A free women-specific triathlon clinic and a junior triathlon clinic are being offered on March 28 at the YMCA. USAT certified coaches will be leading the junior clinic which will include swim, bike and run skills. The women's clinic is classroom style with a variety of presenters including women athletes and certified coaches. For more information on the women's clinic contact Karen Powell at kp@renthelena.com. For more information on the junior clinic contact Ann Gilbert at ann.gilbert@bresnan.net.

And yet more walleye...

On March 28, the Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited will host its annual big prize giveaway and fundraising banquet in Havre. The even includes games, raffles and drawings. Banquet tickets went on sale in February and are limited to the seating of 350 at the Havre VFW Club. Tickets can be ordered by calling Havre Rental at 406-265-8841, or Bing N Bob's Sports Shop at 406-265-6124.

Glacier Institute catalog

The Glacier Institute has released its 2009 course catalog. The Glacier Institute invites you to view the 2009 course and summer camp schedule online at www.glacierinstitute.org. You can also find information on exciting volunteer opportunities, memberships and upcoming projects with the institute on the Web site. To request a catalog by mail please contact the Institute at 406-755-1211, or

register@glacierinstitute.org.

Send your fish art

Entries to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' fish art contest are due March 24 by 5 p.m.

The contest is open to all Montana students, grades 4 through 12. The artwork must focus on cutthroat trout, Montana's state fish. Entries will be grouped by grades

4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Older students are particularly encouraged to enter.

Official entry forms, full contest rules and cutthroat trout information are available online at www.statefishart.com. Send or deliver entries to: FWP State-Fish Art Contest; 490 N. Meridian Rd.; Kalispell, MT 59901.

Send you park art

Montana's fifth graders will have an opportunity to test their artistic skills this spring and compete for some exciting prizes by participating in the 2009 Montana State Parks poster contest.

The deadline to enter is April 4, and the theme is "Montana State Parks: Who Lived There First?"

Artwork for the poster contest may be done using any medium, including crayon, ink or pencil. Bright colors and dark outlines are strongly encouraged for better reproduction. The size of the art work must be no larger than 9 by 14 inches, and no smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches. Judges will assess creativity, imagination, theme, originality, design, and the use and control of the medium.

Prizes include lodging in a Montana State Park, backpacks, equipment and field guides. Students and teachers without access to the Internet may request an information packet from FWP by phoning: 406-444-3818, or by writing: FWP, Parks Division, 1420 East 6th Ave., Helena, MT, 59620-0701.

For contest materials, go to the FWP Web page at fwp.mt.gov.

Readers: The deadline to submit an event for Thursday's outdoors section is now on Monday. Please send event information to the outdoors editor at mkidston@helenair.com.