Outdoor news.

MWA program to feature Scapegoat slide show

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, Jeff Van Tine will present a slide show celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Scapegoat Wilderness in the Large meeting room of the Lewis and Clark Library.

Van Tine was an Artist-Forest-Community grant recipient in 1998 and 2001. The Webb Lake cabin in the Scapegoat Wilderness was his home base for both photographic residencies. Each time, he spent a week hiking over 60 miles of trails, climbing to mountaintops and photographing with more than 25 pounds of camera gear. Last September, Van Tine exhibited images and some of the history of this historic wilderness area at the Myrna Loy Center.

Van Tine has been learning about photography since his first Kodak Brownie Fiesta camera, purchased with S&H Green Stamps nearly 40 years ago. He has studied photography with Barbara Van Cleve, Jay Dusard and Gordon Hutchings. He is equally at home shooting pictures for slide shows with a 35mm camera or capturing images with his 50-year-old 4 by 5-inch field camera.

"In trying to find my niche in photography I dredge up my fuzzy memories of the places where we used to buy film or take it to be developed. High on the walls, usually above the soda fountain, were these monumental prints of National Parks or sublime local landscapes. These are the type of prints I long to make with my 20 square inches of negative , larger than life and sharp as a tack from the viewer's feet off into infinity. Images that help the viewers mind wander off in awe or wonder. Images that capture a sense of place," said Van Tine.

Van Tine has been a photography instructor for the Holter Museum for five years, teaching the Fundamentals of Photography and will be offering an Introduction to the Digital Darkroom there this spring.

Helena taxidermists recognized at MTA competition

The Montana Taxidermists Association (MTA) held its annual competition and banquet in Great Falls Feb. 21 - 23, in conjunction with the Sports Expo. Two Helena taxidermists received special recognition at the competition.

Boudie Schneider, Schneider Taxidermy, won first place with his pedestal mule deer and was awarded Best Mule Deer 2003. Boudie also was recognized with second place ribbons for his whitetail game head and standing pheasant.

Ralph Swang, CanAm Taxidermy, also won first place with his life size leopard mount and was awarded the Rayline Award 2003.

This competition is held every year and taxidermists from the surrounding states and Canada compete. The mounts are judged by certified National Taxidermists Association judges.

Wildlife to be focus of community lecture series at HHS

Find out more about the relationships between Montana wildlife and wild lands by attending a free community lecture series, "Wild Connections: Exploring the Relationships Between Montana's Wildlife, Wild Lands and Wild People" to be held on Thursdays, March 20 and 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Helena High School theatre.

This two night lecture series will explore the biotic and social relationships of wildlife. Guest speakers for the first lecture include Dr. Dan Pletscher, professor of wildlife biology, and the director of the wildlife biology program at the University of Montana, and Mike Hillis, wildlife biologist from the Lolo National Forest. These speakers will focus on wildlife, the habitat that supports them, and wildlife's role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

The second evening's lecture will discuss the complicated and somewhat controversial connections between wildlife and people. Dr. Jack Taylor, retired Montana Statue University professor of range sciences, will present a historical overview highlighting the relationships between wildlife and primitive cultures. Wildlife educator Vince Yannone will moderate a panel discussion of agency and conservation group representatives, focusing on emerging social issues associated wildlife and what the implications mean to Montanans.

This educational program is sponsored by the Helena National Forest, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Helena Forest Foundation and Helena High School X-CEL Productions. Admission is free. For more information call 449-5201 ext. 243.

Big Sky to host ski event for children with cancer

From March 21-23, Bozeman's Eagle Mount Big Sky Kids program will hold its Annual Spring Fling in Big Sky. The program was developed for children with cancer ages 5 to 23. Since 1985.

The Spring Fling is a Big Sky winter ski weekend where participants from across the nation enjoy downhill skiing at Big Sky Resort, Nordic skiing at Lone Mountain Guest Ranch, and for some, snowmobiling with Canyon Adventures.

Through the Big Sky Kids program, children have the opportunity to make new friends who share common experiences and fears. Outdoor recreation camps like the Spring Fling offer a positive experience to look forward to and help restore hope for the future. The objectives of the Big Sky Kids programs are to show support, assure them that others care, and to help them and their families realize that having fun is still part of their lives.

This year, Firelight Meadows, a Big Sky residential community, is helping to make the weekend even better for participants. Although majority of Spring Fling activities are held in Big Sky, families have traditionally stayed in Bozeman and taken buses back and forth daily to Big Sky. Thanks to the generosity of Paul S. Pariser, Big Sky resident and President of Firelight Meadows, two Firelight Meadows Chalets and two Condominiums are being donated to house eight families and one staff member. Firelight Meadows Condominiums and Chalets regularly rent for upwards of $350 a night. For the Big Sky Kids, these units will be free. Each unit will have a hot tub and come stocked with complimentary beverages.

For more information about Eagle Mount or Big Sky Kids call us at 406-586-1781 or visit us at www.eaglemount.org.

Big Mountain announces Winter Classic guests of honor

NFL players along with Monte the Mascot have been selected as guests of honor for the 2003 Winter Classic in Whitefish. These national celebrities plan to join the festivities March 20 to 23, to help raise funds to support pediatric care in northwest Montana.

Monte, the national championship mascot for University of Montana Grizzlies, will headline this year's guest list.

Current and retired NFL football players scheduled to attend this year's Winter Classic events include Greg Ruegamer, New England Patriots; Lonnie Paxton, New England Patriots; Dave Dickenson, Miami Dolphins; Thatcher Szalay, Cincinnati Bengals; Drew Bennett, Tennessee Titans; Mike Hollis, Buffalo Bills; Doug Brzezinski, Philadelphia Eagles; Jed Weaver, Miami Dolphins; Scott Peters, Philadelphia Eagles; Tim Dwight, San Diego Chargers; Justin Swift, San Francisco 49ers; Cecil Martin, Philadelphia Eagles; Tony Stewart, Cincinnati Bengals; Guy Bingham, New York Jets; Kirk Scrafford, San Francisco 49ers; Joe Mott, New York Jets; Maurice Spencer, New Orleans Saints; Doug Betters, Miami Dolphins.

In addition, Bob Hauck, University of Montana Grizzlies coach, plans to attend along with actor Victor Rivers and Pro Rodeo riders Dee Pickett and Beau Hill.

Grizzly and NFL stars will be available for autographs following the Thursday night Winter Classic basketball game at Whitefish High School, March 20, at 7 p.m.; at the Summit House on Big Mountain from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Friday, March 21; and at the BBQ in the Snow just off Gray Wolf ski run on Big Mountain on Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The football players will also be attending the annual VIP Dinner and Auction on Friday night, March 21, the main fundraiser, where each sponsored table will host a celebrity athlete and his guest. Artists' works are on display through March 19 at Dwyers Gallery in Whitefish.

On Saturday night, March 22, from 7:30 to 10 p.m., the public can rub elbows with the national celebrities in local Whitefish bars during the Poker Run. Winter Classic guests will make their final appearances at the Champagne Brunch on Sunday morning, March 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Whitefish Golf Club Restaurant.

All events are open to the public. Reservations, available at 862-8146, are required only for the VIP Dinner and Auction.

All proceeds from the Winter Classic support For the Children, Inc., an organization designed to disperse financial assistance to Flathead Valley families in need of services beyond the scope of ordinary medical care. Last year, over $36,000 in contributions helped out 47 families from Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Martin City, Troy, Kalispell, Bigfork, Libby, Somers, West Glacier and Eureka.

The 2003 Winter Classic is sponsored by Big Mountain Resort and Whitefish Credit Union along with J & L Snowmobile Rentals, Flathead County Sheriff's Posse, Extreme Motor Sports, Summit House, Dollar Rent a Car, Dwyers Gallery, Fun Beverage and Montana Snowmobile Association.

Ten Mile Drivers Club to host horse clinic

The Ten Mile Drivers Club of Helena would like to invite everyone to attend the Annual Driving Clinics.

Whether you're a complete novice or an experienced driver, the club can teach you everything you need to know to safely train your horse to drive, starting with the basics of proper ground work and harnessing and moving on to more advanced driving techniques.

Topics will include evaluating the driving prospect, spookproofing your horse, advantages and disadvantages of different types of harnesses and vehicles and how to properly fit them to the horse, the importance of proper bitting, what to look for when purchasing a vehicle or harness, the most common causes of accidents and how to avoid them, reinsmanship and much more. New and experienced drivers can practice their skills each week using well-trained horses and we will provide continuing help each week throughout the summer.

The 2003 series of clinics will be held each Saturday in April from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Country Stables, Country Club Drive, Helena. Registration for individual sessions is $15, or $40 for the entire four-session series, which includes a membership in the Ten Mile Drivers Club. For more information and clinic schedules, please contact Pam Barrows at 443-4223, or e-mail to BlueMoon@imine.net.