The 2013 Annual Meeting

A Little Botany in the Little Belts

Will be held July 5 - 7

At Camp Rotary in the Little Belt Mountains

Between Monarch and Neihart

 Hosted by Kelsey Chapter

 Registration information here

 

New this year - We are hosting a pre-meeting educational opportunity - A Grass Class with Dr. Matt Lavin

Also new - a special rate for early registering College Students - Rate available until 6/21

Classic this year - All the traditional Field Trips, Frolic, and Fun of the MNPS Annual Meeting - All the details and registration information are on this page - or here

 

Agenda                                                                                            

Friday, July 5

1:00 - 5:00  Grass class with Dr. Matt Lavin

1:00 - 6:00  Arrival, Registration, field trip sign-up

6:00 -          Pot-luck dinner - please bring a dish to share

7:00            Board of Directors Meeting

                   Campfire, songs, poems, etc.

Saturday, July 6

6:30 - 8:00  Coffee and Breakfast (included)

8:00 - 4:30  Field Trips (pack a lunch)

4:00 - 5:30  Annual Wayne Phillips Plant ID Event

                   Download your field trip pictures to share

6:00 - 7:00  Banquet (must include in registration)

7:00 - 8:00  Silent auction, raffle, awards, and slide show

Sunday, July 7

7:00 - 8:00  Coffee and Breakfast (included)

8:00 - 9:00  Committee Meetings

9:00 - 11:00 Clean and break camp, farewells, field trips depart

Field Trip and Activity Details

Field trips are offered on a first-come basis. Sign-up is available when you arrive at camp. Trips are subject to a minimum and maximum number of participants and may change depending on conditions. Bring a lunch, appropriate shoes and clothing, including rain gear, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Don’t forget water bottles and lunch items.

Saturday Full-Day Trips

1. Spur Park, Ant Park, down to the Middle Fork Judith to Hay Canyon. Hope to view short-styled columbine.

2. Clyde Park/Willow Park on the Judith/Musselshell Divide. Visit wetlands, cottongrass, sphagnum moss, ladies tresses.

3. Onion Park RNA within the Tenderfoot Experimental Forest featuring subalpine mesic meadow communities in a matrix of subalpine fir and lodgepole pine; meandering glide and riffle-pool stream; beaver ponds; fen.

4. O’Brien Creek RNA features extensive riparian willow and herbaceous communities with forests of subalpine fir and lodgepole pine; riffle-pool stream, wet meadows, and long-styled thistle.

5. Dry Fork Belt Creek with FWP fisheries biologist David Moser to look at a potential project to restore westslope cutthroat trout to a significant portion of the Dry Fork Belt Creek drainage. The long canyon that leads to the ghost town of Barker/Hughesville.

Saturday Full-Day and/or Half-Day Trips

6. King’s Hill offers an easy stroll to view Jones columbine, interesting cushion plant communities, high grassland plants along the divide.

7. Paine Gulch Research Natural Area features extensive forest cover of limber pine, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine; shrubby cinquefoil meadow; black cottonwood riparian; entire watershed in nearly pristine condition; some areas have burned, view fire recovery

Kids' Activities at Camp

Monkey bars and a volleyball net are available at the camp. Belt Creek runs through the camp. Parents, please be aware of the inherent danger and keep an eye on young children. Life vests aren’t a bad idea. A half-day GPS/weed mapping event is planned. Please have kids wear good walking shoes, outdoor clothing, and provide a water bottle.

 

The Meeting Place:


The setting for A Little Botany in the Little Belts is Camp Rotary located along Belt Creek in the Little Belt Mountains. Facilities include a new lodge for meeting and eating. There are separate bathhouses for men and women with flush toilets and showers. The campfire area will be the scene for evening song, poetry, and stories (bring your instruments). Tents can be pitched on-site, but cars must be left in the parking area. Dorm-style cabins are available on a first-come basis for $5/person/night. Reserve your place early and bring your own bedding. The water at the camp is potable. Please remember, NO PETS!

Meals

Friday night’s dinner is potluck, so please bring a dish to share. Kelsey Chapter will furnish beer, wine, and snacks. There are camp-style plastic dishes available, but we encourage you to bring your own mugs for beer and coffee, and a water bottle for the hikes. Saturday night dinner, catered by Á la Cart Catering at Murry’s, will feature Asian pork roast, with a variety of salads, side dishes, and fruits. The vegetarian option is tofu Thai curry, with the same salads and side dishes. Both main entrees are glutenfree but you will have to select suitable side dishes as you go through the line. A special meal for kids 12 and under is available. Dessert will be furnished by the Kelsey Chapter. We must have your registration by June 21 to reserve the Saturday night banquet. Breakfasts, included with your registration fee, will offer fresh fruit, granola, bagels, toast, milk, juice, coffee, tea, and appropriate condiments. Lunches are on your own.

Getting to Camp Rotary

Camp Rotary is located on U.S. Highway 89 between the towns of Neihart and Monarch. If you are coming from the Kalispell area, you will probably take Montana Highway 2 to U.S. 89 and follow that through Great Falls to the camp. If you are coming from Missoula, you may want to take Highway 12 to Helena and Townsend, then go through White Sulphur Springs on Highway 89. From the Bozeman and Big Timber area, take the Highway 89 exit from I90 and follow it to the camp. From eastern Montana you can follow Highway 200 until it runs into Highway 89. Look for MNPS signs on Highway 89 at the camp turnoff.

Nearby Campgrounds and Accommodations


Bob’s Bar, Motel & Restaurant in Neihart 406-236-5955
Cub’s Den Motel in Monarch 406-236-5922
Rocking J Cabins & Campground in Monarch 236-5535
tent and RV sites
Aspen Campground L&C National Forest
406-547-3361 tent and RV sites
Many Pines Campground L&C National Forest
406-236-5511 tent and RV sites
Logging Creek Campground L&C National Forest
406-236-5511 tent and RV sites

 

On Your Way Home Sunday


Heading south over King’s Hill. Visit Memorial Falls between Neihart and King’s Hill. An easy, short trail hike.

Heading north through Great Falls. Sluice Boxes State Park displays soaring cliffs and precipitous ledges that mark the Belt Creek Canyon as it slices out of the Little Belt Mountains and winds toward the town of Belt. Remains of mines, a railroad, and historic cabins line Belt Creek as it makes its way through the beautiful canyon carved in limestone.

Register on-line now - click here or here to print out a mail-in form

 

 

Annual Meeting Photos

Click on the Caption at the bottom of the following pictures to go to a Picasa Album of photos from past annual meetings shared by generous annual meeting participants. Please enjoy the pictures and respect the talents and work of the photographers - i.e. please don't steal their work.

The Clark Fork Chapter is posting pictures of the 2012 Annual Meeting on their Facebook Page.

 

2011 Annual Meeting

 

2011 Annual Meeting

 

2010 Annual Meeting

 
 2010 Annual Meeting
 

2009 Annual Meeting

2009 Annual Meeting

 

  

2008 Annual Meeting

2008 Annual Meeting