2019 Annual Meeting
Lodgepoles under Living Skies
June 21-23, 2019
Hosted by the Montana Native Plant Society, Kelsey Chapter
and
The Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan
with Special Guests – Alberta Native Plant Council
Cypress Hills InterProvincial Park – Centre Block
Saskatchewan
Online Registration is now available following the meeting information on this page.
Program
Please Note: We have scheduled 8 different Field Trips numbered accordingly. Several are repeated on subsequent days allowing you to broaden your participation. Please study these alternatives and register for your choices when you register for the meeting. Find more details here:
Annual Meeting 2109 Workshops-Fieldtrips
Also Note: Food will be catered by The Shop Deli and Bakery in Maple Creek, SK. Here is the menu they will have on offer:
Menu for Annual Mtg
When you register, we need you to indicate your choice of special dietetic meals available so we have a good count for those – use linked menu to help you choose.
Friday June 21
9:00: Camp Shagabec opens
9- noon: Check In, Rec Hall – Lunch on your own
10:00-3:30: All-day Preconference Field Trips
Field Trip 1. Centre Block: Lookout Point/Bald Butte/Native Prairie Trail; Easy 1 ½ miles (2.4 km)
Field Trip 2. History Tour of Ft. Walsh National Historic Site – including Bus Ride to Trading Post and Massacre Site C$8.30 /person + C$5.00 Site Entry Fee. Limited to 32 Persons. Price includes admission into the Fort, a Fort interpreter/guide, and a 20-minute film; Easy 2 miles (3.2 km)
Field Trip 5. Private Land Mystery Rocks and Woody Draws; Easy 5 miles (8 km)
Field Trip 6. West Block: Hidden Conglomerate Cliffs Loop Trail; Moderate 4 miles (6.4 km)
1-3:30: Pre-conference Workshops
Workshop 1: Botanical Art: Jane Fournier, MNPS
Workshop 2: Botanical Illustrations: Heather Peat-Hamm, NPSS
1-3:30: Afternoon Pre-conference Tours
Field Trip 7. Centre Block: Whispering Pines Trail; Easy 2 miles (3.2 km)
Field Trip 8. Centre Block-Botrychium Trip; Easy – next to road.
3:30-5:45: Check In, Social (Rainbow Campground RV Site with Saskatchewan micro-brews)
5-5:45: MNPS Board of Directors Meeting
5-9: Kids Activities (including dinner at 6 pm)
6:00: Friday Evening Meal in Rec Hall
7:15-9:00: Evening Program:
Welcome & “Ummmmm…Actually” Ice Breaker
Speakers on Cypress Hills Area (Rec Hall)
1. History-Park Staff
2. Geology-Park Staff
3. Flora and Habitat-Chet Neufield, NPSS Exec. Dir.
9-9:30: Saskatchewan Vegetation Slide Show
Saturday June 22
6:30-8:15: Breakfast and Pick up Sack Lunches
8 am-9:00 pm: Kids Activities – (Camp Shagabec and InterProvincial Park area)
8:30-3:00: Saturday All-Day Field Trips
Field Trip 1. Centre Block: Lookout Point/Bald Butte/Native Prairie Trail; Easy 1 ½ miles (2.4 km)
Field Trip 2. History Tour of Ft. Walsh National Historic Site . C$5.00 Site Entry Fee for admission into the Fort, a Fort interpreter/guide, and a 20-minute film about the area; Easy 2 miles (3.2 km) (No Massacre Site or Trading Post tour) Botanizing around Fort with NPSS Botanist after lunch.
Field Trip 3. Botany Blitz on War Bonnet Hill for Metis; Moderate 4 miles (6.4 km)
Field Trip 5. Private Land: Mystery Rocks and Woody Draws; Easy 5 miles (8 km)
Field Trip 6. West Block: Hidden Conglomerate Cliffs Loop Trail; Moderate 4 miles (6.4 km)
8:30-11:30: Morning Half-Day Field Trip
Field Trip 7. Centre Block: Whispering Pines Trail; Easy 2 miles (3.2 km)
Noon-3:00: Afternoon Half-Day Field Trip
Field Trip 8. Centre Block-Botrychium Trip; Easy – next to road.
3:00-6:00: Clean Up, Plant ID Contest, and Socialize
6:00: Evening Meal in Rec Hall
7:15: MNPS Annual Business Meeting (Rec Hall)
8:30: Thank yous: Field trip Slide shows (Rec Hall)
Sunday, June 23
6:30-8:15: Breakfast
8:15-9:15: Committee Meetings
9:30 – 1:00: Post-Meeting Field Trips
Field Trip 1. Center Block: Lookout Point/Bald Butte/Native Prairie Trail; Easy 1 ½ miles (2.4 km)
Field Trip 5. Private Land: Mystery Rocks and Woody Draws; Easy 5 miles (8 km)
Field Trip 6. West Block: Hidden Conglomerate Cliffs Loop Trail; Moderate 4 miles (6.4 km)
Field Trip 7. Centre Block: Whispering Pines Trail; Easy 2 miles (3.2 km)
9:30-3pm: Pack up, Clean up.
This will be our first truly international meeting and will certainly result in a future joint meeting in Montana with our Saskatchewan and Alberta neighbors. For more information contact 2019 Annual Meeting Co-Chair Patrick Plantenberg at m2andp2@mt.net or 406-431-4615.
By the way, while traveling to Saskatchewan, you may also want to visit other attractions besides the Cypress Hills here are some to consider: Other Potential Trip Destinations while Visiting Saskatchewan for the Annual Meeting.
Other Annual Meeting Arrangements and Information
Lodging
Three types of lodging are available on-site with preference given based on date of registration. Guests need to bring their own bedding.
1. Twelve dorm style cabins with 4 bunk beds sleep 8 people each (no rest rooms in cabins) (Total 96).
2. Four cabins with 4 beds can accommodate 4 people each (Total 16)
3. There is unlimited space for tent camping. Cars can’t be parked by the tents-cars must be parked in parking lot or courtyard.
RV spots are available from the InterProvincial Park nearby with water and electrical hook-ups. Reserve early in spring (beginning April 16) – Rainbow Campground is the closest. Website: https://saskparks.goingtocamp.com/CypressHills
There are several motels in Maple Creek.
There are showers and restrooms in one building and more washrooms in the Recreation Hall.
Meals
Meals will be provided by a caterer Friday night thru Sunday morning. Vegetarian, gluten free, and non-dairy options are available. Please indicate the number of people needing these options on the registration form. Other meals are on your own. No alcohol is allowed in the camp. There is plenty of potable water in the camp. Menu for Annual Mtg
Kids Activities at Camp Shagabec
There are some kids’ activities in the Recreation Hall including foosball, air hockey, and shuffleboard, etc. There will be paid kids caregivers on site Friday from 5 pm-9 pm, and all day Saturday from 8 am-9 pm to care for children while parents are attending meetings, on field trips, etc. The caregivers will be having activities for the children throughout the day. Sack lunches are available for the kids on Saturday by registering for them.
Kids Activities in Cypress Hills Provincial Park
There is a public beach on the lake in the park near Camp Shagabec. There are kayaks, canoes, and bikes to rent as well. There is a swimming pool in the park. There are various trails in the park around the camp. There is also horseback riding in the park and zip lining.
Camp Shagabec
Camp Shagabec is a church camp located in the Cypress Hills InterProvincial Park, Centre Block in southwest Saskatchewan, 20 minutes south of Maple Creek. The camp is situated in a lodgepole pine forest with access to many of the park’s amenities. Check out their website at: http://shagabec.com/. Please bring your own bedding. The maximum summer accommodation is 120 people.
Directions to Camp Shagabec
The most direct route to the camp from most places in Montana is through Havre. Turn north at 7th Ave. N. from Hwy 2; turn left on 5th St N (Wildhorse Rd, Hwy 232); turn right onto St. Joe Rd to Willow Cr. Border Crossing; (enter Canada – show passports); continue on Hwy 21; watch for InterProvincial Park Sign and turn left on SK-221; go 2.4 mile to Cypress Hills InterProvincial Park Center Block. Pay fee at entry station: Park Entrance Fee per Vehicle for 3 days C$18 (US$24). Proceed on Ben Voirlick Drive. Drive past the park office (on right) and take first left on Vannoch Drive. Drive ½ half mile to Ben Vannoch Drive. Turn right and travel 450 feet to entrance to Camp Shagabec. Turn right into Camp Shagabec and parking czars will help you park your car. If you are coming from other than Havre, the key is to get to HWY 21 at Maple Creek or between Robstart and Vidora, SK.
Some Recommendations
Get your passports NOW if you have not yet done so.
Be sure you know your health and accident insurance situation. Some American plans (including most Medicare plans) do not cover medical care (even emergencies) in Canada. Policies for travelers should be available for around $100 per week.
Contact your credit/debit card company before you leave to arrange for them to be accepted in Canada.
Check whether your phone will work in Canada. DO NOT EVEN TOUCH YOUR PHONE WHILE DRIVING IN CANADA.
It is best to use Canadian currency for cash purchases – most businesses do not calculate the exchange and take US currency at face value – price = C$10 = US $10 bill. You can get Canadian currency at some banks and also from an ATM in Canada (if you have made sure your card is cleared ahead of time and participates in a Canadian network.)
Please note that at the end of the form there is a notice indicating where PayPal has said your payment went, which is “Yarnings” because it is based on our Kelsey Treasurer’s email address. Please don’t be surprised by this – it will get you registered and our chapter the money – no problem. Thanks for your indulgence.
Annual Meeting Photos
Click on the Caption at the bottom of the following pictures to go to 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.
