Day of coffee, treats and camaraderie supports Glacier Institute

Published: January 19, 2011

Montana Coffee Traders and the Glacier Institute offer a day of coffee, baked goods and camaraderie, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 22 at the downtown Whitefish Coffee Traders, located at 110 Central Avenue.

All net proceeds from brewed coffee sales will be donated to the Glacier Institute to support youth education in the Flathead Valley. Join The institute’s staff and board members will be on hand to discuss 2011 programs and current projects.

Emphasizing outreach and field-based learning experiences, the nonprofit institute provides an objective science-based understanding of the area's ecology. The Glacier Institute is a long-time partner with Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, Flathead Valley Community College and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Offerings include family programs, youth science adventure camps, Discovery School at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center and adult educational programs.

Winter offerings include “Stories in the Snow,” 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 12 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 12 at Glacier Park Community Building in West Glacier; hike on snowshoes and learn about the forest carnivores that remain active in the winter and the tracks, signs and stories that they leave behind ($65).

The Glacier Institute also offers “Cross-Country Ski, Winter Ecology and Tracking,” departing at 9 a.m. Feb. 19 from the Polebridge Mercantile; participants, who should be seasoned cross-country skiers, will observe and investigate animal tracks, scat and kill sites ($65).

For more information, call 406-755-1211 or visit www.glacierinstitute.org.