Community Activities at the Bozeman Fish Technology Center
Visiting the Center
Tours
Use of Conference Room or Grounds for Private Function
A ‘Natural’ Partnership: The Center and Montana Outdoor Science School
Friends of the Bozeman Fish Technology Center
Trails
Drinking Horse Mtn Project
Kids Fishing Derby
Other Events and Community Projects
Volunteer for the Center
Visting the Center
Public welcome! Many visitors come to tour the Center to see the fish and experience the diverse natural setting. Children enjoy feeding the trout in the pond. Nature enthusiasts enjoy the incredible outdoor setting along Bridger Creek and adjacent to the Gallatin National Forest by walking the Center’s nature trails. Whether to view birds, paint, picnic, or feed the fish, the Center receives more than 5,000 visitors each year. For your safety and for the benefit of the Center’s research program, please respect signs and facility access limitations.
Business Hours: 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
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Tours
Regularly scheduled tours will begin in spring of 2008. Group or personalized tours can be arranged by calling 406-994-9951 two weeks in advance. More detailed information about tour options is forthcoming to this site.
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Use of Conference Room and Grounds
The public can reserve use of Conference Room and grounds for private functions. Reservations are scheduled through the Friends of the Center. To get a copy of use guidelines and inquire about use, call 406-994-9951 at one month in advance.
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A “Natural” Partnership: The Center and MOSS
The Bozeman Fish Technology Center has recently been joined on site by the Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS), Bozeman’s non-profit outdoor science education organization. In July, MOSS moved their administrative offices to the Center grounds as part of an expansion of their partnership with the Center. MOSS has been sponsoring outdoor science programs at the Center for nearly a decade including the annual Watershed Festival and Make-a-Splash Day. By moving to the Center, MOSS is provided office space and has access to a spectacular array of natural areas for use as outdoor classrooms. In return, the Center will gain assistance with outreach and can host and participate in outdoor education programs for children.
The community benefits from this partnership through increased use of public trails and natural areas as well as interpretation of the Center’s science and research program, coordinated by education professionals. In the future, this partnership could lead to community projects like a nature center or outdoor venue to host educational events.To learn more about MOSS, go to:
http://www.outdoorscience.org
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Friends of Bozeman Fish Technology Center
Friends of the Bozeman Fish Technology Center is a nonprofit organization of volunteers who care about the future of the Center’s grounds, programs and the community’s connection with the Center. To become a ‘Friend’ or to volunteer for community involvement, education and fundraising, find out how you can join the Friends of the Center. For more information about the Friends Group, call 406-994-9951.
Friends Interim Board Members
Cyndi Crayton- Interim Board chair, neighbor
Bob Piper-retired FWS
Cassie Carter- Montana Outdoor Science School
Pat Dwyer-retired FWS
Whitney Tilt - Sonoran Institute
Jack Jelinski – Montana State University
Wess Orr – retired FWS
Bill Krise – Center Director
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Trails at the Center
The Center grounds include 2 short nature trails perfect for small children or physically challenged visitors. The trails are not long but wind along Bridger Creek and up a small hill just west of the facility to a mountain meadow with views of the nearby Bridger Creek valley.
Along with the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Bozeman’s local non-profit community trails advocacy group, and the Montana Conservation Corps, dedicated to creating and improving local trails, the Center provides safe and enjoyable access to its incredible natural surroundings.
The “M” Trail
Four miles north of downtown and across Highway 86 from the Center is Bozeman’s popular and iconic trail -- the “M”. Weekends find the parking lot full to overflowing as hundreds of people of all ages hike the trail view the "M" up close and enjoy the valley views. The trail also provides access to additional trails north into the Bridger Mountains. Now a new project, the Partnership for Drinking Horse Mountain seeks to expand outdoor access next to the "M" and provide an exciting new link in the M2M vision.
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The Proposed Drinking Horse Mountain Trail (under construction)
Lying immediately southeast of the "M" and forming the gateway to Bridger Canyon, Drinking Horse Mountain provides an exciting combination of trails and environmental interpretation for the community. The project is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bozeman Fish Technology Center, Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Montana Outdoor Science School and Friends of the Bozeman Fish Technology Center.
The newly proposed Drinking Horst Mountain Trail is planned for construction in fall of 2007 and spring of 2008. This trail will add 1.6 miles up to the peak of Drinking Horse Mountain, located at the Center, providing an opportunity to experience the natural landscape and enjoy vistas of the Gallatin Valley.
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Kids Fishing Derby
On the first Saturday in June, at the end of National Fishing and Boating Week, the Center sponsors a Kid’s Fishing Derby for children 6 years of age and under. Kids can fish for trout in the Center’s pond. The experience of wrangling and landing their first lunker is often a child’s first of a lifetime of enjoying fish and angling. The Kid’s Fishing Derby focuses on teaching children responsible and healthy fishing etiquette and understanding sustainable fish harvest. Angling gear is provided. Participants get treats and can win prizes. The Derby runs from 8 AM until 1 PM on the first Saturday in June. Please call for more information and to verify scheduling: 406-587-9265. This event was not held in 2004-2006. Please call to check details for June of 2007.
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Other Community Projects:
Community Watershed Festival
This annual MOSS event is held the third Saturday in May is hosted at the Center. The Festival educates the community about human connections to water and watershed health with activities, entertainment and booths. It’s fun for children of all ages.
Make-A-Splash Day is a national water education and awareness day locally coordinated by MOSS, which educates 4th graders in the community about the aquatic environment. Students play games, take a tour of the fish culture facilities and do activities to learn about aquatic education.
Students at Make-A-Splash Day on the
lawn of the Center being educated about
the aquatic environment. Over 420 students participated in this event.
National Public Trails Day and National Public Lands Day
These days are the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer efforts to improve and enhance the public trails and lands that American’s enjoy. In 2005, nationwide, nearly 90,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants, and removed trash and invasive plants. In the Bozeman Area, Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Montana Conservation Corp, MOSS, Circle K International, Center staff and community volunteers come together in June and September to remove invasive weeds along Bridger Creek and improve the Center’s trail system.
Community Volunteer, Kerri Fleming and BFTC’s Linda
Beck work at eradicating Tansy.
Assistant Director, Yvette Converse
and son Jovial bagging Tansy.
Volunteers from Anderson School Girl Scout Troop at BFTC trying to earn their Trail Badge.
Bozeman Fish Technology Center’s booth for the Gallatin County Fair and Lewis & Clark Expedition display. Informational pamphlets were given out about historical and present day programs of USFWS, Aquatic Nuisance Species and the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
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Landscape Design
The MSU Landscape Design program assigned two groups of three seniors to create a master plan for the 10 acres of grounds surrounding the buildings at BFTC. The students were oriented with the facility and asked to create a landscape design that would incorporate a visitor friendly lay out of the grounds.
One design concept out of four
drafted by MSU Landscape Design
for the pond area at BFTC.
Two Montana Conservation
Corp crew members breaking trail.
Volunteer for the Center
The Center is developing a volunteer program with MOSS to provide community service at the Center. Work ranges from grounds, trails and fish culture to giving tours and working with the Friends of the Center. If you are interested in learning more about what you can do to get involved, call 406-994-9952.
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