I'm reusing this photo from Michelle's Give-a-Hoot email yesterday, but only because I'm a bit resentful I lent it to her when I knew I had the events email coming up.

I took this photo while on a June backpacking trip into one of my favorite areas of Yellowstone. Everything was last minute. We walked into the backcountry office just before it closed for the day. We raced the sun as we hiked to our campsite.

In that mindset, you're balancing a couple feelings. You're trying to be relieved you made it out into the wilderness, but you still haven't quite let go of all of the work and packing and traffic that led you to the point where you're gonna be putting a tent up in the dark.

Walking face-to-face with a couple bull elk will get you out of your head real quick. I can't believe I was able to take that with my phone. It kinda looks like a painting.

As Michelle's email said, July is the month of Give-a-Hoot, and we'd greatly appreciate your support. Give-a-Hoot is my favorite fundraiser of the year because we try to get as many supporters as possible. No matter what level you can give at, it shows us how much our work is valued.

I get an email every time someone gives, and it's really nice to see your name pop up and see that you value what we're spending so much time working on. Those notifications fill up my cup during the busiest time of the year.

We've got a lot of great events this month. I'm hosting a community conversation to help us all learn more about the proposed Wellness Center. Bethany is working hard to let you know about native plants and noxious weeds. Our interns and partners are organizing a few trail clean-ups.

I hope to see you around this month. Thanks for your support.

JULY 2023 EVENTS

Community Conversation: Wellness Center

Wednesday, July 5, noon

Virtual: Register now!

Join Livingston City Manager Grant Gager for a discussion of the proposed wellness center. Gager recently presented four potential locations to the Livingston City Commission. He will share about those locations and give an update on the process.

Gager will also be joined by Andrew Field, chairman of the 4 Ranges Foundation, and Chase Rose, campaign manager for 4 Ranges Foundation.

Park County Planning Board Subcommittee Meeting for Springdale/Boulder

Thursday, July 6, 5:30 p.m.

Beaver Creek Community Hall, 651 Swingley Rd.

Park County Residents: The Park County Planning Board wants to know how you would like to be heard. Join neighbors and Planning Board members to brainstorm communication ideas.

Paradise Valley Weeds Education Field Day

Friday, July 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

RSVP required!

Join us for our 2nd Paradise Valley Weeds Education Field Day at the Bridger Hollow Rd. Picnic Area (Six Mile Creek) with our partners; Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group, Cooperative Weed Management Area, MSU Extension, Park County Weed District, Park County Environmental Council, and Natural Resource and Conservation Services. This event will help you learn more about weed identification, treating noxious weeds, monitoring treatment effectiveness, and properties of soils 101. Speakers include:

Tony Hartshorn PHD, MSU Associate Professor: Soil 101
Jackie Pondolfino, MSU Extension Ag. Agent: Understanding Herbicide Labels and Mode of Action
Bethany Allen, PCEC Noxious Weed Program Manager: How to Identify, Map, and Monitor
Theresa Posphical, Park County Weed District Coordinator: Herbicide Safety and Calibration
Cody Garcia and Nate Brown, NRCS Soil Conservationist: Grazing for Weed Management

RSVP by 7/5: Call Park County Extension Office (406) 222-4156 or email Bethany Allen at bethany@pcecmt.org to register and receive directions, lunch provided at 12 p.m.

Community Weed Pull

Saturday, July 8 at 8:30 a.m.

Livingston Peak Trailhead (RSVP today!)

Join us at the Livingston Peak Trailhead with our partners: Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and Livingston Bike Club. This is one of Livingston's most loved trails, so come help us protect it! We will have a brief identification and weed removal session before we head out to pull weeds, mostly houndstongue. We will have glovers and clippers. Be sure to sign up here for this event, lunch is provided!

U.S. Highway 89 Bike Path Trail Clean-up

Sunday, July 16, 9 a.m. to noon

Highway 10 and 7th Street

On July 16, PCEC's summer interns will lead a clean-up of the U.S. Highway 89 South Bike Path. We'll meet at 7th Street and Highway 10 at 9 a.m. We'll plan to wrap up around noon. PCEC has adopted this trail, and this is our annual clean-up. Please bring gloves if you would like to use them!

We'll bring trash bags and provide refreshments. Please RSVP to sarah@pcecmt.org, so we know how much pizza to order at the end!

Livingston City Commission

Tuesday, July 18, 5:30 p.m.

Community Room, City-County Complex, 414 E. Callender St.

Agenda will be here!

Join the Livingston City Commission for its regular meeting. We expect the Wellness Center to be discussed. Join us at the Community Conversation on July 5th to learn more!

3rd Annual Cayden James Leonard Memorial Bike Rodeo

Wednesday, July 19, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sacajawea Park during the Livingston Farmers Market

In July of 2019, Cayden lost his life when struck by a vehicle while biking. Join Cayden’s family and Child Care Connections for a child safety event in Livingston, during the Farmers’ Market. This event will celebrate Cayden while offering free education and resources on bike and vehicle safety.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Bring your bike and current helmet!

There will be a bike obstacle course and activities for kids 0-12 ~ vehicle safety for drivers ~ prizes ~ t-shirts ~ FREE bike helmets ~ music ~ first responders ~ chance to win a bike!

Info at: https://cccmontana.org/event/bike4cayden3/

PCEC Native Plant Hike

Saturday, July 22 at 10 a.m.

Suce Creek Trailhead (RSVP required!)

If you're a plant enthusiast, or just looking to spend a day outdoors with like-minded individuals, we invite you to join us on our hike through the beautiful Montana native plant communities. During this event, you'll have the chance to learn about the various native plant species and their significance to Montana's ecosystem.

Leading us on our hike, we have Bethany Allen from the PCEC team and Kaycee Kalahar, the creator of Folk Elements, a local business. They will be guiding us through the identification of various plant species. Bethany will be sharing her expertise in forest and plant ecology while Kaycee will provide her insight on the medicinal properties of our natural environment.

Registration is required and spots are limited so please sign up today to save your spot by emailing karrie@pcecmt.org. Bring water, sunscreen, and be sure to download the Montana Wildflowers App.

North Dry Creek Trail Work Day

Friday, July 28

North Dry Creek Trailhead

Join PCEC, the Livingston Bike Club and the U.S. Forest Service for a work day that includes trailhead improvements and thistle removal. Meet at the Forest Service Office at 8 a.m. to carpool or at the North Dry Creek Trailhead at 9 a.m. Bring your bike if you have one!

Wishberry Hollow

July 29 - August 13

Myers' River View Trail

WISHBERRY HOLLOW, created by Eubank Creative, is the culmination of love and labor of local artists and fairy enthusiasts, who will come together to lure our fairy friends into temporary dwellings as they pass through the area on their late summer migration. A pocket of the Myers’ River View Trail in Livingston, Montana will be transformed into a fairy sanctuary during this two week migration. The pixie community will spark the imagination in both the youngest sprite and the eldest of wizards, by bringing together the beauty of nature, the whimsy of magic, and moments of curiosity, all enriching a sense of wonder in art and in the natural world.

Yellowstone Revealed 2023

August 10, 11 & 12

Madison Junction, Yellowstone National Park

Mountain Time Arts' Yellowstone Revealed series will continue August 10-12 with a theme around water. Learn more here!

From Mountain Time Arts:

This year's installation will be an artistic evolution of the Teepee Village that demonstrates our historical connection and present disconnect from water. Together, we will explore how to be intentional in our reconnection to water. We are excited to have our community experience this journey with us.

Join PCEC for these July events!