Park talk

The Glacier National Park Fund will host a talk by Glacier National Park superintendent Chas Cartwright at Grouse Mountain Lodge on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. Cartwright plans to have an informal, open conversation with the audience about current issues facing the Park. Cartwright began his career with the National Park Service in 1987. Prior to joining the NPS, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management as an archeologist and for the United States Forest Service as a fire lookout, river ranger and firefighter. Since 1989, he has held a number of national park superintendent positions at several parks. For more information, call 892-3250 or visit online at www.glaciernationalparkfund.org.

Waterton Park talk

Headwaters Montana will co-sponsor a science forum on the ecological value of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park at Grouse Mountain Lodge on Monday, March 12, from 7-9 p.m. The forum will look at the idea of expanding Waterton Park into British Columbia. Three leading researchers from Montana and British Columbia will make presentation on transboundary grizzly bear populations, aquatics, fisheries, ungulates and predator wildlife species in the North Fork valley. A $10 donation will be accepted at the door and there will be a cash bar. Seating will be limited. Call 406-837-0783 for more information.

Wilderness artists

The Flathead National Forest, Hockaday Museum of Art, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and the Swan Ecosystem Center invite Montana artists to apply for the 2012 Artist-Wilderness-Connection Program. In the program, professional working artists of various disciplines, media and styles spend up to two weeks in a remote forest cabin on the Flathead Forest to focus on their respective art. Applications are available online at www.hockadaymuseum.org or by calling the Hockaday Museum at 755-5268. Deadline is Feb. 28. For more information, contact Teresa Wenum at 758-5218 or Liz Moss at 755-5268.

Park hike

Jake Bramante, the Kalispell man who hiked all 734 miles of trails in Glacier National Park last year, will present photos and talk about his trip during a fundraiser for the Glacier National Park Fund at the O'Shaughnessy Center, in Whitefish, on Thursday, March 1, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Armed with a Canon 7D camera, Bramante captured sweeping panoramas, birds, wildlife and alpine lakes across the Park. Tickets are $10 in advance at Montana Coffee Traders and Park Side Federal Credit Union or $15 at the door. The Glacier National Park Fund is the nonprofit fund raising partner for Glacier Park. For more information, call 892-3250 or visit online at www.glaciernationalparkfund.org.

Horsemen meet

The Beartooth Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Montana will host the outdoor group's 2012 statewide convention at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, in Billings, on Friday through Sunday, March 30 through April 1. With a theme of "Back Country Horsemen in the 21st Century," there will be silent and live auctions, entertainment, a banquet and a photo competition. Donations for the auction can be made by contacting Audrey Harrison at 406-962-9146. Registration forms are available in advance at BCHMT.org or by contacting Carolyn Eucker at (406) 322-4752 or horseqtrsranch@aol.com. For more information, visit online at www.bchmt.org/flatbch.

Park trips

The Glacier National Park Fund will offer snowshoeing and cross-country skiing outings in Glacier National Park this winter. Outings include Feb. 24, snowshoeing; March 9, skiing; March 16, snowshoeing; and March 23, skiing. All outings are weather dependent, take three hours and take place on the west side of the Park. For more information, call 892-3250 or visit online at www.glaciernationalparkfund.org.

Hunter ed

Registration for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' local spring hunter education class will take place at the Columbia Falls Fire Department on Tuesday, March 20, and Tuesday, March 27, from 6-8 p.m. Classes will be held at Columbia Falls High School on April 12, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26 and 30 from 7-9 p.m. The field course will be held Saturday, April 28. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1985 must complete the hunter education course to buy a hunting license in Montana. To become certified, a person must be at least 11 years old. The hunter education course is also available online for anyone 18 years and older for $15. Students born after Jan. 1, 1985 must also take a field course. For more information, call Wade or Penny Fish at 862-6359 or visit online at www.fwp.mt.gov.