The Flathead Reservation Extension Office offers youth education in nutrition, business education, agriculture, natural resources, and riparian education! If you would like to arrange an educational presentation for your small group or classroom, please contact Rene or Anna at our office (406) 675-2700 x1247 or 1246.

What We Do!

After school program - Mini Society:
In collaboration with Corinne Cramer, Lake County Extension Agent, Eighteen students between 4th and 5th grade attended the Mini Society at Pablo Elementary School. The curriculum was developed by Marilyn L. Kourilsky and the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Inc. for youth empowerment and self sufficiency. Students learned business development, management, competition, supply/demand, checking account operation, scarcity, and advertising, as well as running town council meetings. Students created their own flag and currency. They developed an agenda, held meetings, used parliamentary procedure, managed payroll, and handled their own adversities with little direction from adults. Town members used critical thinking to solve problems. Students discussed and worked through running out of money and treasurer absenteeism. Over the course of ten weeks, students grew in their understanding of business practices and business management. Students began to show an increase in understanding of basic meeting principles. Students worked through cash flow problems, partnerships, niche marketing, and competition.

Calculating AUMs with 7th Grade:
Occasionally we receives calls from local schools. In October, our MSU Extension Agent Rene Kittle spoke with 60 - 7th graders about land use planning and discussed land use planning on several scales, from global to local. The students worked through the MSU AUM Analyzer, comparing cuttings between a healthy pasture and a weedy pasture, and calculating AUMs for both. Then the kids made land use decisions based on their results from a rancher perspective.

River Honoring 2006 & 2007- riparian education:
Fourth and Fifth graders from Polson, Ronan, Pablo, Hot Springs, Charlo, Dixon, Camas Prairie, St. Ignatius, and even Missoula attend the annual CSKT River Honoring with 20 stations. Over two days we spoke to approximately 325 youth from all over the valley. The kids were asked to compare and contrast two streams: one healthy, somewhat natural looking stream versus one denuded and over grazed stream. We asked many questions about differences in the shape of the streams, the depth, width, vegetation, debris, and temperature. We tried to get the kids to come up with all the differences on their own by asking them questions such as, "What stream would you prefer if you were a fish and why?" We talk about sediments, nutrients, lack of oxygen, and food webs. We ask the kids to make predictions about the two stream flows. Next, we turn on the water to equal stream flow and watch the two streams. After the kids understand the stream quality, shape, etc, we ask them to split into two groups and bioengineer/design their own stream -- all in a half an hour! Whew!

Binger Ranch:
In April, about 200 Fourth grade children from local schools traveled to the Binger Ranch (previously Vermadal Ranch) for a fun afternoon engaged in learning about a variety of land and ranch management subjects. The event is organized by Chris Malgren of the Lake County Conservation District. The kids were divided into small groups and rotated through different educational stations, each station engaging the kids in a fifteen minute workshops. Myself, Rene Kittle, and CSKT Tribal Lands Department Jane Burke, discussed a variety of weed management options. We talked about different species of weeds, where they come from, how they move, and how they survive. We also discussed different weed control measures including bio-controls (insects and grazing).

4-H:

The Flathead Reservation Extension Office currenty leads Afterschool 4-H for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade youth at Pablo Elementary School and Linderman Elementary School in Polson.

4-H Members:
You can download interactive pdf versions of your 4-H recordbook forms by clicking on the links below!
*My 4-H Year
*My 4-H Journal
*My 4-H Animal Record

If you are interested in joining 4-H or becomming a 4-H volunteer, please contact our office 675-2700 x1247 or x1246!