Archive for April, 2016
Wildlife Trafficking Delegation from Mozambique
On April 14-19, a delegation of ten from Mozambique visited us to learn about U.S. efforts to deter poaching and trafficking of wildlife resources through wildlife protection policies, law enforcement and criminal prosecution, and to explore non‑governmental organizations, citizens, activists and private organizations that promote and support wildlife protection and discourage consumer demand.
During they visit, they met with Dr. Megan Parker and Dr. Pete Coppolillo at Working Dogs for Conservation, a nonprofit conservation detective dog organization which trains dogs to detect ammunition, guns, poisons, snares, ivory, rhino horn, and pangolin scales. Next they met with Wildlife Associate Shana Dunkley and Executive Director Caroline Bird at the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, an advocacy group that is dedicated to protecting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. They then met with Julie Cunningham at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to discuss how they manage wildlife and the environment and preserve Montana’s hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational heritage along with how the state works to prevent poaching and prosecute offenders.
The morning of Saturday April 16th, the delegation left their hotels and headed to Yellowstone National Park. They met with Rick McIntyre, a wildlife ranger and biological technician who has spent 20 years watching and studying wolves in Yellowstone for the National Park Service. Rick rises early, uses radio telemetry to pinpoint the location of a pack with a radio-collared member, then heads out with his spotting scope to observe them, keeping careful notes of their activities. Rick spoke with the delegation about the illegal hunting of wolves.
Next, the group headed to Missoula, and from there, on to the National Bison Range. They toured the National Bison Range, and also met with Dale Becker, tribal game manager for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. On the way back to Missoula they stopped at Denny Iverson Ranch and met with the Blackfoot Challenge group.
On their last day, April 19th, they made a quick trip to the Smokejumper Visitor Center before departing from Missoula airport to return back home.
Host Iraqi and Mexican Students this Summer!
Would you like a unique, rewarding experience where you can learn about other cultures and share your culture with international students? Volunteer as a host family this summer.
We are looking for volunteers to host our visiting students for 14 days. Students will be kept engaged throughout the day learning about leadership at Carroll College and throughout the Helena Community, so host families will largely be responsible for providing a bed, some meals, and a welcoming environment. The students have all been carefully selected, are fluent in English, and are between the ages of 15 and 17. There will be 12 students visiting from both Iraq and Mexico, 6 girls and 6 boys. Hosting an international student provided a unique opportunity for the host family to learn about a different culture and to make a lifelong friend with a different set of experiences and a different worldview. Many families and their students form close bonds and can say that their family grew by one member after the summer! To hear about their experience from some of our Summer 2015 Iraqi Exchange Students watch this Video on our YouTube channel.
- Iraq: July 9-23
- Mexico: July 18-30
Sample Day Agenda in Host Community:
- Morning: Breakfast with host family, drop off at Carroll at 8-8:30 a.m.
- Afternoon: Youth occupied until late afternoon. Lunch provided.
- Evening: Pick up at gathering point 5-5:30 p.m. Dinner and evening with family.
For more information or to volunteer please contact us: ellen@worldmontana.org or (406) 447-4444