Be a Bird Friendly Family
Saturday, June 13th @ 10am
FREE CLASS
Instructor: John Haigh, Wild Birds Unlimited store owner and certified bird feeding specialist
Explore engaging, hands-on activities and creative ideas designed to connect the entire family with the fascinating world of birds and the natural environment around you. This class will introduce simple, practical ways to transform your yard into a welcoming, bird-friendly habitat by providing food, water, shelter, and nesting spaces. Participants will also learn about meaningful volunteer opportunities, including citizen science projects that allow individuals and families to contribute to real scientific research and conservation efforts. In addition, we will discuss the challenges facing songbird populations today and explore actionable steps you can take at home and in your community to help protect and sustain these species for future generations.
Backyard Birds and Better Living
Saturday, July 11th @ 10am
FREE CLASS
Instructor: ohn Haigh, Wild Birds Unlimited store owner and certified bird feeding specialist
Discover how something as simple as watching birds can improve your daily life. This class blends practical bird-feeding techniques with insights from Environmental Psychology to show how interacting with backyard wildlife can reduce stress, boost mood, and build a deeper connection to the natural world.
Noxious Weed Control
Saturday, July 18th @ 10am
FREE CLASS
Instructor: Caleb Music, Yellowstone County Weed District Licensed Education Specialist
Noxious weeds threaten rangelands, farms, wildlife habitat, and home landscapes across south-central Montana. In this practical, hands-on class, participants will learn how to identify the most common invasive plants in our region and apply effective strategies to control and remove them. We will cover key species frequently found in the area, including: Leafy Spurge, Spotted Knapweed, and Russian Olive. Participants will learn how to distinguish these weeds from similar native plants. The class will also explore proven control methods, including: Mechanical remove, cultural and prevention strategies, proper herbicide selection and timing, integrated pest management approaches, and techniques to prevent the spread and re-infestation. Pre-registration is requested.
What's Wrong with My Garden?
Saturday, July 25th @ 10am
FREE CLASS
Instructor: Anthony Sammartano, MSU Horticulture Extension Agent
Is your garden not thriving the way you hoped? Yellowing leaves, stunted growth, mysterious spots, or pests you can't identify? Bring your questions - and your photos to help get to the root of your garden problem.
In this class, Anthony Sammartano, MSU Horticulture Extension Agent, will discuss how to identify common plant issues, including nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, diseases, watering problems, and environmental stress. Using real examples provided by attendees, we will walk through practical diagnosis techniques and discuss effective, garden-friendly solutions. Bring photos of your plant or garden and any growing notes you have kept.
You may also bring a plant sample in a sealed baggie.
Space is limited and registration is required for this class.