Upcoming Events
Missoula Gives!
Missoula Gives is a 26-hour celebration of the Missoula community! It connects generous Missoulians with the causes they care about. It is a day to celebrate and support the role nonprofits and donors (like you) play in making our greater Missoula community great.
From the Missoula Gives website: “We live in a special place, our nonprofits play a significant role in the health, vibrancy, and culture of our community. This day is about holding up their mission-based work and celebrating them.”
We hope you’ll choose to support SVC and our mission during this special fundraising celebration!
Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup (Volunteer Opportunity)
Join us (rain or shine!) for our annual Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Day, as we pick up trash along our beautiful highway 83 and in front of The River House.
Reflective vests, garbage bags, and grabber tools provided.
Please bring your own gloves, snacks, water, and any of the following if you’re able: rakes and more trash grabbers.
Questions? Please e-mail info@svconnections.org
Change Your Pace Half-Way Point!
Seeley Lake Community Foundation Change Your Pace Challenge runs from May 1 - May30 and raises money for local nonprofits, including SVC!
Wildlife Trailing Workshop
Join SVC’s Luke Lamar for a wildlife trailing workshop!
Participants will be taught how to follow an animal's trail, how to recognize and interpret tracks & sign, anticipate where the trail is going, read the trail for danger, interpret the ecological context of the trail, and approach the animal (undetected), if the occasion arises.
$175 per person
Limited to 6 participants
Bear Awareness Event (Bigfork)
Join Swan Valley Bear Resources and People & Carnivores at the VFW in Bigfork for a Bear Awareness event!
Come learn about living and recreating safely in bear country and practice your bear spray skills, with inert cans and a charging bear, following the presentations.
Free and open to all!
Take home free informational handouts.
Bear spray available for purchase at event
Wildlife Tracks & Sign Standard Certification
The CyberTracker Track and Sign Certification is an internationally applied, professional-level certification used to promote wildlife tracking and knowledge. This two-day field experience is both an assessment and a training, with an emphasis on open dialogue and real learning.
STANDARD CERTIFICATION $400
Class size is limited to 10 people; lodging and food not provided.
This course fills quickly — early registration recommended.
If you have questions, please email taylor@svconnections.org
Meet David Moskowitz…
A photographer, naturalist, and educator, David has an approach that is highly interactive; he actively engages participants in identification and interpretation of tracks and signs, and allows plenty of time for questions and discussion.
David is a Senior Tracker through Cybertracker Conservation.
Wildlife Trailing Standard Certification
At a CyberTracker Trailing Evaluation, every participant takes a turn as lead tracker. The goal is to follow an animal’s fresh spoor to locate it on the landscape, guide the group to approach and observe it, and, finally, to exit the area without alerting the animal to any human presence. Every tracking situation is different, so we are always in the position of having to “figure it out.” This uniqueness also results in variations to the exact experience of each participant, dictated by field conditions and animal behavior.
Limited to 4 participants
Wildlife Tracks & Sign Standard Certification
The CyberTracker Track and Sign Certification is an internationally applied, professional-level certification used to promote wildlife tracking and knowledge. This two-day field experience is both an assessment and a training, with an emphasis on open dialogue and real learning.
STANDARD CERTIFICATION $400
Class size is limited to 10 people; lodging and food not provided.
This course fills quickly — early registration recommended.
If you have questions, please email taylor@svconnections.org
Meet David Moskowitz…
A photographer, naturalist, and educator, David has an approach that is highly interactive; he actively engages participants in identification and interpretation of tracks and signs, and allows plenty of time for questions and discussion.
David is a Senior Tracker through Cybertracker Conservation.
River House Celebration & Donor Thank-you
Join us for a River House Celebration, as a thank-you for donating to our capital campaign and helping us secure our new, permanent office space and visitor center!
Chainsaw 101 Workshop
Join SVC & MT DNRC for a free Chainsaw 101 Workshop for beginners!
Learn about basic chainsaw safety procedures and operations, develop basic thinning skills, and perform basic chainsaw maintenance. We’ll meet at the SVC Office (6787 MT Hwy-83) and caravan to the nearby class location on the Swan Legacy Forest.
Recommended to bring:
•Chainsaw
Functioning saw with appropriate gas and bar oil. Electric Chainsaw ok.
Appropriate chainsaw tools. Scrench, file, etc.
•Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Eye protection. Sunglasses ok.
Ear protection
Gloves
Pants
Long sleeve shirt
Chaps
Boots or closed toe shoes
•Lunch & Water
15 participant limit (Registration link coming soon!)
*Participants will be required to wear all PPE in-order-to operate chainsaw*
If you do not have a chainsaw or the appropriate PPE please contact: Mike Mayernik, Swan Valley Connections, mike@svconnections.org, 406-754-3137.
Annual Bear Fair (Bigfork)
SWAN VALLEY BEAR RESOURCES ANNUAL BEAR FAIR
Come learn about living in bear country from bear management experts, local professionals, and bear-related organizations, including USFS, USFWS, Vital Ground, Montana Land Reliance, and more. We'll also have inert bear spray cans for practice, a food truck, and a kids' activity table!
Presenters: Anna Martin, Montana FWP Bear Education Specialist
Vendors:
Swan Valley Bear Resources (with kids’ activities table and remote controlled charging bear for bear spray practice!)
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Forest Service
Vital Ground Foundation
Montana Land Reliance
Gallagher Fence
People & Carnivores
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
USDA Wildlife Service
Living With Wildlife Foundation
Food Truck: The Sausage Queen
The event is free & open to all, from 12pm - 4pm at the Swan River Community Hall in Ferndale.
This event is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, in partnership with Heart of the Rockies Initiative.
Staff Retreat *Office CLOSED*
Our office & visitor center will be closed today, as our staff enjoys an annual retreat day together!
4th of July Open House
Stop by the SVC office before or after the 4th of July Condon parade for snacks, beverages, or just to enjoy the view from the backyard!
Summer Wildlife Tracks & Sign Course
Spend a week in the field with us, earn two credits through the University of Montana (WILD 291), and gain your Wildlife Tracks & Sign Certification through CyberTracker North America!
Not exclusive to college students & does not need to be taken for credit - all are welcome!
Cost: $1,600 + $155 University of montana credit fee
10% non-refundable deposit due at registration
(Includes: food, lodging, transportation around the Swan Valley, and pick-up from Missoula)
Limited to 10 participants
*See email for actual start and end times
Montana Master Naturalist Course
The Montana Master Naturalist Program is designed for adults who want to stoke their curiosity, deepen their knowledge of the natural world, and give back to their communities in new ways.
We hope that participants will not only build the skills to interpret Montana’s flora, fauna, and landscape, but that they will also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world, and therefore become better stewards of it. This program is an excellent certification for those looking to pursue a career in environmental education or interpretive guiding, or those just looking to enhance their connection to place. During six days of experiential, field-based education, participants learn to identify species, interpret behaviors, and affirm ecological relationships. This foundational, applied knowledge not only enriches a sense of place, but also builds the confidence, attention, and curiosity to respect and conserve diverse ecosystems.
Find more information and an example syllabus on our Master Naturalist Page
Quarterly Potluck & Presentation: Native Fish Updates
Join us for a community potluck and presentation at the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon!
Doors Open: 5:30PM
Potluck Begins: 6:00PM
Presentation Begins: 6:30PM
Native Fish Updates
with Leo Rosenthal, MT FWP
Stay tuned!
7th-Annual Summer Soirée in the Swan
Join us for our seventh-annual Summer Soirée in the Swan fundraising celebration, which will be ON the Swan at the beautiful The Nest on Swan River in Bigfork!
Sunday, August 16, 2026
3PM - 6:30PM
• Hors d’oeuvres by The Kopper Kitchen
• Hosted Bar
• Silent and Online Auctions
Early bird tickets $50 until May 15th!
Space is limited
Wild for Wildlife Match Campaign Begins!
Join us in celebrating in our sixth-annual Wild for Wildlife Match Campaign!
The health of an ecologically intact ecosystem is reflected in the abundance and diversity of living things. That's why we proudly say we’re wild for wildlife. Every program and service we offer is deeply connected to the animals that share this landscape with us, and it’s your support that makes this work possible.
This October we’re excited to share some of our favorite trail camera videos from the past year, capturing candid moments and rare glimpses into the everyday lives of the Swan Valley’s wildlife. Stay tuned to experience the wonder right alongside us!
Follow the campaign on our Instagram, Facebook & YouTube channels.
Annual Community Firewood Day
Join us for our annual Community Firewood Day!
We’ll be splitting, delivering, and stacking for a full list of people in need in the community.
*Meet at the SVC office (6787 MT Hwy 83) at 9AM for a mandatory safety meeting
Please bring your own lunch/snacks, ear and eye protection, and gloves
If you’d like to donate wood, or if you have a splitter to lend for the day, please contact Mike Mayernik or Kirsten Frazer at 406-754-3137 or mike@svconnections.org!
FireSafe Swan Public Meeting
Join us for a FireSafe Swan public meeting! The purpose of Firesafe Swan meetings is to provide a space where various stakeholders and community members are welcomed to share current projects, available resources, and community-led project initiatives.
Location: Swan Valley Office (6787 MT-83).
Agenda Highlights: TBD
Firesafe Swan is made up of individuals, neighborhoods, businesses, organizations (Swan Valley Connections, MT Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, US Forest Service, and Swan Valley Emergency Services), and wildfire professionals working together to create fire-adapted communities in the Swan Valley by providing leadership, technical assistance, education, and resources.
FireSafe Swan:
Is inclusive and welcomes all partners interested in creating fire-adapted communities.
Empowers residents in preparation before a wildfire starts. Preparation includes: awareness of seasonal conditions, home-hardening, creating and maintaining a Home Ignition Zone, coordinated fuels reduction for wildfire-resilience and forest health, family evacuation planning, and wildfire recovery
Assists landowners in understanding and reducing wildfire risk through educational home and property assessments
Public Lands Cleanup Day (Volunteer Opportunity!)
Join us this Earth Day for a special Public Lands Cleanup Day!
Meet at the SVC office at 9:30 am.
From there, we’ll disperse in groups to clean public lands, focusing on common dumping sites, around gated roads, and other dispersed recreation sites
Return to SVC office at 1:30pm to drop off garbage and for a complimentary lunch!
please RSVP below so we can plan lunch accordingly!
Garbage bags and work gloves provided.
Prizes for the most unique garbage items found!
The Swan Watershed is comprised of over 93% public land. It’s a gift to be able to live, work, and play on this landscape, and it’s up to all of us to steward it.
A truckload of trash we came across on the side of Kraft Creek Rd. this winter!
Community Potluck & Presentation: SVBR Spring Bear Wake-up Social
Swan Valley Community Hall, Condon
5:30PM: Doors Open
6:00PM: Potluck
6:30PM: Presentation Begins
Join us for our annual Swan Valley Bear Resources “Spring Bear Wake-up Social”
MT FWP Region 1 Wildlife Management Specialist Erik Wenum will join us to share updates on bears in the Swan Watershed.
What's considered an attractant on your property? Are there more grizzlies or black bears in the area? How many conflicts occurred the previous year? Do bear bells actually work? Are you safer hiking with a dog? Come get answers to these and other questions you might have!
Bubble Cap Orders Close
Purchase pheromone packets to protect your trees from bark beetle infestation.
ORDERS CLOSE SUNDAY, MARCH 15th
Spring Break Wildlife Tracks & Sign Course
Spend a week in the field with us, earn two credits through the University of Montana (WILD 291), and gain your Wildlife Tracks & Sign Certification through CyberTracker North America!
Not exclusive to college students & does not need to be taken for credit - all are welcome!
Cost: $1,600 + $155 University of montana credit fee
10% non-refundable deposit due at registration
(Includes: food, lodging, transportation around the Swan Valley, and pick-up from Missoula)
Limited to 10 participants
*See email for actual start and end times
Wildlife Tracks & Sign
Spend a day honing your senses to the subtle signs left by wildlife on the landscape.One week prior to our field day we will send out a link to an informational lecture and overview of tracking techniques. We will then apply these techniques in the field during our time together. You’ll become familiar with gait patterns and how to measure the stride (length) and straddle (width) between tracks, you’ll learn of signs, other than tracks, to be on the lookout for, and you’ll gain knowledge of some of the common behaviors of our wild neighbors.
Enrich your future walks through the woods and deepen your connection to the natural world around you!
$100 per person
Limited to 12 participants.
Snowshoes available if needed.
“Where the Wild Things Are”Trail Cam Movie Night at The Hungry Bear
Join us for another Trail Camera Movie Night at The Hungry Bear in Condon!
Tucked between the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains Wilderness, the Swan Valley is a wild and special landscape.
Join us as Luke & Sara Lamar share the best of our trail camera footage from the past couple years, and discuss the various animal behaviors seen on screen.
Wildlife Tracks & Sign
Spend a day honing your senses to the subtle signs left by wildlife on the landscape.One week prior to our field day we will send out a link to an informational lecture and overview of tracking techniques. We will then apply these techniques in the field during our time together. You’ll become familiar with gait patterns and how to measure the stride (length) and straddle (width) between tracks, you’ll learn of signs, other than tracks, to be on the lookout for, and you’ll gain knowledge of some of the common behaviors of our wild neighbors.
Enrich your future walks through the woods and deepen your connection to the natural world around you!
$100 per person
Limited to 12 participants.
Snowshoes available if needed.
FireSafe Swan Public Meeting
Join us for a FireSafe Swan public meeting! The purpose of Firesafe Swan meetings is to provide a space where various stakeholders and community members are welcomed to share current projects, available resources, and community-led project initiatives.
Location: Swan Valley Office (6787 MT-83).
Agenda Highlights:
Review current Firesafe Swan objectives
Discuss engagement strategies and upcoming projects
Community updates and open discussion
*With the recent blowdown event, some neighbors may need extra help cleaning up. If you’re aware of anyone in your area who could use volunteer assistance, please let us know during the meeting or reach out via email. This is not a guarantee we can gather the volunteer resources, but if you know of someone who really needs help, please let us know!
Additional Info
FireSafe Flathead is hosting a couple of lunch and learn events at Flathead Valley Community College. Attached are the flyers and below is a link to register.
Register here for one or both events: https://campusce.fvcc.edu/fvcc/course/course.aspx?catId=30 [campusce.fvcc.edu]
Firesafe Swan is made up of individuals, neighborhoods, businesses, organizations (Swan Valley Connections, MT Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, US Forest Service, and Swan Valley Emergency Services), and wildfire professionals working together to create fire-adapted communities in the Swan Valley by providing leadership, technical assistance, education, and resources.
FireSafe Swan:
Is inclusive and welcomes all partners interested in creating fire-adapted communities.
Empowers residents in preparation before a wildfire starts. Preparation includes: awareness of seasonal conditions, home-hardening, creating and maintaining a Home Ignition Zone, coordinated fuels reduction for wildfire-resilience and forest health, family evacuation planning, and wildfire recovery
Assists landowners in understanding and reducing wildfire risk through educational home and property assessments
Quarterly Potluck & Presentation: Detection Dogs for Conservation
Join us for our first community potluck and presentation of 2026 at the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon!
Doors Open: 5:30PM
Potluck Begins: 6:00PM
Presentation Begins: 6:30PM
Dogs Make Scents of the World
Humans and canines have a long and rich shared history, and have developed a special inter-species bond. Dogs have helped people in everything from war, to guarding and herding livestock, and more recently, for detecting everything from bombs to drugs to bear poop. Conservation detection is a young and developing discipline where dogs have proven their skills at discriminating among myriad scents to identify one sample among millions. Dogs are helping conservationists collect information on endangered, invasive and illegally trafficked species, among other odors, helping wildlife across the globe.
Megan Parker has helped develop training methods and deployment on a wide range of conservation targets from fish to zoonotic diseases and helped start African anti-poaching canine teams with rescued or re-homed dogs.
Questions? Contact Taylor - taylor@svconnections.org
Summer Programs Scholarship App Deadline
Summer Programs (start date between May 16-Sept 30) Scholarship App Deadline
Applicants will be notified about the status of their scholarship application within 2 weeks of the application deadline.
To apply for a SVC scholarship, please answer the questions on the form linked below. If you have difficulty completing the form, have questions, or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact Sara Lamar.
Scholarship recipients will be asked to write a testimonial once they complete their SVC program.
Wildlife Tracks & Sign Family Day!
Join us for a hands-on day of discovery as we explore the subtle signs that animals leave behind on th landscape! Designed for kids and their grown-ups to learn side by side, this workshop will introduce you to the art of wildlife tracking in a fun and engaging way.
You’ll learn how to identify animal tracks, measure stride and straddle, recognize different gait patterns, and spot other clues like scat, fur, and feeding signs. We’ll also talk about the everyday behaviors of our local wildlife—and how to read the landscape like a nature detective.
$25 per person
Limited to 15 participants
For more information and to register, please reach out to taylor@svconnections.org
Science on Tap: Trail Cam Movie Night @ FLBC
Join us for a special night of Science on Tap at Flathead Lake Brewing Co!
"Where the Wild Things Are: Trail Camera Movie Night"
Come learn about the wildlife in your backyard! Tucked between the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains Wilderness, the Swan Watershed is a wild and special landscape. Join us as we share the best of our trail camera footage from the past few years, in celebration of this place, and the wild inhabitants we live alongside but rarely see.
SVC's Luke and Sara Lamar will be there to share stories and information, and answer questions about the animals and behaviors seen in the videos.
(POSTPONED! New Date: Feb 18th) Quarterly Potluck & Presentation: Detection Dogs for Conservation
Join us for our first community potluck and presentation of 2026 at the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon!
Doors Open: 5:30PM
Potluck Begins: 6:00PM
Presentation Begins: 6:30PM
Dogs Make Scents of the World
Humans and canines have a long and rich shared history, and have developed a special inter-species bond. Dogs have helped people in everything from war, to guarding and herding livestock, and more recently, for detecting everything from bombs to drugs to bear poop. Conservation detection is a young and developing discipline where dogs have proven their skills at discriminating among myriad scents to identify one sample among millions. Dogs are helping conservationists collect information on endangered, invasive and illegally trafficked species, among other odors, helping wildlife across the globe.
Megan Parker has helped develop training methods and deployment on a wide range of conservation targets from fish to zoonotic diseases and helped start African anti-poaching canine teams with rescued or re-homed dogs.
Questions? Contact Taylor - taylor@svconnections.org
Glacier National Park Wildlife Tracking
Join us for a winter wildlife tracking adventure in Glacier National Park!
This course is in partnership with The Glacier Institute; full details and registration information can be found on their website:
Wildlife Tracks & Sign
Spend a day honing your senses to the subtle signs left by wildlife on the landscape.One week prior to our field day we will send out a link to an informational lecture and overview of tracking techniques. We will then apply these techniques in the field during our time together. You’ll become familiar with gait patterns and how to measure the stride (length) and straddle (width) between tracks, you’ll learn of signs, other than tracks, to be on the lookout for, and you’ll gain knowledge of some of the common behaviors of our wild neighbors.
Enrich your future walks through the woods and deepen your connection to the natural world around you!
$100 per person
Limited to 12 participants.
Snowshoes available if needed.
*CANCELED* Weekend Warrior Master Naturalist (4 of 4)
Topics: Wildlife Ecology and Tracks & Sign with Sara Lamar
Over the course of a year, join us for 4 weekends in the lower Swan River Watershed to engage in experiential, field-based education. Participants learn to identify species, interpret behaviors, and understand ecological relationships. This experiential education strengthens both a sense of place and the confidence, curiosity, and attention needed to respect and conserve diverse ecosystems.
Course Dates:
May 3rd & 4th, 2025
July 19th & 20th, 2025
October 11th & 12th, 2025
January 17th & 18th, 2026
This course is based out of Bigfork, Montana.
Learn more on our Montana Master Naturalist page
*Actual start times will be communicated via email before the course begins
Bubble Cap Orders Open!
Purchase pheromone packets to protect your trees from bark beetle infestation.
ORDERS CLOSE SUNDAY, MARCH 15th
Winter Wildlife Tracks & Sign Course
Spend a week in the field with us, earn two credits through the University of Montana (WILD 291), and gain your Wildlife Tracks & Sign Certification through CyberTracker North America!
Not exclusive to college students & does not need to be taken for credit - all are welcome!
Cost: $1,600 + $155 University of montana credit fee
10% non-refundable fee due at registration
(Includes: food, lodging, transportation around the Swan Valley, and pick-up from Missoula)
*See email for actual start and end times
Meet Your Certification Evaluator:
SAGE RAYMOND
Sage began using tracking professionally in 2017 while working as a bear-viewing guide in the interior temperate rainforest of southeastern British Columbia. Since then, she has used tracking for various conservation-oriented wildlife biology jobs, targeting species ranging from bats and toads to moose, caribou, and grizzly bears.
Christmas Bird Count Potluck & Tally
The Upper Swan Valley Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place on December 20th, 2025. This will be the 126th year the National Audubon Society has sponsored this event, and you can contribute to this impressive dataset by counting all the birds you see or hear (by numbers and species within our count circle) on Saturday, December 20 from 12 am to 11:59 pm.
To tally our results, we will gather for a light potluck at the Swan Valley Connections office on Monday, December 22nd from 5:30 pm-7 pm, hosted by Taylor Tewksbury.
A virtual Zoom option is also available (link below). To sign up for this year's count, please email Taylor at taylor@svconnections.org, or call our office (406-754-3137).
Optional Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89299787333?pwd=KLsSb7b7JCtyXvdti2jb1KX8wN61K0.1
Here are a few notes to keep in mind:
Please also report any new bird species seen three days before or after December 20th. You just need new species (not numbers) for these "count week" birds. If you do get more "count week" birds after our Zoom tally, or if you are not available for the tally, please send your results by email to taylor@svconnections.org.
Please be prepared to report your hours, miles, weather, and means of birding (driving, skiing, walking, window-watching, etc.) while counting on December 20th.
Bears will increasingly move towards hibernation over the next month, but right now the bears are still out, so bird feeders are not advised.
126th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count
The Upper Swan Valley Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place on December 20th, 2025. This will be the 126th year the National Audubon Society has sponsored this event, and you can contribute to this impressive dataset by counting all the birds you see or hear (by numbers and species within our count circle) on Saturday, December 20 from 12 am to 11:59 pm.
To tally our results, we will gather for a light potluck at the Swan Valley Connections office on Monday, December 22nd from 5:30 pm-7 pm, hosted by Taylor Tewksbury.
A virtual Zoom option is also available (link below). To sign up for this year's count, please email Taylor at taylor@svconnections.org, or call our office (406-754-3137).
Optional Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89299787333?pwd=KLsSb7b7JCtyXvdti2jb1KX8wN61K0.1
Here are a few notes to keep in mind:
Please also report any new bird species seen three days before or after December 20th. You just need new species (not numbers) for these "count week" birds. If you do get more "count week" birds after our Zoom tally, or if you are not available for the tally, please send your results by email to taylor@svconnections.org.
Please be prepared to report your hours, miles, weather, and means of birding (driving, skiing, walking, window-watching, etc.) while counting on December 20th.
Bears will increasingly move towards hibernation over the next month, but right now the bears are still out, so bird feeders are not advised.
FireSafe Swan Public Meeting & Field Tour
Join us for a FireSafe Swan public meeting and field tour of the recent shaded fuels break on Elk Flats Road. The purpose of Firesafe Swan meetings is to provide a space where various stakeholders and community members are welcomed to share current projects, available resources, and community-led project initiatives.
We’ll meet at the Swan Valley Community Hall (6803 MT-83) and carpool to the site.
Firesafe Swan is made up of individuals, neighborhoods, businesses, organizations (Swan Valley Connections, MT Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, US Forest Service, and Swan Valley Emergency Services), and wildfire professionals working together to create fire-adapted communities in the Swan Valley by providing leadership, technical assistance, education, and resources.
FireSafe Swan:
Is inclusive and welcomes all partners interested in creating fire-adapted communities.
Empowers residents in preparation before a wildfire starts. Preparation includes: awareness of seasonal conditions, home-hardening, creating and maintaining a Home Ignition Zone, coordinated fuels reduction for wildfire-resilience and forest health, family evacuation planning, and wildfire recovery
Assists landowners in understanding and reducing wildfire risk through educational home and property assessments
Bear Trivia at Flathead Lake Brewing Co!
Join Swan Valley Connections and Swan Valley Bear Resources for a fun night of bear trivia at Flathead Lake Brewing Company.
Bring your friends and test your bruin knowledge; winners will go home with bear-related prizes provided by yours truly!
“Where the Wild Things Are”Trail Cam Movie Night at The Hungry Bear
Join us for a Trail Camera Movie Night at The Hungry Bear in Condon!
Tucked between the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains Wilderness, the Swan Valley is a wild and special landscape. Join us as we share the best of our trail camera footage from the past year in celebration of this place, and our Wild for Wildlife match campaign, happening throughout the month of October!
Quarterly Potluck & Presentation - Road Ecology with Kylie Paul
Join us for a community potluck and presentation at the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon.
Wildlife take a risky chance every time they cross a highway — yet these movements are vital for accessing food, water, safety, and mates. Motorists run the wildlife gauntlet while driving in Montana, especially in autumn with the rut and increased darkness. Fortunately, we can make roads safer for both animals and drivers. This discussion will explore the science and planning behind wildlife crossing structures, as well as the dedicated efforts and people working to address these challenges across Montana and the region.
Doors Open: 5:30PM
Potluck Begins: 6:00PM
Presentation Begins: 6:30PM
Questions? Contact Taylor - taylor@svconnections.org
Kylie Paul works at the Center for Large Landscape Conservation as a road ecologist, advancing the development and implementation of wildlife friendly transportation policies and projects in international, federal, state, tribal, and local contexts.
Swan Lands Coordinating Network Public Meeting
Join SVC and local agency and NGO partners at the Swan Valley Community Hall to hear about what we’ve all been working on or accomplished in the Swan Watershed this past year and what’s coming up in 2026!
The purpose of the Swan Lands Coordinating Network is to provide agencies, organizations, and civic groups working in the Swan Valley a venue for coordinating with one another, and to share a flow of information with interested members of the community.
This event is free and open to all!
Participating agencies and organizations (more to be added):
Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks:
Fisheries
Nongame and Furbearers
Wolves
Big Game
Swan Lakers
USFS Swan Lake Ranger District:
Recreation
Timber
Swan Valley Connections
Forest Stewardship
Wetland Restoration
Swan Valley Bear Resources
Mission Mountains Youth Crew
Swan Valley Native Fish Research
Swan Valley Bear Ranger
"Where the Wild Things Are" Trail Camera Movie Night at The Roxy Theater
Tucked between the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains Wilderness, the Swan Valley is a wild and special landscape. Join us as we share the best of our trail camera footage from the past year in celebration of this place, and our Wild for Wildlife match campaign, happening throughout the month of October!
SVC staff will be there to share info and answer questions about the animals and behaviors seen in the videos.
Doors open at 5:00, the screening begins at 5:30, the Q&A begins at 6:45.
Space is limited. $7 per ticket
Please purchase your seats on The Roxy Theater website!
*We’ll also have merch and goods for sale in the lobby
AND we’ll be announcing our Griz for Grizzlies Raffle winner at the event!
“Where the Wild Things Are”Trail Cam Movie Night at A Bar
Join us for a Trail Camera Movie Night at A Bar!
Tucked between the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains Wilderness, the Swan Valley is a wild and special landscape. Join us as we share the best of our trail camera footage from the past year in celebration of this place, and our Wild for Wildlife match campaign, happening throughout the month of October!
11032 MT State Highway 83 Bigfork, MT 59911
Pile Burning Workshop with Montana DNRC
Join SVC and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for a pile burning workshop for landowners!
Gain hands-on experience and learn from experienced wildfire and forest stewardship professionals about using pile burning as a tool on your property.
Meet at the SVC Office (6787 MT Hwy 83) at 10AM
Please bring water and snacks/lunch
Griz for Grizzlies Raffle Opens!
Calling all Griz fans!
Griz Athletics has donated a football signed by the 2025 UM Grizzlies team and two tickets to the UM vs. Eastern Washington game on November 8th.
Buy a raffle ticket, support grizzly bear habitat, and cheer on the Griz! 🐻🏈
🎟️ How to Enter
Tickets: $5 each or 5 for $20
Sales open: October 20–27
Payment methods: Cash, check, e-check, or debit card (no credit cards)
Eligibility: Must be 18+ and physically in Montana to purchase. Swan Valley Connections staff and their households are not eligible.
📍 Where to Buy Tickets
In Person
SVC Office – 6787 MT Hwy 83, Condon, MT | Mon–Fri, 9 am–4:30 pm
“Where the Wild Things Are” Trail Cam Movie Night – A Bar, 11032 MT Hwy 83, Bigfork | Oct 23, 6:30–8:00 pm
“Where the Wild Things Are” Trail Cam Movie Night – The Roxy Theater, 718 S Higgins Ave, Missoula | Oct 27, 5:00–6:30 pm
By Phone
Call (406) 754-3137 (Mon–Fri, 9 am–4:30 pm) | Debit card only