- Antelope Box
- Aquatic Education Resource Trunk (Aquatic Box)
- Bat Education Trunk and Curriculum Guide
- Bear Box
- Bear Box (#2)
- The Bear Facts
- Bear Trunk
- Bighorn Sheep Box
- Birds of Prey
- Bison Box
- Bull Trout
- Cat Box
- Fins, Scales, Fishy Tales
- Furbearer Box
- Geospatial
- Grizzly Bear Teaching Trunk
- Hats Off to Bats
- Loons
- Montana's Threatened and Endangered Species
- Moose Box
- Mountain Goat
- Predator Box
- Skulls
- Songbird Blues
- Songbirds
- Threatened and Endangered Species
- Traveling Grizzly Library
- Waterfowl and Shorebirds
- Wild About Elk
- Wolf Box
- Wolf Ungulate Box
- Wolves and Humans
Antelope Box
Includes skull and hide. Does not include a comprehensive curriculum.
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Aquatic Education Resource Trunk (Aquatic Box)
Includes materials, supplies, and lesson plans to teach about fish habitats and food sources.
Grade level: K-12, with an emphasis on K-8
Contact: John Fraley, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 752-5501 (at FWP, trunk is for pick-up only).
Cost: Not available
Bat Education Trunk and Curriculum Guide
Focuses on bat truths and myths, bat characteristics and habits, and bat conservation. The trunk includes a curriculum, bat skeleton, two videos, slide show/tape, poster, books, and activities.Two trunks are available.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: Lynette Kemp, Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, PO Box 489, Whitehall, MT 59759, (406) 287-3541, kempcaverns@in-touch.com
Cost: Return postage
Bear Box
This trunk on grizzly and black bears is available for pick-up only at vari ous Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks locations. Contents vary by location and may include hide, skull, video, casts of bear tracks, curriculum and other hands-on materials.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 542-5500 or Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Bear Box (#2)
Materials in this box include activities, videos, pelts, skulls, scat, tracks, and a teacher curriculum.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: Susan Thomas, Environmental Education Coordinator, Wenatchee National Forest, 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826, (509)782-1413
Cost: None, but not able to ship boxes
The Bear Facts
Grizzlies and black bears are studied through books, news articles, posters, activity guides, brochures, and plenty of hands-on materials - puzzles, stuffed toys, black bear skull and pelt.
Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 2-5
Contact: Beth Paragamian, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-8363, (208) 765-7409
Cost: Shipping
Bear Trunk
Background material, research guides, and props to facilitate discussions about bears of the world, their habitats, and food sources. Emphasis is on black and grizzly bears including how to tell them apart and how to hike/camp safely in bear country. Activity guide and sample lesson plan included. With additional materials available on the web, upper grades can benefit from information regarding scientific method and results of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem DNA research study to determine population size as well as information about listing of the grizzly bear as an endangered species.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: laura_law@nps.gov, Glacier National Park Headquarters, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier, MT 59936, (406) 888-7800
Cost: Free
Bighorn Sheep Box
Includes skull, sheaths, and hide. Does not include a comprehensive curriculum.
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Birds of Prey
A thorough look at predatory birds, with activity guides, books, brochures, posters, videos and an audio tape. Hands-on materials include stuffed toys, binoculars, track and foot molds, and mini-puzzle.
Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 2-5
Contact: Beth Paragamian, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-8363, (208) 765-7409
Cost: Shipping
Bison Box
Includes hide, sheaths, and skull. Provides some information and activities. Does not include a comprehensive curriculum.
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Bull Trout
Take a plunge into the world of the Northwest's native Bull trout. With this multifaceted educational trunk, experience the historical decline and subsequent efforts to return our Bulls to their native habitats. Includes actual bull trout eggs, sac fry and fry for observation. Also includes resources, curriculum, videos, mark recapture population estimation activities, and other exciting hands-on materials.
Grade level: 3-8
Contact: Lisa Bickell, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 327-0405, youthcoordinator@montananaturalist.org
Cost: $25 for 2 weeks, or $35 for 3 weeks, plus shipping (approximately $40) if necessary; can pick up trunk at MNHC Tuesday-Friday 10AM-5PM; limited scholarships available to help with rental and/or shipping
Cat Box
Contains hides and skulls.
Grade level: Not available
Contact: John Fraley, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 752-5501 or Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Fins, Scales, Fishy Tales
This trunk helps students learn about fish, with activities focusing on fish life cycles and fishing. Books and posters cover topics such as endangered species, aquatic plants, and water quality.
Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 2-5
Contact: Beth Paragamian, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-8363, (208) 765-7409
Cost: Shipping
Furbearer Box
Contents vary by location and may include hides of a bobcat, raccoon, beaver, otter, pine martin, fox, badger, mink, muskrat, coyote, and fisher, and skulls of a fisher, beaver, raccoon, fox, pine martin, bobcat, and coyote. Provides some information and activities. Does not include a comprehensive curriculum.
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042; John Fraley, FWP, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 752-5501; or FWP, 1420 E. 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59620, (406) 444-1267
Cost: Free; pick-up
Geospatial
This toolbox contains data CDs, workbooks, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units. It is accompanied by a curriculum guide with over 25 lessons for introducing students to map reading and interpretation, GPS mapping, and using GIS.
Grade Level: Two versions for Grade levels K-5, 6-12
Contact: Lisa Bickell, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 327-0405, youthcoordinator@montananaturalist.org
Cost: $25 for 2 weeks, or $35 for 3 weeks, plus shipping (approximately $40) if necessary; can pick up trunk at MNHC Tuesday-Friday 10AM-5PM; limited scholarships available to help with rental and/or shipping
Grizzly Bear Teaching Trunk
Includes bear and prey pelts, skulls, tracks, books, puppets, games, a radio collar, Native American stories, posters, videos, and a curricular package. Available for 2-3 weeks at a ti me.
Grade level: K-6
Contact: Grizzly Discovery Center, P.O. Box 996, W. Yellowstone, MT 59758, (406) 646-7001, FAX (406) 646-7004
Cost: Not available
Hats Off to Bats
Offers an informative look at bats, through the use of books, videos, posters, activity guides, brochures, puppets, and even a dried bat (look don't touch!).
Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 2-5
Contact: Beth Paragamian, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-8363, (208) 765-7409
Cost: Shipping
Insect Investigations
Introduce your students to the beauty and benefits of six-legged animals. Themes include classification, body parts, camouflage and life cycle/metamorphosis. The trunk is available for a maximum of three weeks.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: Jeni Stillwell, The High Desert Museum, 59800 South Highway 97, Bend, OR 97702, (541) 382-4754
Cost: $10.00 per week plus shipping; refundable deposit required
Loons
This exciting hands-on trunk consisting of a loon mount, costumes, puppets, books, posters, and more was created by Donna Love, author of Loons and member of the Montana Loon Society. Discover the legend of loons and there remarkable lives with this engaging trunk.
Grade level: K-6
Contact: Lisa Bickell, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 327-0405, youthcoordinator@montananaturalist.org
Cost: $25 for 2 weeks, or $35 for 3 weeks, plus shipping (approximately $40) if necessary; can pick up trunk at MNHC Tuesday-Friday 10AM-5PM; limited scholarships available to help with rental and/or shipping
Montana's Threatened and Endangered Species
A trunk designed especially for Montana. Includes grizzly bear hide, books, cassettes, videos, puppets, posters, and curricular package.
Grade level: K-12; geared largely towards K-6
Contact: Wilderness Institute at the University of Montana School of Forestry, Missoula, MT 59812, (406) 243-5361
Cost: $10.00 plus shipping
Moose Box
Includes hide and female skull. Does not include a comprehensive curriculum.
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Mountain Goat
Includes a skull and hide. Does not include a comprehensive curriculum.
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Predator Box
Includes the skulls and hides of bobcat, mountain lion, wolf, and coyote. Provides some information and activities. Does not include a comprehensive curriculum.
Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Skulls
This trunk comes with a box of animal skulls and a teaching guide filled with hands-on activities. The kit provides an intensive opportunity for younger students to learn about the animal world, where animals live, and how they survive.
Grade level: 3-6
Contact: State 4-H Office, Taylor-MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717, (406) 994-3501
Cost: Round-trip shipping
Songbird Blues
Explore the natural history of migratory birds with this award-winning trunk! Learn about their life in Mexico and Montana, and find out about the increasing problems they face in their summer and winter homes. Help students appreciate songbirds and learn how to help insure that their songs always herald spring in the Rockies. The trunk includes a curriculum guide, specimens, books, puppets, tapes, videos, and a felt storyboard.
Grade level: K-6
Contact: Lisa Bickell, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 327-0405, youthcoordinator@montananaturalist.org
Cost: $25 for 2 weeks, or $35 for 3 weeks, plus shipping (approximately $40) if necessary; can pick up trunk at MNHC Tuesday-Friday 10AM-5PM; limited scholarships available to help with rental and/or shipping
Songbirds
Attract, view, and identify backyard birds and learn about their life cycles. Contains a curriculum, books, audio-visual materials, p osters, and plenty of hands-on materials (including binoculars).
Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 2-5
Contact: Beth Paragamian, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-8363, (208) 765-7409
Cost: Shipping
Threatened and Endangered Species
Many of Montana's animals face the danger of extinction due to habitat loss. Learn of the tenuous existence of these animals and what steps are being taken to recover their populations. Inside the trunk you will find hides, specimens, books, posters, videos, plaster tracks, and a curriculum guide.
Three versions: #1 for Grades 2-6; #2 for Grades 5-8; and, #3 for Grades 7-12
Contact: Lisa Bickell, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 327-0405, youthcoordinator@montananaturalist.org
Cost: $25 for 2 weeks, or $35 for 3 weeks, plus shipping (approximately $40) if necessary; can pick up trunk at MNHC Tuesday-Friday 10AM-5PM; limited scholarships available to help with rental and/or shipping
Traveling Grizzly Library
This trunk is housed in bear-resistant food lockers of the type used in backcountry camps. Contents include a complete curriculum, books, videos, posters, and workbooks. Materials are geared toward raising awareness of grizzly bears and related issues.
Grade level: K-8
Contact: Brown Bear Resources, 315 South 4th East, Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 728-5756 or The International Grizzly Fund in West Yellowstone
Cost: Shipping costs only
Waterfowl and Shorebirds
This trunk emphasizes bird identification and explores the habitat of water and shore birds. Books, magazines, posters, audio-visual materials, and various track molds are included.
Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 2-5
Contact: Beth Paragamian, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-8363, (208) 765-7409
Cost: Shipping
Wild About Elk
This curriculum trunks uses elk as a tool for teaching the importance of wildlife habitat and conservation. Includes an elk hide, mountain lion hide, whitetail deer hide, antlers, horns, plaster tracks, deer and elk scat, a video, slide show, books and more.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: Stephanie Strickland, Lands & Conservation Administrative Manager,
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 5705 Grant Creek Road, Missoula, MT 59808,
(406) 523-4539, sstrickland@RMEF.ORG
Cost: Not available
Wolf Box
Contents vary by location and may include activities, wolf and coyote pelts, skulls, scat and tracks, videos and a moveable wolf model.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: Susan Thomas, Environmental Education Coordinator, Wenatchee National Forest, 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826, (509)782-1413 or Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 994-4042
Cost: Free, pick-up only
Wolf Ungulate Box
Contains a wolf skull and hide, whitetail deer hide, and elk video.
Grade level: Not available
Contact: John Fraley, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 752-5501
Cost: Free; pick-up only
Wolves and Humans
Absent from Montana for nearly 50 years, the gray wolf is coming back, but not without controversy. Explore the natural and cultural history of wolves and invite students to consider how we can coexist with one of nature's wildest and most symbolic animals. Included in the trunk are a curriculum guide, hides, fur samples, skulls, plaster casts, videos, and cassette tapes.
Grade level: K-12
Contact: Lisa Bickell, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 327-0405, youthcoordinator@montananaturalist.org
Cost: $25 for 2 weeks, or $35 for 3 weeks, plus shipping (approximately $40) if necessary; can pick up trunk at MNHC Tuesday-Friday 10AM-5PM; limited scholarships available to help with rental and/or shipping
