Missoula Valley, MT July 2024

LETTER

Never stop exploring.

Montana fuels an adventurer's spirit. It's on a grandiose level of course, so if you're a newcomer, get yourself some Chacos or some good leather boots and head outside. Ask seasoned locals about river safety and don't fret about the cost of bear spray.

I remember my first summer here, deeply submerged in the beauty of wildflowers and raging rivers and icy lakes despite the climbing temperatures and relentless sun. That year was unusually warm and we paid the price with an early fire season. One thing that I really couldn't avoid or ignore was the severity of Mother Nature. She rules the roost here, and while some years it really cramps my style, I have come to respect the ways in which nature gives and takes—and how in tune we have to be with her for our own survival. And that's what I'd like to celebrate this month: getting outside and really noticing what fresh air or being active in the great outdoors can offer us.

One of my favorite things to do anytime of year (though I favor it most in the summer months) is taking a walk in the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge in Stevensville. It's an oasis of birds and sounds and incredible lighting. And the occasional porcupine. The views are expansive and dramatic and even though I've been there about a thousand times, it cleanses my spirit each time.

My husband and I walked there when I was pregnant with our first son—I'll never forget laughing hysterically when I walked into a hatch of flies, mid July. They nearly coated my face and sweatshirt and I thought, this has got to be a good sign that labor is near. And since then I've walked there in every season to get some fresh air and offer a good nap to my little guy. This place has settled deep in our bones of memory and if you let it, nature will do that. It'll nestle into your routine and become a home away from home.

I hope you visit your most precious of places this month, and be adventurous enough to find new favorites along the way.

CHELSEA LYN AGRO, EDITOR @MVLMAGAZINE

July 2024

PUBLISHER

Mike Tucker | MTucker@CityLifestyle.com

EDITOR

Chelsea Lyn Agro | Chelsea.Agro@CityLifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Marla Huggins | Marla.Huggins@CityLifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Erika Spaulding | InspiredByMontana@Gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chelsea Lyn Agro, Marko Capoferri, Emma Trotter, Susie Wall

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Andy Kemmis

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

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business monthly

Cirque Ma'Ceo Returns to Missoula!

On Friday, July 5 and Sunday, July 7 you can immerse yourself in a world of incomparable beauty at the Big Sky Horse Park. Witness stunning horses and extraordinary human artists from around the globe as they come together in an exclusive performance. Get your tickets in advance at CirqueMaCeo.com

Open Mic: Music, Poetry & Comedy

Imagine Nation Brewing Company is hosting an open mic night beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 15. This event is open to all ages.

Fix-It Clinic

Home ReSource is hosting a fix-it clinic where community members can bring their worn, broken, or malfunctioning items for help in learning how to repair them. Skilled volunteers help repair those items by sharing their knowledge and skills. This event takes place on Saturday, July 20 at 11 a.m. Scan to read more

ON THE GREEN

SUN MOUNTAIN SPORTS IS MISSOULA BASED AND MAKING A BIG IMPACT

ARTICLE BY MARKO CAPOFERRI PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA SPAULDING

Missoula. Montana. Sports.

Enter those words into your internal search engine and chances are good that the Rolodex of images conjured might contain skiers carving a snowy slope, rafters shooting the nearby Alberton Gorge, sun-toned climbers scaling a jagged crag of rock under the summer sun, or fly fishers lining the slack water of the Big Blackfoot.

If you were, even briefly, to turn your eyes away from these more rowdy or romantic scenes you’d probably discover the more sedate and humble—but no less intoxicating—game of golf, a sport that is very much at home in the Missoula Valley. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Missoula is also home to Sun Mountain Sports, a 40-plus-year-old local institution and worldwide industry leader in golf bags, outerwear, travel gear, and push carts.

With seven golf courses (nine if you include courses in Frenchtown and Stevensville), Missoula is an “unassuming golf gem,” in the words of Grant Knudson, President and Chief Brand Officer of Sun

Mountain. “Where the golf mecca is in Carlsbad, California, this has always been kind of a magical, fairy-tale place where all the Sun Mountain bags come from.”

When asked about the overall culture surrounding the sport in our area, Grant is confident that golf has a good home here among the Five Valleys. “There’s a lot of pride in the fact that Sun Mountain resides here in Missoula, Montana,” he says. “Golf is thriving. Montana and its vibe is also thriving nationwide in pop culture. That, along with the fact that golf is having a resurgence, and the fact that Sun Mountain is here, it’s a great place to be outdoors and a great place to play golf.”

“THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU CAN SKI IN THE MORNING AND COME GOLF IN THE AFTERNOON."

- GRANT KNUDSON

“This is one of the few places in the world where you can ski in the morning and come golf in the afternoon,” Grant says. “A lot of times they go hand-in-hand. There’s a lot of skiers that also golf, because they’re both lifelong sports. I think that’s what’s so cool about golf: you can play it from the time you’re able to walk until whenever, as long as you can still swing a club.”

Since its inception in 1981 Sun Mountain has been an innovation-driven company, from crafting golf bags out of lighter-weight nylon as opposed to the previously-utilized leather or vinyl, to creating the first golf bag with a built-in stand, to the first-ever push cart, to the first

waterproof golf bags. From a vantage in the year 2024, it may be easy to overlook just how groundbreaking some of these novelties were, given their current industry-wide ubiquity. But the fact that these innovations, and many others, can be seen on golf courses around the world lets you know just how important Sun Mountain Sports has been—and continues to be—to the sport of golf.

“We have a lot of PGA tour members who either call or request our gear,” Grant says. “Not because we pay them, but because they know that we make the best.”

“We do a lot of custom stuff for high schools and colleges, all over the world,”

he continues. “It’s something of a badge of honor to have the Sun Mountain Sports logo on your golf bag, especially if you’re in the collegiate or high school world.”

It’s not a stretch to presume that Sun Mountain—with their cutting-edge advancements in comfort, convenience, and accessibility to the game—may have had a hand in golf’s current popularity. Whatever the case may be, Grant Knudson sees a bright future for the sport, and Sun Mountain Sports will be there as it always has, at the forefront.

“There’s a ton of new people that have come to the game,” he says. “It’s grown more in the last couple years than I’ve seen in my career. There’s so much interest in it, and a younger demographic, too…It’s a fun game that anyone can play, that anyone can aspire to get better at. You’re always trying to beat your own personal best, and no one ever masters it. That one good shot will keep you coming back.”

The Bliss of Birding

Elena Ulev has taken her passion to new heights and sights for curious nature seekers

ARTICLE BY SUSIE WALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA SPAULDING

“They’re fierce predators. Do you know they even kill porcupines?” Elena Ulev asks as she focuses her spotting scope so I can get a better look at the great horned owl peering out from a hole high up in a tree at Council Grove State Park. Being an avid birder, I thought I knew quite a bit about great horned owls, but not this. I also thought I was pretty good at spotting birds, but I would have never known

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the owl was there without Elena sharing her scope and her knowledge as I take part in one of the many excursions she offers through her company, Blue Heron Nature Tours.

Elena goes on to explain how the owls will flip porcupines over to gain access to their soft vulnerable belly. She then directs my attention to the other birds taking advantage of this bleached out ponderosa pine that she says is nicknamed the “hotel tree” for its ability to provide room for not just the owl, but the American kestrel hanging out on a bare branch and the Canada goose perched on top like a star on an old-growth Christmas tree.

Elena started Blue Heron Nature Tours in 2023 for two reasons. The first was as a way to fill what she saw as a void in nature-based educational outings for adults in the Missoula area. “We teach kids about nature, which is great, but I’ve found that a lot of adults are also hungry for information about their surroundings and there’s just not that many resources,” she says.

The second reason is a little more personal. “I wanted to work outside,” says Elena. “I’m not suited to sit at a desk and I pretty much bird and hike every day, so I figured why not do something I love that I’m doing anyway and make a business out of it.” Her first step was christening her tour company after her favorite bird, the great blue heron. “I think they look like old men in trench coats.”

As Elena and I move through the woods and along the Clark Fork River, she encourages me to not only look, but listen, touch, and smell. “Hear that? There’s a ring-necked pheasant calling over there,” she exclaims. She does a wonderful job describing the nuances of every call we hear, then we look up the bird in her field guide to associate the sound and the physical traits.     I point excitedly to a brilliant spray of yellow flowers poking up from the brown grass of late winter. “Those are sagebrush buttercups. It’s often the first flowers you’ll see in the spring,” she says. Standing on either side of a large ponderosa pine, we inhale the calming vanilla scent emanating from the bark. We then circle the base looking for owl pellets, which Elena explains are created when owls cough up the undigested parts of a prey animal. Finding one, we carefully pull it apart to reveal minuscule bones and ponder what tiny animal was on the menu.

Elena currently offers 10 unique outings through Blue Heron Nature Tours including wildflower painting sessions, birding trips, guided hikes, native plant walks, and cross-country ski tours in the Missoula area and the Bitterroot Valley. The tours last from two to four hours and start at $70. She provides all the necessary equipment including

“We teach kids about nature, which is great, but I’ve found that a lot of adults are also hungry for information about their surroundings and there’s just not that many resources." – Elena Ulev

binoculars, scopes, bear spray, and transportation if needed. She even brings homemade cookies on longer tours. “Mainly because I just love cookies,” she says. Throughout the tour, Elena keeps track of all the species seen and emails a list to you after the tour with a brief explanation that helps jog your memory.

No matter which tour you choose, don’t expect to follow a restricted schedule. Elena takes care to gear each one toward individual abilities, and she is eager to hear what you would like to learn and what you hope to see. “Maybe someone’s into mosses, so we’ll talk about mosses,” she says. Elena is a pro at identifying plants and recognizing animal behavior and she knows just where to go and what to look for based on the season. “I prepare pretty much every day for these tours. I’m always visiting these places and keeping an eye on what’s going on so I know what

birds have recently flown in, what flowers are blooming, are there cool mushrooms to check out.”

As my interest lies mainly in birds, Elena takes me down to the river where I delight in seeing a pair of wood ducks she knows have been hanging out along the opposite shore.

Elena also feels she has been preparing her whole life for running a business that educates others about the natural world. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has lived in Missoula for 25 years. During that time, she has worn many hats working as an educator and field biologist. When not leading tours, you’ll find her teaching classes at the Montana Natural History Center and the Montana Folk School and leading Montana Master Naturalist courses in the Bitterroot Valley and Glacier National Park.

After years of teaching, Elena has found that people, especially adults, are nervous about asking what they feel is a “dumb question.” These fears quickly dissipate as she avoids making her tours feel like a test, but instead a chance for everyone, even Elena, to discover and learn together. “I consider myself a naturalist, which is defined as a scientist, a writer, and an artist. I think anyone can be a naturalist. It just takes practice, a curious mind, and spending a lot of time in nature paying attention and being mindful. Taking the time to stop and smell a ponderosa pine.”

Elena hopes to inspire everyone she takes out to continue exploring and learning about the outdoors long after the tour is over, not just for the educational aspect, but so everyone can reap the benefits of spending time outside. “Going out into nature is my natural Prozac,” she says. “If I’m down or low, I go outside and immediately feel better. I try to do that with my kids, too, and it works every time. There’s always a new flower blooming, or a bird that’s new to you flying through the sky. You never know what you’re going to see. It’s like a treasure hunt every day.”

To learn more about Elena and sign up for one of her tours visit BlueHeronNatureTours.com

"I’m always visiting these places and keeping an eye on what’s going on so I know what birds have recently flown in, what flowers are blooming, are there cool mushrooms to check out.”

TRAILBLAZING

HER OWN PATH IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AND IN HER NURSING CAREER

The word that best describes Barbara “Malia” Kipp is “trailblazer.” Malia was the first Native American woman to play basketball for University of Montana, and later built a career as a tribal health nurse specializing in geriatrics while raising four children. She has determined her own path and paved the way for those following in her footsteps.

“I came to Missoula and people I would see on the street would look at me sideways, like what are you doing here?” Malia said, reflecting on her 1992 arrival on campus from the Blackfeet reservation in Browning. “It wasn’t until maybe my junior year where I felt that I was proving people wrong in the right way.”

By her senior night, with a string of Big Sky championships to her name, it was harder to mistake Kipp for someone who didn’t belong. During warm-ups, she wore an eagle feather in her hair— representing having gone to battle and overcome—given to her by Chief Earl Old Person. Then the Rawhide Singers appeared on the court and sang the Flag Song to honor her as a warrior.

The moment was captured on film and featured in a documentary called Native Ball: Legacy of a Trailblazer, which aired on PBS last November.

“We worked hard to bring that to life in the right way, building that moment so you could feel like you were part of it,” said Megan Harrington, a teammate of Malia’s who produced, co-directed, and co-wrote the film.

“How [Megan] told my story, I’m super proud of it,” Malia said. “It was a struggle to tell my story. It was emotional for me.”

“I gained a much bigger understanding of how that must have been for her,” Megan said. “The weight that she carried, the way that she carried it, raised my level of admiration for her. What she was able to accomplish and, because of that, the opportunities that others had.”

“Basketball kept me in school, opened doors for me, allowed me to see what my potential was on the floor and in the classroom.”

Fresh from inspiring those younger than her, Malia went to nursing school, and after graduation took a job in Polson at a long-term care facility working with elderly folks.

“My favorite people,” she said. “So appreciative for kindness and just having someone there to listen to their stories. There’s a little lesson in every story. Be thankful for your elders, because if they weren’t here, you wouldn’t be here.”

While working in Polson, Malia discovered a passion for providing comfort to the dying.

“A good death experience is important, not only for the patient but also for the family,” she said. “To know that they went comfortably, that they were in good hands, they didn’t suffer.”

Quality in-home hospice care is often unavailable in Malia’s community, so she has occasionally assisted a dying family member herself.

“Everyone was there, at home, helping out one way or another, and I’d just jump in bed and lay with her,” Malia recalled. “She would ask me what’s going on, and I’d tell her, you’re getting ready to go to heaven. She was happy, because she heard everyone around laughing and eating.”

Malia also worked as an educator at Kicking Horse Job Corps for over a decade, and her teacher side comes out when she speaks to groups of kids about Native Ball.

“Do what you enjoy and keeps you in school,” she likes to say. “Basketball kept me in school, opened doors for me, allowed me to

Malia Kipp

see what my potential was on the floor and in the classroom.”

Malia emphasizes, though, that it’s not always about sports, or higher education as the ultimate goal.

“College isn’t necessarily for everyone, so I wish school would promote what kiddos want to do and help them explore the different paths they can take,” she said. “My dad went to a trade school in Helena and he’s a building inspector. He built our beautiful, threestory house.”

Malia’s dad also helped her develop as a basketball player when she was in high school, and family support started even earlier, on the reservation where almost everybody played basketball.

“Out of all my cousins, I was the only girl there for a few years. If I wanted to play, I had to play with my boy cousins, and they weren’t nice on me,” she said. “But a ball player is a ball player—my dad taught me it didn’t matter if you’re playing against a girl or a boy. And so, being a freshman and playing against seniors, I wasn’t afraid of it. I thought, they have more to lose than you do being the underdog. Then you play with no fear.”

These days, Malia’s basketball career is more about playing HORSE with her dad and shooting around with her kids.

“The older you get, the better you were,” Kipp said. “That’s another saying of my dad’s.”

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BUGS & BUTTERFLIES

ARTICLE BY CHELSEA LYN AGRO PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA SPAULDING

The Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium is Montana’s first tropical butterfly house! And if you’ve already visited, you’d know that it’s a sight to behold. Winged creatures, creatures with lots (we mean LOTS) of legs, and creatures that—well— don’t look like creatures we’ve ever seen before. And that’s because we likely haven’t seen them in our neck of the woods. The Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium is home to bugs and butterflies from all over the world. Whether it be a field trip, exhibit, or educational program, your mind will be stimulated and your curiosity awakened.

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If you’re looking for family fun, consider a family field trip where families are able to complete an open-ended, bug-themed challenge or activity together. There are opportunities for hands-on experiences and learning, and what better way to familiarize yourself with a bug than to see it up close and personal?

There’s fun for adults, too. Bugs and Brews is an evening lecture series where each month they host a new expert lecturer to discuss a fascinating topic relating to bugs. Past lectures have been about animal weapons, pests, native bees, and sea spiders. Draught Works! is the primary sponsor for these unique lectures where adults can indulge in a beer and be entertained by the bugs.

If your ears perked up over “hands-on experience” then maybe volunteering is for you. Whether you’re interested in engaging with visitors, assisting with educational programs, or taking care of the bug ambassadors, there is surely a role to be filled. Volunteer opportunities range from museum volunteers (welcoming visitors/engaging with visitors at the Animal Encounter Area), education volunteers (field trips, camps, Bugs Around Town appearances, special events), animal care volunteers (feedings, cleanings), or behind the scenes volunteers (social media, woodworking, special skill set projects, etc.). There is no need to have a PhD in entomology or education to volunteer! Fill out an application online at MissoulaButterflyHouse.org.

Visit!

Visitors are welcome Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m.

1075 South Avenue West Children (ages 3-17), seniors (ages 60+) and military: $8

General admission: $10

Group discounts are available for a party of 10 of more and you must call to schedule a visit. Tickets are available for purchase online and are highly encouraged as they are time-based to ensure the safety of the butterflies.

AND FIND YOUR PEACE GET LOST

Exploring The Lost Pines Resort and Spa

Just on the outskirts of Austin, nestled on 400 acres of luscious and sprawling countryside, this fun-filled resort does not disappoint. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa is a family-friendly destination that offers an array of activities for all ages to enjoy.

Guests are transported to a simpler time where both adults and kids can be seen casually riding bicycles around the property or strolling along the Colorado River that hugs the resort. Open areas with yard games, outdoor game tables, sports courts and a mini golf course invite families to engage in activities that allow for quality time spent enjoying the outdoors.

Choose between an adventurous getaway or a serene escape, as Lost Pines Resort and Spa has something for everyone. Resort experiences include horseback riding, skeet shooting, archery, guided ATV tours, fishing, kayaking and more. Cool off poolside at one of the many pools, or float on the 1,000-foot lazy river. The expansive, 18-hole, 7,200 yard golf course designed by award-winning architect Arthur

Hills, allows golfers to enjoy the natural beauty of this championship course.

A Texas ranch-style resort wouldn’t be complete without animals. Visit the Lost Pines corral for daily meet and greets with longhorns, miniature ponies, miniature donkeys, goats, alpacas and pigs. Families can enjoy nightly movies on the outdoor movie screen. Scheduled kids activities are available day and evening throughout your stay. The expansive grounds allows guests to spend time exploring the activities on the property.

The resort offers a variety of dining experiences for the culinary enthusiast including six different on-site restaurants, each offering unique bites and beverages. Enjoy a farmto-table dining experience at Stories, where all food is sourced from local purveyors. They also offer an expansive selection of wines, scotch, and mixed drinks. For a unique dining experience, visit the renowned, exclusive 10-seat omakase, Sushi By Scratch, with Chef Philip Frankland Lee. This menu-free establishment boasts a private and unexpected experience that is sure to please. Advanced reservations are required and encouraged as dining spots fill up quickly. For a more casual dining experience, visit one of the other four on-site restaurants including Maverick’s Roadhouse, buffet style dining at Heartwood House, light bites enjoyed poolside at Old Buck’s Place or eat alfresco at Maude’s Bar and Terrace.

After a day of making memories, retreat to the newly remodeled and spacious rooms and suites. The views are breathtaking, and all rooms offer elevated amenities that invite relaxation. The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa is the perfect vacation destination to recharge regardless of what stage of life you are in. For more information visit LostPinesResortandSpa.com

ADVENTUROUS GETAWAY OR A SERENE ESCAPE

JULY 4TH

4th at the Fort!

Fort Missoula | 10:00 AM

On Thursday, July 4 visit the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula for family-friendly activities to celebrate our country's independence! Enjoy live music, wagon rides, food trucks, and old-fashioned children's games. Festivities occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

JULY 5TH

Adult Night at Hearts Afire

Heart Afire Pottery and Art Studio | 5:00 PM

On Friday, July 5 head down to Heart Afire for an adult night out. Grab your spouse, friends, family, or a co-worker and spend the evening painting pottery, glass fusing, or DIY canvas.

JULY 11TH

Photograph Historic Garnet Ghost Town

Lifelong Learning Center | 6:30 PM

On Thursday, July 11 you can photograph the Garnet Ghost Town! You'll learn basic composition and lighting principles and how to shoot in color, black and white, or sepia. Explore the building and artifacts and share your best shots. Learn some editing techniques to refine those favorite photos. Entrance fee is $3 and class fee is $50.

JULY 13TH

Cut Flowers: How to Grow and Arrange Them

Caras Nursery | 11:00 AM

Caras Nursery is hosting a seminar on how to cut and arrange your own flowers! You'll learn the best growing practices, arrangement tips and strategies, and watch a demonstration on how local growers handle their flowers. This event is free and open to all!

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JULY 18TH

Wild Wanders with Kids and Herbal Lemonade

Montana Natural History Museum | 10:00 AM

Do you have a wildcrafter who is ready to forage, learn, and make? Your little one will learn about wild edibles and medicinals along the Clark Fork River Trail. They'll listen and learn when it comes to identification, ethical and safe harvesting, properties of plants, and how we can enjoy them. Best of all, they'll do a little wildcrafting to make herbal lemonade.

JULY 27TH

Flathead Cherry Festival

Main Street, Polson | 9:00 AM

Take a little trip to the Flathead Cherry Festival in Polson where you can indulge in cherry related baked good, stroll and shop local artistry, and listen to live music with views of Flathead Lake in the distance. This event takes place both Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29.

Sustainability in Action