M.A.S.S. Camp Out 2011

M.A.S.S. Camp Out Twenty Eleven was a huge success and a lot of fun. Many of us camped for two nights while others came out for one.


On Friday night we celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of M.A.S.S. as an organization and talked about the upcoming billboard. Of course, food was cooked over fire and grill, smore's were available in plenty, and the weather was perfect.

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove down to the Clearwater Crossing Ranger Station and took a hike up the West Fork of Fish Creek to a beautiful lunch spot, and then returned to camp later that afternoon.

Saturday night we were privileged to welcome our neighbor campers and area residents to our campsite as we played host to Montana FWP Biologist Vickie Edwards. Vickie gave a fascinating presentation on elk ecology and specifics on the elk herds found in the Fish Creek area. She brought an elk hide and several antlers and even some scat (thankfully, the scat was fake), and graciously answered dozens of questions from the diverse audience.

Later Saturday evening, the rain came. We had plenty of sturdy shelter available though, so the rain was hardly noticed. In all, it was an enjoyable and educational event, and all participants are looking forward to the next.

Brunch, Bible Study, and Summer Camp!

It's almost time for another Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch. As usual, we'll be in the meeting room at the Stone of Accord at 4951 N. Reserve at 10am, Sunday June 5th. Just tell the hostess you're with the group in the meeting room and she'll show you they way.

Also, Milo, our seminary graduate, is putting together a monthly "Secular Bible Study" class. No dogma allowed. This class will be intended to arm the non-believer with the knowledge they need to understand how the bible came into being and the influence it's had on society. If you're interested in participating, please email and watch this space for further details.

Families may be interested in attending a secular summer camp July 30 -August 6. Camp Quest Montana describes itself as "a family camp. That means families attend together. Our schedule is structured with activities for children, tweens, and teens. Sometimes, families will participate together. Sometimes, counselors will conduct the activities with the children, leaving the parents free for an adult discussion group or activity. There is also a counselor in training program for camper’s ages 13-17 who want to attend without their parents (you know how it is). Typical camp activities include games, swimming, arts and crafts, hiking, singing, and campfires. Unique Camp Quest activities include geomythology, creation stories, the scientific method, famous freethinkers, freedom of inquiry, dealing with religious bullying, evolution, and critical thinking."

No kids? No Problem! Camp Quest Montana needs volunteer staff as well. (The Missoula Area Secular Society is not responsible for organizing Camp Quest. For more information about Camp Quest, please contact them directly.)

Snow Fun At Big Sky

Bozeman Freethinkers Aleksi and Kate are organizing the first of two "play in the snow" weekends in Big Sky, MT and are inviting members of the Missoula Area Secular Society (plus friends, family, and fellow-travelers) to join in the fun, December 4th and 5th.

Aleksi welcomes everybody to stay at her spacious house in Big Sky for this fun-filled weekend! You DO NOT have to be a good skier, in fact you don't have to ski at all; just come and spend some time relaxing in the mountains with some great people. Good skiers are welcome as well, of course :-)

If you'd like to ski, you should buy a $50 Frequent Sky Card from Big Sky Ski Resort ***before 9/30/2010*** (it goes up to $90 if purchased 9/30-10/31, after which it's not available). This card will get you a free ski pass for the weekend. Info on this card:
http://www.bigskyresort.com/Activities/Winter/Season_Pass-Sky_Card/Frequent_Sky_Card.asp,

This info page has a link to purchase the pass online. Think about it: $50 for even one day skiing at a world class ski hill is a Big Savings, since a daily lift ticket at Big Sky is $77 online/$81 at the window. Another Freethinker weekend is planned for April during another "free ski" weekend that you can use the card, so if you plan to attend both events and ski, then the card is an even better deal.

If you're inclined toward cross-country skiing, Aleksi's house is located on the XC trails for http://www.lonemountainranch.com/. There is a $15 fee to use the Lone Mountain Ranch trails.

On Saturday night we'll find an inexpensive local restaurant that can handle all of us.

The joint Bozeman/Missoula camp-out this past summer was a big success, and a splendid time was had by all who attended. These ski weekends should likewise be terrific opportunities to have fun hanging out and hobnobbing with like-minded heathens and heretics. So come join in the merriment this winter at Big Sky. Be there or you will be forced to listen to a loop of Rush Limbaugh all day on Xmas day. This means You.

As the date gets closer, the Missoula group will organize a carpool/caravan and directions to Aleksi's house will be given out then. RSVP on the Facebook group is recommended.

Perseids Event Cancelled

The weather for Ovando changed to thunderstorms and rain all evening, so it doesn't look like we'll have much of a view of the sky. We'll try again next time.

Perseids Viewing

The Earth is rapidly approaching the densest part of the debris trail of the comet Swift-Tuttle, the new moon will be providing plenty of darkness, and now the Western Montana weather appears to be cooperating as well, so...

Put in your vacation notice for Friday and come out with the Missoula Area Secular Society to spend Thursday night staying up into the wee hours far away from city lights learning about astronomy, or sharing what you know, while watching (potentially up to 100/hour) fiery meteors streak across the sky as they get clobbered by Earth's atmosphere.

Directions: Take Hwy 200 North up the Blackfoot approximately 38 miles. Half a mile *before* the junction with Hwy 83 (Giant Cow) there is a bridge over the Clearwater River and a fishing access site just past the bridge. You're going to want to turn left immediately *before* the bridge onto a dirt road.

However, you're probably going to miss your turn and go over the bridge (I do it all the time). In this case, turn around in the fishing access site, or go half a mile further up to the Giant Cow and turn around there. Then, on your way back, turn right immediately *after* the bridge.

Follow this dirt road north approx 1.5 miles to a point where the river gets wide enough for some people to call a small lake. Look for a giant TeePee style tent (about 12 feet tall) somewhere along the shore (should be there no later than 7pm).

The road in is not well maintained and can get heavily rutted, so use caution, but don't think that you're lost. Cars with low clearance should be able to navigate the road with little difficulty as long as they take it slow and watch where they're going.

Bring a tent to retire to once fireballs streaking across the sky are no longer enough to keep yourself awake. There will be LOTS of room to setup tents and even though you'll want to watch the stars the forecast low for the nearest town (Ovando) is 44 degrees and there may be an isolated thunderstorm or two. If you've got a good warm sleeping bag, you may try to sleep out under the stars anyway. DRESS WARM. I repeat, the forecast low is 44 Degrees!

Camping with The Bozeman Freethinkers

Put in your vacation notice at work now. M.A.S.S. is taking a road trip at the end of July for our (1st annual?) joint camp out with the Bozeman Freethinkers.

When: Friday, July 30th - Sunday, August 1st

We'll head over the divide to the camping spot that the Bozeman Freethinkers will have picked out for us and stay Friday and Saturday night. On Saturday there will be a group trip to the Lewis & Clark Caverns, and (if there's enough time and interest), maybe a trip in to the Museum of the Rockies.

We have a CDL licensed driver on our Board of Directors, so we're planning on renting a bus to get everyone over there. This way everyone (except our driver) will be able to start having fun as soon as we roll out of Missoula, and we don't need to worry about anybody getting lost. Cost for bus rental and gas will be split among the participants.

I anticipate we'll have campers representing every generation, so feel free to bring your whole family.

Updates and additional details will be sent out regularly to those that have RSVP'd to the Facebook Event, and occasionally posted here as the time gets closer. If you're planning to attend but for whatever reason are unable to RSVP to the Facebook event, please email jon@secularmissoula.org with the number of people in your family that will be attending so he can add you to the list and contact you with any important updates.

Above photo (c) Isabelle Boucher