Opportunity Roundup

Opportunity Roundup

Summer school is wrapping up, but there’s no shortage of news and vacation ideas coming through the e-mail. Here’s a sampling.

  • Great Falls, Montana Tourism sent news of a couple interesting events. On Aug. 3, women who want to learn how to rodeo can participate in Cowgirl U, a workshop held during the Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup. Lessons include roping and riding the bucking machine as well as the basics of rodeo. Drinks and snacks are included. And, Aug. 24-26, the annual Lewis and Clark festival comes to town. Reenactments, vendors, historical demonstrations, bluegrass music, and Native American dancers and drummers are scheduled.
  • Mariposa, California is one of the gateways to Yosemite National Park. The Mariposa Chamber of Commerce says Yosemite rangers are on staff at the visitor’s center until 8 p.m. Thursday through Monday this summer selling park passes. This shortens the line into the park for everyone, the Chamber says. The Chamber also has a list of summer activities taking place right there in town for those staying outside Yosemite. Concerts in the park, the city swimming pool, and a free workshop on the basics of movie-making are among the offerings.
  • Staples, the office supply store, announced teacher appreciation days are coming up in August with freebies for teachers. Dates differ depending on the city so check the Staples website or call.
  • The University of Montana Alumni Relations wrote to recommend three podcasts produced through the university: “Last Best Stories,” stories of Montanans; “Big Biology,” two scientists answering questions you may have never known you had; and “A New Angle,” brainchild of an associate professor of marketing who wanted to focus on the fun, positive things being done in Missoula, the city where UM’s main campus is located.
  • If you’re a fan of Antiques Roadshow on PBS, you can visit one of the appraisers in Sacramento. Witherell’s offers free evaluation days from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday. Kind of a fun way to pick up some history on personal belongings.
  • Cal State San Bernardino’s College of Extended Learning continues to offer classes on healthy eating through its Veggies in the Middle Registration is open for the July class, “Hot Summer Nights: Easy Meal Salads for Warm Weather.”
  • Elk Grove, California’s Police Department, school district, and the Cosumnes Community Services District are offering two sessions of Safety Town for preschoolers in July. This is a week-long safety awareness program for children aged 4 or 5. Volunteer opportunities are available for teenagers as well.
  • A lot of news is coming in from West Yellowstone, the Montana entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Apparently, a long-dormant geyser erupted in March and is threatening to overshadow Old Faithful with its 345-feet sprays of boiling water. West Yellowstone offers music, a historic center, rodeo, and other events during the summer.
  • The Better Together: California Teacher Summit 2018 is scheduled for July 27. The free event takes place in more than 30 locations across California.
  • Project Learning Tree has compiled a list of 10 books about trees for children in kindergarten through third grade as well as some suggested classroom activities to accompany the books.
  • Possibly the best place to find reasonably priced and healthy food at the California State Fair is at the Kaiser Permanente Farm presented by Save Mart. The State Fair runs July 13-29 in Sacramento.
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