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Thompson Falls non-profit Project ASCENT is hosting a unique fall outdoor educational program this weekend in Libby. The group will present “Autumn Wings, Woodpeckers and Wildfire” on Saturday. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. at the Venture Inn, 1015 West 9th St., in Libby. The program will run until approximately 3:30 p.m.

This autumn outdoor educational class is timed for the general fall migration of many birds, and will focus on birds of prey, waterfowl, and songbirds, with a side emphasis on woodpeckers and their specialized relationship with recent forest fires. We will visit sites of relatively recent fires near Libby, as well as river, lake, and wetland locations. Participants are asked to wear appropriate clothing for the day, and bring along an orange safety vest or similarly colored outdoor wear.

Participants should bring binoculars, spotting scopes, a bird book, water, lunch, proper footwear, cameras, full gas tanks and a good attitude.

There is no charge for this class, but slots are limited, so please plan on attending if you sign up. Our instructor for the day is Brian Baxter, who has degrees in both forestry and wildlife, and has been teaching outdoor educational programs for over 18 years. To sign up, contact Baxter via email at [email protected], or call (406) 291-2154.

Project ASCENT’s purpose is to offer outdoor education and recreational opportunities to under-served youth and interested adults in Lincoln and Sanders counties and surrounding areas. For more information, visit http://www.projectascent.org.