Children enjoy nature painting program on Whitefish Trail

The temperature and the humidity were on the rise, but that didn’t stop a handful of nature lovers from engaging in one of Whitefish Legacy Partners’ youth events Tuesday morning.

Christiane Hinterman, the nonprofit's education coordinator, led the youth painting from nature program, which included a local family from Whitefish and a vacationing family from Iowa.

Hinterman took over the program in 2018 and one could see her abundant enthusiasm as she shared tidbits of interesting facts about nature with the children, who ranged in age from 3 to 7 years old.

The short jaunt began at the Whitefish Trail Lion Mountain trailhead and Hinterman quickly focused on a hue which dominated the landscape - green.

“Why do we see green better than any other color?” she asked.

One member of the gang suggested survival played a role.

“Yes, survival played a major role in why we see green so well,” Hinterman said. “Before grocery stores, we relied on the forest for our food and even our medicine. So it was critical to us for our existence.”

She also pointed out different species of berries enjoyed by both people and wildlife.

Hinterman explained some berries are red in color because it makes them more attractive to birds and animals.

She also pointed out paintbrush and lupine, two common varieties of wildflowers found locally. The plan was to find things along the trail which would inspire a watercolor painting and there was no shortage.

An old robin nest was another fascinating discovery, particularly since a bee had taken over the carefully built structure.

Even scat, or poop, provided teaching moments.

Hinterman explained how scat deposited by birds and animals can help spread a plant or tree species.

“Once they digest a berry, the seeds are left behind in their scat and it may result in the growth of a new plant,” she said. “Nature really is amazing in how it works.”

Karrie Lillie and her two boys, 6-year-old Olin and 3-year-old Waylon, are Whitefish Trail regulars.

Olin and Waylon found their inspiration in taking off-trail “shortcuts” that Karrie said with a laugh “didn’t seem to be shortcuts.” They also explored the many defunct forts which youngsters had built in previous years before withering under wind and heavy snow.

Once the group arrived at the Learning Pavilion on Lion Mountain it was time to hydrate and paint.

Olin’s watercolor featured a woodpecker and the northern lights, while Waylon’s interest was giving some old, faded deer bones a splash of color.

The young ladies from Iowa painted flowers as well as pine cones and needles.

Tuesday’s program was just one of many free youth programs Legacy Partners offers during the summer.

There are four programs scheduled for July 8, 21, 28 and 29. To sign up, go to www.whitefishlegacy.org/events.

Girls on the Trail is another summer program and is set for July 12-15. It is full, but a wait list is available.

For those who wish to support the many projects of Whitefish Legacy Partners, which include trail building, free access to public lands, annual maintenance tasks including trail tread work, sign replacement, trailhead maintenance, access road repair, snowplowing, and toilet pumping, there are a few ways it can be done.

Corporate sponsorships are available on an annual basis as well as for specific events. There are also opportunities for one-time and recurring gifts.

More information can be found at http://www.whitefishlegacy.org/donate/.

For general information about conservation work, recreation, education, volunteer chances and events, go to https://www.whitefishlegacy.org/.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.