SLCF COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM IMPACT: THE FIRST 20 YEARS

The Seeley Lake Community Foundation helps local groups fund important community projects. In this capacity, we strive to be a community resource and catalyst for innovative approaches to improving the quality of life in Seeley Lake, MT.

Here are some highlights of all that has been accomplished with the help of SLCF Community Grants during our first 20 years (2000 to 2020).

See here for information on the bigger Leadership Projects we’ve undertaken.

A big thank you to our local hardworking volunteers and nonprofits. Your dreams, and your dedication, have made so many incredible things happen in this community. And a big thank you for the generosity of the people of Seeley Lake, who love this place so dearly. You made all this happen!

The SLCF Community Grant Program funds local projects in the areas of:

• Basic human needs

• Education

• Arts & culture

• Natural resources & conservation

• Community & economic development

SLCF focus: Basic Human Needs

SLCF Leadership Projects in Basic Human Needs:

Air Quality Woodstove Changeout (2013)

Community Health and Support Guide (2017)

Here’s a few highlights of our Community Grants for Basic Human Needs:

Food Bank stabilized during Great Recession

Grants to purchase food vouchers and bulk food storage (2008 and 2009)

“The current economic downturn is taking a heavy toll….the Seeley-Swan Community Food Bank has seen a 20% increase in demand.”

“In 2008 the Community Foundation helped stabilize the Food Bank.…allowing all of us to reach out and serve those in our community caught in the vice of the most difficult times since the Great Depression.”

Seeley-Swan Medical Center expands

Grant to create preliminary architectural plans in 2006 and a major grant ($10,000) in 2015 to help expand clinic size for growth of healthcare services.

“The Board feels strongly that it must be visionary regarding the provision of health care and related services within our communities…As our communities continue to grow, we must be able to expand to meet the growing healthcare needs. This grant will help us to design an integrated site for healthcare of the future.” - 2006 Seeley Swan Medical Center grant application

“This proposal will bring publicly supported dental and behavioral health services to the Seeley Swan Valley for the first time….In the unincorporated towns of Seeley Lake and Condon, the Seeley Lake Community Foundation offers an informal mechanism for assessing local needs, discussing options and proving leadership for new initiatives. In this capacity, the Foundation is aware of the need for local delivery of more health services, most especially including dental and behavioral health services….Those who need dental and mental health services may not be among those most loudly heard, but the negative fall-out from failing to care for them reverberates throughout the community.” - 2010 letter to Seeley Swan Hospital District Board by SLCF ED Jeanne Koester

Elderly able to age in place

Grants to help bring a Missoula Aging Services Resource Specialist to the Seeley-Swan to serve older adults in our community (2018 and 2019)

Missoula Aging Services has a Seeley-Swan Resource Specialist who helps identify and address the many diverse challenges older adults face in our rural community, and helping them remain independent and healthy in their community. As of 2019, the MAS Seeley-Swan Resource Specialist had helped 45% of Condon residents 60+ years, and 42% of Seeley Lake residents 60+ years old.

The Resource Specialist helps coordinate respite and homemaking care for clients on a sliding fee scale, provides Medicare counseling, founded the monthly Seeley-Swan Caregiver Support Group, helped create the Community Health and Support Guide, manages Senior Companions and Caring Companions, and more…

“Total savings for our community from this position exceeds $292,000 from the Medicare, caregiving, Senior Medicare Patro, and other resource information. Economic Impact of the caregiving businesses that the Seeley-Swan Resource Specialist helped community members start provided $78,000/year in value to the Seeley-Swan community.”

SLCF focus: Education

SLCF Leadership Projects in Education:

Eagles Nest playground (2006)

SLE XC ski program (2011)

Support for kids mental health (2018)

SSHS Greenhouse

Here’s a few highlights of our Community Grants for Education:

‘Students in Action’ undertake Morrell Creek Water Monitoring Project

Grants to SLE to develop the Morrell Creek Riparian Classroom, to SSHS for equipment to start the “Students in Action Morrell Creek Water Monitoring Project,” and to CRC to develop a classroom curriculum for the project (2011, 2012, 2013)

Seeley Lake Elementary started developing the Morrell Creek Riparian Classroom for elementary and high school students, with help from the SLCF in 2011 and 2012. When Seeley Swan High School initiated the “Students in Action Morrell Creek Water Monitoring Project,” the SLCF provided funding in 2012 to SSHS for equipment to get the project off the ground, and funding in 2013 for the Clearwater Resource Council to develop a classroom curriculum for the project.

“This project is a chance for high school students to enhance education by giving them an in depth field work experience. Students will be working with CRC, Lolo National Forest, MT Fish Wildlife and Parks, NRCS, DEQ, USGS, Flathead Lake Biological Station, Northwest Connections, Blackfoot Challenge, and BBCTU.” -‘12 grant application

Supporting the outdoor program at our elementary school

Grant to help establish and support the outdoor education program at Seeley Lake Elementary (2015)

“The SLE outdoor education program addresses many of our school’s core curriculum objectives and state standards, but it also exceeds the expectations and expands learning opportunities by putting students in authentic, real-world situations; working with and learning from real land managers, conservationists, and scientists, and developing skills they will be able to use and apply in their lives, whether they simply recreate, hunt, ski or snowmobile, or go on to seek careers as land and natural resource managers themselves.” - 2015 grant application, Bridget Laird, Outdoor Education Coordinator

“Our outdoor equipment supply is now able to outfit entire classes with snowshoes, Nordic skis, camping equipment, outdoor microscopes, snow science equipment, and various other science and social studies field gear.”- grant report from Bridget Laird

Read this great Dec 2017 Missoulian article on the SLE Outdoor Program: ‘Get out: Seeley Lake Elementary takes lessons outside’

Get out: Seeley Lake Elementary takes lessons outside

High School ‘Discover Days’ promote multidisciplinary learning

Grants to Seeley Swan High School to strengthen students’ understanding of the wilderness, become more adept stewards of their public lands, and become better writers, readers, speakers, and listeners and to provide ‘Discover Days’ educational programs (2015, 2017)

In 2015, students read Pete Fromm’s Indian Creek Chronicles, completed a service-learning trailwork project at Monture Creek in cooperation with Montana Youth Conservation Corps and the Seeley Lake Ranger District, and wrote creatively and thoughtfully, integrating their wilderness trail experience, their reading and class discussions, and their past life experiences.

In 2017, students, staff, and community partners were able to learn about the Blackfoot River watershed area from a multidisciplinary perspective, especially combining science, literature, Native American culture, writing and art.  Some of the students revised and refined their creative writing and art projects about rivers, published in the second edition of Backroads of the Mind, SSHS’s magazine of literature and art.

“The entire SSHS staff will participate on this day with 100 students attending the high school in order to make this educational adventure a success.”

“Many students wrote richly-layered, beautiful pieces connected to their experience on the Blackfoot and shared them with the community – some of them at the Norman Maclean Festival.”- SSHS grant report

Mentoring for elementary students

Grant for curriculum supplies and materials for Phlight Club Academy (2017)

Funds were used for curriculum supplies and materials for the two day, community-based Phlight Club Academy at Seeley Lake Elementary, which focused on building and sustaining a web of support for students both inside and outside of the classroom.

“The critical Phlight Club factors and implementation have been developed from the application of research-based programs that foster and build systemic social relationships with individual teachers, counselors, and other caring adults within and outside of the school environment. “ - 2017 grant application, Toni Sexton

SLCF focus: Arts and Culture

SLCF Leadership Projects in Arts and Culture:

Bob Marshall Music Festival (2016, 2017)

Here’s a few highlights of our Community Grants in Arts and Culture:

2 Valleys Stage support

Grants for artist fees for the free Montana Shakespeare in the Parks performances and for 2VS artist residency fees (2006, 2010-2020)

Alpine Artisans offers 2 Valleys Stage, bringing the outside world into our rural valleys with high-caliber performing arts experiences. The SLCF has provided fundraising support for this program throughout the years, as well as to support summer Shakespeare in the Parks performances.

In 2015, for example:  “Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (see photo below) performance of Cyrano de Bergerac was performed for approximately 200 people and Tanya Gabrielian’s residency was a success with students and the public, and approximately 60 people attended Norman Foote’s public concert while 80 people attended Tra le Gael’s public concert.”

Shakespeare in the Parks support

Grants for artist fees for the free Montana Shakespeare in the Parks performances and for 2VS artist residency fees (2006, 2010-2020)

Alpine Artisans brings summer Shakespeare in the Parks performances to Seeley Lake (see stats listed under 2 Valleys Stage, above).

Tour of the Arts launches

Grants to help design and print brochure publicizing the Seeley Swan Cultural Arts Corridor and the Tour of the Arts (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)

“Arts have become a local cottage industry in the Seeley-Swan Valley, yet local artists struggle to make ends meet.”

“A core group of Alpine Artisans members, business leaders, and educators have been meeting for over two years with the vision to establish a cultural arts corridor that fosters a creative learning environment, positive economic growth, artistic inspiration, and wilderness experiences anchored by the natural splendor of the Seeley, Swan, and Blackfoot Valleys.”

“In 2004, Alpine Artisans committed itself to establishing a Cultural Arts Corridor and has since demonstrated that it is an organization with the ability to set a goal and accomplish it through planning, preparation, collaboration, and minimal resources…. We are determined and patient, recognizing that it takes years of work to achieve the threshold of activity we envision whereby the Blackfoot-Seeley Swan area is recognized globally as a top cultural arts destination.” - 2008 AAI grant report

“Partnering is the Key: Since our seed funding from the SLCF in 2005, we have accomplished our goals by partnering with the Chamber of Commerce, Double Arrow Resort, 15 art studios, museums and galleries, and [many more].”

“As a result of this success, we expanded our Tour of the Arts to a two-day tour involving 15 sites in October 2006….Most visitors stayed at each site for almost an hour talking with the artists, and over $7,500 in artwork was sold or ordered.”

“From officials at Travel Montana to Montana PBS and from local outfitters to regional tourists visiting our booth at Littlebird’s Marketplace, tremendous interest has been generated about the Tour of the Arts.”

“Marketing the Seeley-Swan Cultural Arts Corridor will increase support for the arts, create economic benefits for the community, and boost cultural tourism in the Glacier Scenic Region….State and regional economic indicators, empirically suggest that cultural tourism is becoming a necessary and vital component to economic diversity throughout the state and is especially important in rural areas such as the Seeley-Swan Valley.”

SLCF focus: Natural Resources and Conservation

SLCF Leadership Projects in Natural Resources and Conservation:

CFMI (2010, 2011)

Nordic study (2011)

Recreation map (2015)

Here’s a few highlights of our Community Grants in Natural Resources and Conservation:

Seeley Lake ROCKS! forms

Grants were used as start-up funds to launch the new nonprofit (2012, 2013)

A 2011 feasibility study found Seeley Lake a compelling destination for recreational and competitive Nordic skiing. That study triggered the creation of Seeley Lake Regional Outdoor Center for Kinetic Sports (ROCKS)!

“The mission of Seeley Lake ROCKS! is to build healthy children, strong families, and vibrant communities through outdoor recreation. Teamwork developed instantly with Seeley Lake Elementary School. Working together, we raised funds to provide skis for 24 fourth graders. In less than four years that teamwork has resulted in having enough skis for the entire school…

“The Seeley Lake Community Foundation was the first organization to support Seeley Lake ROCKS!. That first grant triggered the school program and long term plans. We are grateful for the vision and leadership SLCF provides our organization and our community.” –2013 ROCKS grant report, Lee Boman

Warming yurt at Seeley Creek trails built

Grant for insulated floor panels for the warming hut/ yurt at the local cross country ski trails (2014)

Seeley Lake ROCKS! built a yurt that was very much a community effort as many local businesses and individuals assisted.

“Having a yurt will result in increased usage of ski trails. Increased usage of trails means more meals, equipment, fuel, and lodging dollars for our community.” –2013 ROCKS grant report

“‘This is a game changer for my family. We will come to ski these trails now that there is a place to warm up’ –out of town skier. The local elementary school uses the yurt for classes related to outdoor education program, youth ski league, and Nordic ski team.” –2014 ROCKS grant report

Community forestry studied as long-term solution

Grants to help TNC complete a study of community-based forest models intended to inform long-term outcomes for the Clearwater Blackfoot Project land west of Seeley Lake. (2016, 2018)

In January 2015, the Nature Conservancy (TNC) acquired 117,000 acres of Plum Creek Timber lands west of Seeley Lake.

“It is the goal of the TNC and the Western Conservation Project to engage the neighboring communities in a dialogue that will determine long-term management and ownership of these lands.” –Western Conservation Project program description 2016

SLCF focus: Community and Economic Development

SLCF Leadership Projects in Community and Economic Development:

Seeley Lake Fire Hall (2009)

Community Council communications (2007-2013)

MEDA Community Assessment (2016)

Community branding and beautification (2016)

Here’s a few highlights of our Community Grants in Community and Economic Development:

Support for Seeley Creek cross country ski trail grooming

Grants to help purchase a snow roller with a comb for grooming ski trails (2005), and towards a new groomer (2018)

This new equipment cut in half the work and time required to groom trails by the Seeley Lake Nordic Club, and the grant helped leverage funding from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to purchase a new towing snowmobile and new groomer.

“The Seeley Creek Trail System is an 18k (11 mile) multi-use trail system which provides recreation for users of every level…It also hosts cross country ski races in the winter, including the annual OSCR, which is an important part of Seeley Lake’s Winterfest festival. Because weather conditions supply Seeley Lake with more consistent snow than surrounding areas, our cross country ski trails draw not only local folks, but also visitors from a great distance.” - 05 Nordic Club grant application

Support for snowmobile trail grooming

Grant to help with grooming snowmobile trails after huge snow year (2018)

Seeley Lake Driftriders snowmobile club is responsible for maintaining over 350 miles of snowmobile trails each winter. Funding from the Seeley Lake Community Foundation has helped support trail maintenance and grooming projects, ensuring the trail system remains one of the top 10 snowmobile destinations in the West.

“We are seeing a significant increase in system wide usage from all user types…Seeley Lake is a recreation-funded community and snowmobiling is the primary economic basis for Seeley lake businesses to remain open in the winter months. There is no doubt that the efforts of the Seeley lake Driftriders help supplement the Seeley Lake economy by providing thousands of snowmobilers a safe and enjoyable trail system.” -18 grant application