There’s something about enjoying clean air and clean water that puts your mind at ease.
Just ask Jen Kreiner. The northwest Montana resident relies on the Scotchmans to clear away the cobwebs of modern living. And as a volunteer and board member for the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, she’s a person worth celebrating.
Good thing there’s the perfect chance to do just that. Volunteers just like Jen will gather at beautiful Bull Lake 3 p.m. Sunday for the Western Montana Picnic. It’s a great chance to enjoy a burger and beer while appreciating all the work that goes into saving the wild Scotchmans. The picnic will be held at the Bull Lake Rod and Gun Club. To get there, drive halfway between U.S. Highway 2 and Montana Highway 200 on Montana Highway 56. The turnoff is on the lake side of the highway.
The Friends’ many volunteers all have their own reasons for putting in so much work. For Jen, it’s all about family.
“I learn a lot about myself exploring wild places,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for self-reflection, and it’s a connection to something that really is hard to define. I like to share that connection with my kids. It’s a really important part of our lives to get out together and explore.”
Northwest Montana is the perfect environment for that lifestyle, from its mountains to waters like Bull Lake. And it just so happens that the picnic offers a chance to experience Bull Lake like never before. A raffle beginning at the picnic and ending at Kootenai Harvest Festival in September will give a lucky winner free rein of the Rod and Gun Club. That includes access to the beach, horseshoe pits, camping grounds and glorious views of Scotchman Peaks.
So come on out to the Western Montana Picnic and meet people like Jen. You’ll understand why Scotchman volunteers are so passionate about saving our wild backyard.
“This is why we live here in northwestern Montana,” Jen said. “And it’s that connection that makes us want to protect the Scotchmans.”
