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What types of programs does the Station offer for local citizens? for students? for researchers?

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When will the new Summer Session schedule be available?

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What is the Summer Session application deadline? What application materials are required?

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What types of programs does the Station offer for local citizens? for students? for researchers? Back to Top

The Flathead Lake Biological Station offers a variety of informative lectures, seminars, workshops, and courses. Most of these offerings occur in the late Spring, Summer, and early Fall.

For local citizens, the Flathead Lake Biological Station offers a Thursday night summer seminar series that brings specialized speakers from a variety of subject areas to share their knowledge and ideas. We also offer an annual open house providing an opportunity to tour the station grounds and learn about the science that helps protect many local lakes and riparian areas. We also offer a variety of workshops and seminars throughout the year. Check this site periodically for updated information on these offerings.

For local teachers, we encourage local ecology and advanced biology teachers to contact us for information on how your classes can benefit from field trips to the Station.

For college students, we offer both M.S. and PhD. degree options and an annual summer session with aquatic and terrestrial ecology courses, including a new Field Ecology option. The FLBS summer session is open to both graduate and undergraduate students.

For scientists and researchers, we offer a number of research opportunities. Investigators from around the world come to the Station to spend one week to two years working on projects, learning from and sharing knowledge with our research faculty.

For more information on any of the options above, please contact us.

When will the new Summer Session schedule be available? Back to Top

Each year's Summer Session schedule is released in late January. Email us or check the Summer Session pages for updated information.

The Groundwater/Surfacewater workshop is a technical workshop sponsored by the USEPA and FLBS. For more information on upcoming workshops, visit our Workshops & Seminars page.

How do I get to the Station? Back to Top

Click here for a printable map and directions.

What is the application deadline? What application materials are required? Back to Top

Summer session deadlines vary each year. Visit the Summer Session homepage to confirm the official deadline and other application information. Several of the classes fill quickly so early registration is advised.

Required Application Materials

Bio Station Online Application or Downloadable Application
$100 Deposit (check, money order, or credit card)
Official or Unofficial Transcripts for Non-UM Students

Where can I receive answers to other questions? Back to Top

Check out our main page, contact us by email, or call us at (406) 982-3301.

How do I get to Yellow Bay State Park? Can I reserve a camping site? Where do I pay for a campsite? Are there any campsites available? Back to Top

The entrance to Yellow Bay State Park is just south of the entrance to the Flathead Lake Biological Station. We are located on Highway 35 on the east shore of Flathead Lake, 18 miles north of Polson and 15 miles south of Bigfork.

Yellow Bay State Park is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. They can be contacted at 406-751-4673.

Blue Bay Campground, 5 miles south of Yellow Bay, may also have campsites available. It is owned and managed by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai tribes. For more information, contact the SK Natural Resources department at 406-675-2700.

Are there tours of the Station? Back to Top

Self-guided tour brochures are available Monday-Friday from 8am - 5pm. Guided tours may be available on a limited basis. Please see our Tours page for more information.

Can we use the Station facilities for a meeting or a retreat? Back to Top

The Station does have facilities available for educational and research-related seminars and groups. Please see our Reservations homepage for more information.

Who can I talk to about water quality issues in the Flathead Basin, Flathead Lake shoreline protection, local flora/fauna, hanta virus, swimmer's itch, or local soil/climate/geology? Back to Top

We are happy to provide information on a variety of topics that affect local residents and visitors. Please email us with general questions. For more immediate issues, please call us at 406-982-3301 and press 0 (zero).

Other agencies to contact include:

Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribal Shoreline Protection Office- (406)-675-2700
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Headquarters -(406) 752-5501
Bigfork Chamber of Commerce -(406) 837-5888
County Health Depts - Flathead County (406) 758-5750-  Lake County-(406) 883-7288
U.S.Forest Service Kalispell Office- (406) 758-5200

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Where are you located? Do you offer transportation?

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Do I need to be accepted at the UM to enroll at the Flathead Lake Biological Station?

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What is the minimum and/or suggested course load?

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Do any of your courses have prerequisites?

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What is the application deadline? What application materials are required?

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Can I commute each day instead of staying in Station lodging?

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Do you offer health insurance?

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Can I bring my dog to the station during the summer session?

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Do you have computer facilities? Will I be able to access email and the internet?

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What personal items should I pack for the summer session?

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What is my address while staying at the Station?

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Where is the nearest grocery store\ATM\convenience store?

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Is scholarship funding available?

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Can I receive a refund if I need to cancel my enrollment?

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Where can I receive answers to other questions?

Where are you located? Do you offer transportation? Back to SS ?'s

We are located on the east side of Flathead Lake off of Highway 35 at Yellow Bay, approximately halfway between Bigfork and Polson. Many students drive their own vehicles to the Station. If you want riders or if you need a ride, contact the Bio Station for names of other students in your area or along your travel route. Airline service is available to Kalispell (Glacier Park International Airport) or Missoula (Missoula International Airport). Also, there is a bus from Missoula to Polson.

For all other students: You may call Kalispell Taxi & Airport Shuttle (406) 752-4022) for transportation from Kalispell to the Flathead Lake Biological Station (approx. cost $65.00).   

Do I need to be accepted at The University of Montana to enroll at the Flathead Lake Biological Station? Back to SS ?'s

What is the minimum and/or suggested course load? Back to SS ?'s

Students are required to enroll for a minimum of 3 credits. As with most universities, enrolling for a full load will give you the best return per tuition dollar. However, we will work with you to tailor a session for your specific needs. You may want just one 2-week or 4-week course, or you may wish to pursue some special problems work with one of our outstanding professors in lieu of the formal courses. Numerous enrollment options are available throughout the 8-week session.

Do any of your courses have prerequisites? Back to SS ?'s

Please do not enroll in any of these courses if you have not had introductory college-level biology, ecology, chemistry or equivalents. Without these elementary prerequisites, you will have difficulty with FLBS courses.

What is the application deadline? What application materials are required? Back to SS ?'s

Deadlines 

Scholarship information, registration and application information, and room & board application and deposit due dates all vary from year to year. For more information, visit the current Summer Session pages for specific information.

Required Application Materials

Bio Station Online Application or Downloadable Application
$100 Deposit (check, money order, or credit card)
Official or Unofficial Transcripts for Non-UM Students

Can I commute each day instead of staying in Station lodging? Back to SS ?'s

Living on the Station grounds is required to allow full-time interaction between students, instructors and the world-class research program at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. A number of meal plans are available to meet student course needs.

Do you offer health insurance? Back to SS ?'s

Can I bring my dog or pet to the station during the summer session? Back to SS ?'s

Do you have computer facilities? Will I be able to access email and the internet?

Back to SS ?'s

A computer lab is available for student use. Access to the internet is available from this computer lab. Students are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptop computers, as the lab computers are always in high demand.

Email accounts are not issued to FLBS summer session students. Those students actively enrolled through The University of Montana can continue to use their existing email account. Note that these accounts are not managed by FLBS.

Without a University mail account, students wishing to send and receive email must have an internet account through their own ISP (Internet Service Provider) or an account on a web-based email service such as Hotmail or Yahoo!. Those students wishing to check email through an ISP are encouraged to check with their ISP to obtain the proper web address and logon identification.

What personal items should I pack for the summer session? Back to SS ?'s

Students and staff need to bring the following items. Printable list(-PDF 13kB) or (MS Word- 26kB)

___phone card for long-distance calls
___blankets
___bed linens (sheets, pillows, etc.)
___towels
___toiletry articles
___proper clothing
___poncho or other raingear
___hiking boots (not too stiff)
___sleeping bag
___hot/cold mug
___lunch pack-up container (small, divided Rubbermaid container recommended)
___flashlight and batteries
___alarm clock
___sunglasses and sunscreen
___daypack and backpack
___mess kit for field trips and weekends(plates, cups, storage container and eating utensils)
___camera with film, or digital camera and CD-R's (to store digital images)
___laptop computer with ethernet network port is useful, but optional
___prepaid phone card

What is my address while staying at the Station? Back to SS ?'s

Where is the nearest grocery store\ATM\convenience store? Back to SS ?'s

The nearest convenience store and ATM is 8 miles north, in Wood's Bay. The nearest grocery store and bank are located 15 miles north in Bigfork. Traveler’s checks are an added convenience for the duration of your stay.

Is scholarship funding available? Back to SS ?'s

Yes. Numerous scholarship are available, and qualified students are strongly encouraged to apply. See the scholarship page for details and requirements.

Can I receive a refund if I need to cancel my enrollment? Back to SS ?'s

Cancellations received in writing before the cancellation date will result in a refund, less a $50 processing fee. Please see our Summer Session Homepage for more details on this year's cancellation date and requirements.

Where can I receive answers to other questions? Back to SS ?'s