College can be intense – after a year full of deadlines and interminable school assignments, you should be spending some quality time doing what you like during summer break. There are many options and ideas you could occupy your mind and day with – these ideas might actually benefit you in the long run. But the most important thing is, you should be able to relax. In this article we will discuss some of the activities that might be of interest to you; however, these activities should only be considered after you have taken enough time to ground yourself and relax after such a tough year. Here are some of the options that we came up with.

Travel!
One of the coolest activities that you can do during summer break is travel! I cannot even tell you how much traveling can change your perspectives, broaden them, and enrich your life overall. I know that this might sound like you need a serious budget, but that myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Traveling can be done on a tight budget if you can divide your expenses right. Here are some tips on how you could travel as a student:

Buy your tickets ahead of time. Do not wait until the last minute to book them. This is important! The more you wait, the more expensive flight prices will get. It is important that you book them at least one month before leaving.

Choose the perfect time to travel. July is probably the worst month to do it. However, late May or early June would be a good option. This is when accommodation is cheaper (not the tourist peak of the year).

As much as you’d like to taste everything new food-wise, you had better stop yourself from doing that. Smells are free, food is expensive.

Book free tours, go on free museum walks, and learn how to ride public transportation.

There are ways in which you can make it work. Please don’t let your finances hold you back from having the best time of your life!

Applying for an internship
Another cool way to spend your summer break is by pursuing an internship. Internships are a great way to help you stay in the right mind-shape during the summer. They will teach you something new and might even help you figure out your career plans. Let’s think of an example. Maybe you are thinking about pursuing either Psychiatry or Psychology and are not sure on how to make that decision. An internship in the Psychiatric/Behavior Unit Department at your local hospital could teach you SO much. After weeks spent in a hospital setting, dealing with patients and being an active observer, you might be able to make up your mind ways easier. As I mentioned, this is just an example, but there are so many other areas this could apply to. Think about your career goals and find questions. Then, apply for internships and learn the answers.

Studying abroad
Studying abroad is the best way to combine education and travel. It could be another option for traveling abroad, especially if you have stricter parents (they might be more willing to pay for study abroad than a random Europe trip). If you decide to do this during the summer, you have to start the application process at your university as soon as you can. Also, you should be able to choose from all the countries that your college has partnerships with, so choose one that stands out to you. Don’t settle for what others might think is right for you. Choose something that you like.

Volunteering
There are so many ways in which you could become a volunteer! In the end, it only depends on your goals. You could stay at home and volunteer for one of your local organizations. This could be an amazing learning experience for you (and maybe a side of your local area that you did not know about).

The other option you have is traveling abroad to volunteer. There are many programs out there that could help you with the process. Just check a website that publishes essays on social issues 
and apply. Some of these organizations might charge serious money; however, they have various discounts for students and even scholarships you could apply for, so don’t give up on your dream! If you want to change the environment and explore new cultures, summer break is the time to do that.

Learning something new
Last but not least, learning a new skill and developing new qualities is definitely something you should be looking into. Maybe you have a strong desire to learn how to cook or maybe you just want to learn how to train dogs. Whatever your passion is, go for it, and learn something new during this summer. This could be the perfect break from your daily (school) routine. 

You could travel, study abroad, get an internship, volunteer, or learn something new to make your summer more fun! Good luck and have fun – now it’s the time!

Robert Everett is a freelancer and world traveler. He volunteers and writes books on various social issues. In his free time, Robert likes mountain climbing, hiking, and reading.

The tragic drowning of a Great Falls man who was swimming in Belt Creek near the Sluice Boxes area on Wednesday is a good reminder for swimmers, boaters, floaters and anglers to use caution in and near the water.

Water levels are higher and swifter in rivers throughout Montana due to spring runoff, and recreationists should be aware of extra risks that come with high flows. These conditions can change rapidly, creating new and hidden hazards for boaters. Water temperatures are also especially cold this time of year, which increases the risk of hypothermia.

Even if you’re on shore, keep water safety and rescue equipment with you, including life jackets, floatation devices and throw ropes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that “every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.”

Here are some tips to keep you safe when you’re on the water:

• Using the proper size and type of life jacket is crucial for all swimmers to be safe while recreating. To properly fit a life jacket, hold your arms straight up over your head and ask a friend to grasp the tops of the arm openings and gently pull up. Make sure there is no excess room above the openings and that the jacket does not ride up over your chin or face.
• Make sure an adult is constantly watching children swimming or playing in or around the water. Have children playing near water wear life jackets as there may be steep drop-offs you are unaware of.
• Don't consider your children to be “drown-proof” because you enrolled them in swimming class. A child who falls into water unexpectedly may panic and forget learned swimming skills.
• Always swim with a buddy. Never swim alone or unsupervised.
• Know the local weather conditions and forecast before swimming or boating. Strong winds and thunderstorms with lightning strikes are dangerous to swimmers and boaters.
• Don’t use air-filled or foam toys, such as water-wings, noodles, or inner-tubes, in place of life jackets. These are toys and are not designed to keep a swimmer safe. 
• When boating, children under 12 years of age must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, but it is recommended that everyone on the boat wears a life jacket.  
• Jumping from cliffs or bridges is dangerous because of shallow water, submerged rocks, trees, or other hazards. Never dive head-first into water.
• Never drink alcohol before or while swimming or boating. Never drink alcohol while supervising children.

Fish & Wildlife Commission to meet June 12

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission will meet June 12 to discuss the Madison River Recreation Management Environmental Assessment. The meeting will be conducted using the video conferencing platform Zoom. Details on how to access the meeting will be posted on fwp.mt.gov closer to the meeting date. The meeting will also be audio streamed online at fwp.mt.gov. The meeting begins at 9 a.m.

Commissioners will decide whether or not to release the EA for public comment.

To read the EA, go to https://bit.ly/2Y3X8pQ.

FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with special needs. To request arrangements, call FWP at 406-444-3186.

For the full agenda and background on the scheduled topics, go to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov; under “Quick Links” click “Commission.”

FWP's website offers live streamed audio of each Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting.

Not all snakes are dangerous, but you will most likely not be able to tell the difference between a harmless one and a poisonous one. Since your safety is paramount, you must do all you can to keep snakes out at all costs. Here are seven effective ways of preventing snakes from entering your home.
 
1. DIY Snake Repellent
 
The use of snake repellents is one of the most effective ways of keeping snakes away from your property. There are various snake repellent chemicals in the market that you can buy. When using snake repellents, you need to be very careful, especially if you have kids and pets, because some of them can be fatal to kids and pets.

 
Other substances at home that might work for repelling snakes include garlic and onions, ammonia, vinegar, lime, and pepper. You can also spray ammonia around your property or soak rags in ammonia and leave them about your property.
 
If you want to try kitchen solutions, you can burn onion and garlic at certain spots around your property to keep snakes away.
 
2. Call for Pest Control Services
 
Using homemade solutions is one thing, but if you notice that the snake-trouble is beyond what you can handle, then it’s time to contact a snake removal service provider in your area.
 
It is advisable to get a professional snake removal service if they are already on your property. They will remove the snake in the most humane way possible and release it back to the wild or take to an animal.  
 
You can also request for a professional fumigation service to fumigate your entire property to drive the snakes out and repel them enough to make them stay away. Click here to contact Snake Removal Nationwide service.
 
 
3. Seal Damp and Cool Crawl Space Within Your Property
 
Snakes love cool, damp, and dim-lit places; it is their perfect definition of home sweet home. This is why cool and damp crawling spaces within your home should be a no-no. Areas like your basement, house foundation, tree houses are places snakes can easily creep into and take up as a home.
 
You should check your home’s exteriors and interiors for cracks and holes that could allow snakes entry and also harbor them. Repair such areas and also seal off holes and gaps within/under your doors and windows.
 
Eliminating their shelter would deter snakes from entering and taking up residence within your home.
 
4. Clear Clutter from Your Yard
 
If you have clutter in your yard, just know that that’s an easy hideout for snakes. This is why you have to keep your yard tidy always. You need to clear out woodpiles, useless old items, scrap metals, construction debris, compost heap, and other things that form clutter around your property.
 
Useful items such as wooden boxes, old toys, and the likes should be put into storage. If they are not well-stored, they can easily harbor snakes, thereby putting you and your family at risk.
 
5. Erect Snake-proof Fences
 
It is not enough to have regular fences around your property; snakes can slither through or climb regular fences. That is why you need to erect a snake-proof fence to prevent snakes from entering your property.
 
You should erect a fence made of steel mesh and catch net or rubber sheet. This combination would keep out the snakes compared to the typical hole-filled fences.
 
Ensure that the fence is deeply anchored into the ground with no open spaces below the fence. The fence should also be high up to at least 3 feet. To make it difficult for snakes to slither over the fence, you can put things like pine cones, gravel, eggshells, over and around the fence to bar the snake from climbing it.

 
6. Eliminate Snake Food Source
 
If you genuinely want to keep snakes out of your property, then you need to eliminate their food sources. This is because snakes move around mostly to find food and shelter. Once they find your property as a conducive environment due to the availability of food and shelter, they would likely remain there.

 
To avoid this, ensure that food plates for kids and pets are not lying out in the open. Garbage cans should be appropriately sealed to prevent snakes from slithering in to find food.
 
Also, if you are in an area where rodents are present, you need to find a way to keep the rodents out as well. This is because rodents are one of the major sources of food for snakes. If the snakes perceive the likes of mice, frogs, rabbits, and closer to your abode, they might come around.
 
In the event that you find a snake in your property, don’t try to kill the snake, if you are not in any immediate danger. Instead, call for professional help to remove the snake and also check other areas of your property to see if there are more.
 
7. Get a Dog
 
Finally, you can get a dog, if you already don’t have to help you keep snakes out of your property. Dogs are natural predators for reptiles and rodents. Their natural sensitivity will help them sniff out snakes to get rid of them. Most times, their bark would be enough to scare away snakes.
 
Snakes are wild animals that can be dangerous to you and your family’s health. To keep your property safe and snake-free, you should try sealing damp places, and other likely shelters for snakes around your property, using snake repellent and following the other recommendations in this article.

Child Care Connection’s Coloring Contest is wrapping up! Five finalists from the Bozeman and Helena area respectively will be chosen and YOU can vote for your favorite online. Voting starts June 8th and closes June 12th. Your favorite little artist needs you! And guess what? There are prizes for adults too! Parents and art lovers alike can take part in a Blind Auction starting June 8th as well! Auction items have been generously donated by your favorite local businesses. Now, everyone’s a winner!

Keep an eye on Child Care Connections’ website and social media for links and details—that’s cccmontana.org!

After a person’s death, the matter of dividing up their personal belongings can become a complicated matter. According to Montana State University Extension, the Montana Uniform Probate Code allows a person to create a separate list in his or her will that specifies the distribution of personal belongings such as jewelry, china, firearms, photos and more.  

“The list cannot include cash, stocks and bonds, mutual funds, other intangible personal property, or real estate, because those items have titles,” said Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist. “The list is not a part of the will but separate from it. The list must identify both items and the persons to receive them with reasonable certainty.”

The list may be prepared before or after writing a will. It can be handwritten or typed and must be signed and dated. As new possessions are acquired, individuals can update the list, which should be kept with the will so the personal representative can distribute items to intended recipients.

Pondera County Extension agent Wendy Wedum suggested individuals who are ready to part with some items share them with family members before death. She also suggests talking to relatives and find out which items hold special memories for them.

“Transferring personal property can be a time to celebrate your life, share memories and stories, and continue traditions and family history,” Wedum said. “Sharing stories about special objects helps your family members understand their past, discover another aspect of their family and appreciate the real accomplishments of their ancestors.”

Wedum and Goetting added that individuals should keep in mind the sentimental value of belongings may be different depending on the recipient’s age. For instance, a grandfather’s journal may not appeal to his young grandchild but might be treasured by his daughter or granddaughter in her 40s.

For more information about the separate listing of tangible personal property, request the MSU Extension MontGuide “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate” at https://store.msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT199701HR.pdf. For those who do not have computer access, copies are available from county Extension or reservation offices.

The day after his feature-length documentary “Rewind” debuted before 280 million households, with a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and rave reviews from The New York Times, Montana State University film graduate Sasha Joseph Neulinger went fishing.

“This is the first day, the beginning of the next chapter for me, where child sexual abuse isn’t at the primary focus of my existence,” said Neulinger, who was headed out to a rural Montana stream near his home rather than hopping on 34 airplanes for a six-week, 12-city speaker’s tour advocating for children’s victim rights.

Neulinger, 30, has worked for seven years, since he graduated from the MSU School of Film and Photography, to bring his story of surviving childhood sexual abuse to life.

He also directed the film, which Esquire magazine called one of the best films of 2020 and a Rogerebert.com review predicted “will have a transformative impact on countless lives.” But “Rewind” is not for children. The film details Neulinger’s own harrowing story of sexual abuse and the angels, as well as the monsters, of his childhood.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic ended a speaking tour that was to build on the debut, Neulinger’s phone has been ringing off the hook since the film aired on Independent Lens nationally a few weeks ago. “Rewind” is available to view for free until June 10 on the national PBS Independent Lens website and is also available on several video on demand sites.

And while nearly all the film revisits his childhood growing up in suburban Philadelphia, the documentary, as well as its creator, came to maturity in Montana, Neulinger said.

“It is kind of incredible how supportive the MSU filmmaking community has been,” Neulinger said. “(The film) was a big MSU rally, is what basically happened. It is special that a film that is this personal and timely, and that has received so much praise internationally, was made here in Montana.”

Neulinger has literally grown up with a camera. Early scenes in the documentary begin moments after he was born. His father, Henry Nevison, now a historical documentarian, arrived a bit late to the hospital because he was purchasing a video camera to film the occasion. From that moment, Neulinger’s life unspools in home movies, beginning with scenes of a radiant little boy with bright, chocolate-drop eyes.

But young Sasha changes. He becomes aggressive, angry, then clearly troubled. He is referred to a therapist, and as the film progresses, viewers see a family pattern of sexual abuse. His father tells viewers that he knew his son’s claims of abuse were true because he had gone through similar abuse when he was a child, a secret he had kept.

Beginning when he was 8, Neulinger’s abusers were prosecuted. The attorneys for his most vicious abuser, an acclaimed cantor in one of Manhattan’s wealthiest synagogues, prolonged the case long enough to bargain a plea to five misdemeanor charges, the least amount of punishment of any of the three accused. Two other abusers confessed. Neulinger was 17 when the court proceedings ended.

Neulinger survives somehow. He officially changes his name (from Alex Nevison) to honor the resiliency and support of his maternal great-grandfather and as a way of claiming redemption from his abusers. Another escape was nature, he recalls now, especially trout fishing, which is how he came to MSU.

“I was looking at film schools in bigger cities, but when I landed on the MSU website and saw the campus surrounded by mountains, it spoke to me,” Neulinger said. He and his mother visited campus, and the late Paul Monaco, then director of MSU’s film program, met with them.

"Rewind," a feature-length documentary about Sasha Joseph Neulinger's personal journey of surviving childhood sexual abuse, made its debut recently on PBS' Independent Lens to rave reviews from several national publications. Neulinger began work on the film shortly after graduating from MSU with a degree in film seven years ago. Much of the production crew have MSU connections. Photo courtesy Neulinger.

“I had a profound connection with him,” Neulinger said. “I remember he told me that what is special about the MSU program is that you can get out of it as much as you are willing to put into it, and we will support you in doing that. MSU was such a positive experience that Montana quickly became my home.”

Neulinger said he was near graduation when he began rethinking his past.

“I still had that self-deprecating voice from unresolved issues from my childhood, and I thought there might be some answers in our home videos,” he said.

“To my surprise, my dad had more than 200 hours of home video dating back to the early 1990s,” which Neulinger retrieved and brought to Bozeman. “I basically logged the first six tapes in (an MSU editing bay). I quickly realized that this was going to be a film.”

Even though he did not have much money, Neulinger did have support from fellow MSU film grads and friends Robert Schneeweis and Jeff Dougherty. They shot a pitch reel, which Neulinger showed to Tom Winston, whom Neulinger met during his internship at Big Sky Youth Empowerment, where Winston served on the board. Winston is a graduate of MSU’s master’s program in Science and Natural History Filmmaking and is the award-winning founder and CEO of Grizzly Creek Films in Bozeman. “We had this MSU connection,” Neulinger said.

Winston said a story in New York magazine about Neulinger’s case revealed the depth and complexity of the story. Long known for award-winning wildlife and conservation filmmaking, Winston offered to team up with Neulinger on the project.

Other MSU friends and filmmakers jumped on board, including Rick Smith and Mike Kasic. MSU graduate Scott Sterling of MontanaPBS, himself an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, served as a mentor and an adviser.

Neulinger gave a TedX Bozeman talk, organized a local crowdfunding campaign and sought private donations. Through the process he became a sought-after speaker about surviving child abuse and launched the nonprofit Voice for the Kids.

“We raised more than $176,000 for the film to continue production, and we were able to go back to Pennsylvania for a three-week shoot,” he said.

Then they ran out of funds. Neulinger feared the project might be dead until MSU film professor Dennis Aig — “another MSU connection” — introduced him to producer Cindy Meehl, who had produced “Buck” and “Unbranded,” other successful documentaries that found wider audiences.

Neulinger said Meehl came on board in about 2017 “with a plethora of experience and resources to finish this film the way we wanted to finish it.

“Cindy just believed in this project and had the connections and resources to get seen by the right people,” he said. “While a big part of making a film is the construction of an effective and compelling narrative, if you don’t have the business side, or exposure to the right people, it doesn’t matter how good your film is. So, I’m extremely grateful for Cindy and Dennis.”

Meehl’s participation enabled many benefits, including sound mixing at the famed Skywalker Studios in California. In Grizzly Creek’s Avela Grenier, they found an able editor. She wove hundreds of hours of family video with current film of Neulinger’s childhood supporters — therapists, detectives, prosecutors, family members.

Those interviews of adult Neulinger with the other principals in the story provide perspective on Neulinger’s grace and resilience as an adult. In a final powerful scene Neulinger, closes the door on the empty suburban Philadelphia courtroom where his case was heard 13 years ago. The point of view of the camera then shifts, and a resolute Neulinger is met with the embraces of his Montana friends — Schneeweis, Dougherty, Winston and Smith — a triumphant ending for the difficult story.

“Rewind” was accepted into the juried 2019 Tribeca Film Festival a little more than a year ago, resulting in positive reviews and interest by distributors.

“Ultimately, we chose Independent Lens and PBS so the film could be seen by as many people as possible while being commercial free,” Neulinger said. They also contracted with Film Rise for video on demand rights. The film can be streamed on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and Microsoft Movies for the next 15 years. Neulinger hopes it will be an important resource of understanding and inspiration for generations of people dealing with abuse.

Sterling of MontanaPBS that he was thrilled when the production team for Rewind chose PBS as their distribution platform to enable the broadest audience.

“I believe they could have sold this film to a big money cable network, but, by going with PBS, this film is now available for free to millions of people that don’t have the luxury of those subscriptions, and likely those who need to see it most,” Sterling said.

For the time being, Neulinger is back home in Montana, fishing, building a house with his wife, training a new rescue puppy, and playing hockey in Bozeman. He said all are keys to his newfound balance as he contemplates his next project.

“I’m extremely proud of this film and what our team was able to accomplish here in Montana,” Neulinger said. “I’m really honored that we have received honors from critics and audiences, but the biggest reward is I have a better relationship with my family now. And I have a much healthier relationship with myself. I am at peace with myself. And that is worth more to me than any positive review or reward.”

After closing its doors in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Museum of the Rockies announced it will begin a phased reopening this month. Starting June 3, the museum will be open to the general public, however members will be able to enter May 28.

The museum’s hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The museum store and exhibition halls will be open, including its feature exhibit “Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly,” which showcases 19 different reptile species housed in naturalistic habitats.

Entry numbers are limited during the reopening. Admission rates will be discounted, and two-day admission has been suspended. Members and the public are asked to make reservations before visiting at sales.museumoftherockies.org. If availability allows, walk-in members and visitors will be admitted.

For the continued safety of the museum’s members, visitors, volunteers and staff, patrons will be required to wear face masks or coverings, maintain 6 feet of physical distancing and utilize the numerous sanitation stations throughout the building.

“The museum is grateful for your cooperation and understanding,” said Alicia Harvey, director of marketing for the Museum of the Rockies. “Your support for the Museum of the Rockies is essential to continuing world-renowned research and collections, vital education outreach programs, and the rich and varied exhibitions.”

For more information about the museum’s new visitation policies, visit museumoftherockies.org/visit.