Montana Natural History Center | Montana Natural History Center

Give the Gift of Nature!

“If we are to preserve our natural world, the next generation of leaders must be inspired and involved.”

~Jackie Wedell, Master Naturalist & MNHC Volunteer

Check out our FREE online educational resources!

Let us help you stay entertained and educated during this time of physical distancing for social solidarity. We’ve put together a great collection of educational resources to keep you curious, learning, and connecting with nature.

Find them here!

Watch our five-part webinar series: The Age of the Coronapocene

Our panel of experts answers some of the big questions: What are viruses? Where did COVID-19 come from? Why is social distancing so important? What does the science tell us?

Webinar recordings available here!

Join the Montana Natural History Center

Become a member today!

Upcoming Events

Check out the great programs coming up at MNHC!

Come visit us!

Check out our exhibits, Naturalist Lab, Nature Adventure Playground, and more!

Visiting Naturalist in the Schools

70 classrooms, 1700 students. Learn more about our keystone program.

Montana Master Naturalist Course

Become a certified Master Naturalist!

Check Out Our Free Online Educational Resources!

The Age of the Coronapocene

Watch all five webinar recordings here.

Science Shorts on YouTube

Check out our educational science videos!

Museum Field Trips

Bring your class or community group to MNHC for a guided program.

Give the Gift of Nature: Donate to MNHC!

Why give to MNHC? Here are a few stories from 2020.

Field Notes from the Montana Natural History Center

A collection of 134 Field Notes in a beautiful book. Order here!

MNHC offers free admission for EBT card holders!

Join a global movement and another way to support MNHC.

Subscribe to Our Virtual ID Naturalist Program!

Volunteer at the Montana Natural History Center!

Field Notes on Montana Public Radio

Listen and learn about Montana’s flora, fauna, geology, ecology, and more.

Naturalist Blog

Get tips and tricks for outdoor explorations, learn about Montana’s flora and fauna, and read about fun happenings at MNHC!

MNHC is a member of the ASTC!

Check out all the museums and science centers you can visit for FREE with your MNHC membership!

Montana Naturalist Magazine

Check out our Annual Report! (It's really pretty.) (And informative.)

Follow us on Facebook!

Teacher Benefits Program

A FREE program for K-12 educators.

mtnaturalhistorycenter

February’s Saunter with a Naturalist through Pat

February’s Saunter with a Naturalist through Pattee Canyon was a delight! We spent most of the saunter enjoying the lovely weather and investigating plants in winter, particularly how to tell different shrubs apart when all you have to go on is bare branches and a few dried leaves or berries.

For March’s Saunters we are going to focus on looking for signs of early spring at Bancroft Pond. Register to join in the bio.

Thanks @juliegardnerproperties for your support of our nature education programs!

#missoulamontana #missoulaevents #naturewalk #explorenature

Is your family looking for an outdoor adventure du

Is your family looking for an outdoor adventure during spring break? Join us to explore the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden on Tuesday, March 16 and/or Thursday, March 18 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a FREE, socially distanced program designed for elementary-aged students and their families. ⠀
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Each day we’ll have three naturalist-themed trails set up for your family to enjoy at your own pace to help you explore the natural world! Masks are required for all participants, and please feel free to bring your own binoculars, naturalist journal, and curiosity as we observe the natural world around us!⠀
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This program is free but registration is required-link in bio.⠀
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Thanks @windfall.inc for your support of our nature education programs!

It's always great to get mail! This bundle came fr

It's always great to get mail! This bundle came from Pablo Elementary as part of their February Visiting Naturalist in the Schools, "Creating Your Own Field Guide" lesson. We look forward to getting back into VNS classrooms in person but in the meantime, receiving lessons with a beautifully decorated envelope fills our bucket!

Thanks PartnersCreative for supporting our nature education programs!

Tune in to Field Notes on Montana Public Radio TOD

Tune in to Field Notes on Montana Public Radio TODAY at 4:54pm to hear a gorgeous Salish coyote story read in Salish and English by Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe member Aspen Decker. Coyote stories teach ancestral ways of knowing and how things came to be. They are only told in the winter months, so this is a rare opportunity to hear the tale of why there are no salmon in the river near Lolo, Montana. Link in bio or tune your radio to MTPR!⠀
Art by Aspen Decker.

Today is the priority deadline for MNHC summer cam

Today is the priority deadline for MNHC summer camp scholarships. The Montana Natural History Center is able to provide a limited number of need-based scholarships for our summer camps thanks to generous local businesses and individual donors. Could your family or someone you know benefit from this amazing opportunity to#getkidsoutside this summer? Please spread the word and apply! More information at the link in our bio.⠀
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#missoulamontana #missoulasummercamp #kidsoutsidearehappy

There are still spots available in our Saunters wi

There are still spots available in our Saunters with a Naturalist on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. or Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Bring your curiosity and your own naturalist knowledge and join MNHC Naturalist Ser Anderson on a naturalist saunter. We will focus on exploring the changing seasons, making observations, following our curiosity, and learning from each other. Whether you are an experienced naturalist or just starting out, this walk is for you. Everyone has something to learn and knowledge to share.⠀
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Registration link in bio.⠀
#missoulaevents #missoulamontana #patteecanyon #naturehike #explorenature #winterexploration

Reposted from @jenahmead Today in the nature jour

Reposted from @jenahmead
Today in the nature journaling class I’m teaching at @mtnaturalhistorycenter , Carolyn from @missoulabutterflyhouse stopped by so we could journal about my favorite Coleoptera critters in the whole world: Blue Death Feigning Beetles! Swipe to the end to see my “field sketch.” #naturejournal #naturejournaling #creativejournaling #journaling #coleoptera #beetleart #bluedeathfeigningbeetle #illustration #moleskine #watercolor #fieldjournal #natureillustration #natureart #sketchbook

MNHC’s Stories in Place class has wrapped up. We

MNHC’s Stories in Place class has wrapped up. We had so much fun exploring phenomenology together-stories of place and the ways people use place to make meaning. Thanks to our instructor Angela Mallon Wells and everyone who participated!

MNHC offers a limited amount of need-based scholar

MNHC offers a limited amount of need-based scholarships for our summer camp program—and NOW is the time to apply!

The scholarship application priority deadline is
February 19, 2021.

Camp registration opens at 7am on March 8th, and the programs will fill up fast! If your family is in need of a scholarship, you can apply now and have your scholarship and registration pre-approved. Visit our website linked in the bio-scroll down past the summer camp offerings to access our scholarship application form.

Where would we be without water? Whether it’s a

Where would we be without water? Whether it’s a river, creek, lake, or even a geyser, water is a really important part of our landscape. Tune into our final episode of Nature Notes to see all the ways that water can affect life here in Montana and learn about some of our local animals who interact with it. You’ll also get to meet some very talented musicians who show us what string instruments are all about! At the end of the video, you’ll practice building your own colorful instrument, plus you’ll see firsthand the bold effects water can have on our landscape.

Access all four episodes in our bio.

Thanks to @goblackfoot for your support of our nature education programs!

#natureiscoolool #explorenature #missoulasymphony #montananaturalhistorycenter

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