Montana Natural History Center | Montana Natural History Center

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!

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

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!

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

What a great way to kick off Thanksgiving week! Th

What a great way to kick off Thanksgiving week! This sweet thank you note is from a fourth grader whose classroom participates in our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Program. Our teaching naturalists are currently delivering lessons live via Zoom.⠀
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We are so thankful for our community and local companies like @Monida.Healthcare.Network for helping MNHC continue to reach students during this time. ⠀
#thankful #missoulamontana #connectwithnature #kidsinnaturearehappy

During these challenging times, we are grateful to

During these challenging times, we are grateful to have your support of the Montana Natural History Center. It is because of our passionate, dedicated and generous community, we are able to promote and cultivate the appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of nature through education. Save the date for #givingtuesday⠀
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Thanks to @MannMortgageUSA -Rob Fleming for your support of our mission!

We had another lovely Saunter with a Naturalist to

We had another lovely Saunter with a Naturalist today. This image shows our youngest saunterer sharing some of the cool features of snakegrass/horsetails with another attendee. It was snowing right before the attendees showed up, but 10:00 arrived with a brief, faint rainbow and a period of sun to start out the Saunter. We looked at a bunch of plants in the Native Plant Garden, got to watch a great blue heron fly overhead, and wandered down along the river for a little while. The rain held off and everyone had a great time making observations. Thanks to everyone who joined!⠀
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And thanks to Langel & Associates for helping us connect more people with nature! ⠀
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#naturalistmoment #fortmissoula #nativeplantgarden #naturewalk #discovernature

We had so much fun connecting with military famili

We had so much fun connecting with military families across the country last weekend during our Naturalist Family Zoom Weekend through the Operation Purple(R) Program. Thanks to everyone who participated!⠀
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We just had to share one of the nature journal pages one of the participants sent us. Thanks Zoey!⠀
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And thanks to @rockymountainentcenter for helping us connect more people to nature!⠀
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#naturejournal #connectkidswithnature #operationpurple

Nature writers from Wisconsin, New York, Tennessee

Nature writers from Wisconsin, New York, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington - and, oh yes, Montana, too - completed our six-week virtual Field Notes Writing Workshop this week. The celebratory last class gave each writer the chance to read aloud the lovely Field Note they'd researched, written, workshopped, and revised over the past month and a half. ⠀
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Join us for the next Field Notes workshop in January! Learn more and register at the link in our bio.⠀
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#naturewriting #writingworkshop #missoulamontana @mnhc #connectwithnature

Bloopers make everything better!! The Montana Natu

Bloopers make everything better!! The Montana Natural History Center teaching naturalist team is getting out of their comfort zones to share their enthusiasm and love of nature with their students in video form and they are KILLING IT in the best possible way! Watch the blooper reel at the link in our bio and remember to keep exploring, keep observing and keep wondering!⠀
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Thanks @jenahmead for creating this fun compilation! ⠀
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#getkidsoutside⠀
#explorenature⠀
#naturalistmoment⠀
#mnhc⠀
#bloopers⠀
#missoulamontana

Join us in sending HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes to MNHC's

Join us in sending HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes to MNHC's Development Director, Mark Schleicher! Cheers to a great year ahead!

We were so excited when @playnetworkmissoula asked

We were so excited when @playnetworkmissoula asked if they could set up a temporary StoryWalk in our Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden. The book they chose to display was Mushroom in the Rain by Mira Ginsburg.

The display was only up for two days last week but we hope we can collaborate on more great activities like this!

#connectwithnature
#getkidsoutside
#montanakidsplayoutside
#storywalkwithplaymissoula

MNHC Naturalist Ser Anderson has been leading "Sau

MNHC Naturalist Ser Anderson has been leading "Saunter with a Naturalist" this fall. The group was treated to a muskrat sighting during yesterday's saunter. Join us for the last saunter of the year, next Thursday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m. Register at the link in our bio.⠀
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Thanks to @windfall.inc for helping us connect more people with nature! #discovernature #explorenature #naturalistmoment #getoutside

Just released! Episode 2 explores some of Montana’s largest residents: mammals! We’ll explore connections between these furry creatures and brass instruments in an orchestra. You’ll learn how different brass instruments make their unique sound, and figure out why Montana mammals use interesting sounds of their own to communicate. In the accompanying activities you’ll build your own musical instrument and explore the natural world through mapping its sounds.⠀
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Access Episodes 1 and 2 in our bio.⠀
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Thanks to our sponsor @Goblackfoot

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Upcoming Events

Thu 26

Closed for Thanksgiving

November 26 @ 8:00 am - November 27 @ 5:00 pm