Using our natural history exhibits, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, MNHC naturalists provide a guided program for your group.
To schedule your visit fill out our online form.
Museum field trips for all ages take place year-round at the Montana Natural History Center. We schedule programs Monday – Friday between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. based on naturalist availability. Please contact us well in advance to secure your date and time!
Please note: Due to MNHC Summer Camps, we cannot accommodate center visits between June 9th – Aug 22nd, 2025. If you would like to have a naturalist come to your location to run a program, please fill out that form here.
Fees:
The following prices include admission to the museum for all students in the group as well as for teachers and chaperones. For the best educational experience, we ask that groups larger than 30 be split into smaller sections. If our fee structure presents a problem for you and your school, please contact us. We are happy to work with you as much as we can to provide access to your students.
- Up to 10 students: $75 per group
- 11-20 students: $100 per group
- 21-30 students: $125 per group
Join MNHC’s Teacher Benefits Program for discounts on Field Trips and more!
Do any classes in your school participate in our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Program? If so, your school is eligible for a 20% off discount! Please reach out to Hope at hensminger@montananaturalist.org or 406.327.0405 for more details.
Choose from the following hands-on lessons:
- Skull Detectives (recommended 1st-5th): Students play detectives as they learn about the characteristics that make up different animal skulls and sleuth the identity of skull specimens.
- Seed Dispersal: Engineering Challenge (recommended 1st-5th): In this activity, students will observe types of seeds, explore why so many plants put their seeds inside a container, and engineer their own seed container to meet a specific habitat.
- Animals in Winter (recommended Pre-K-2nd): In this lesson, we will discuss how animals in Montana adapt to winter conditions by migrating, hibernating, or tolerating the changes outside.
- Fossil Frenzy (recommended 3rd-5th): Students will handle real fossils and be challenged to understand how they can be used to understand past life on earth.
- The Letter B (recommended Pre-K): Kiddos will explore the museum with the theme of the letter B! Explore bison, beavers, birds, and bears through specimens, stories, and crafts.
- Canimals (recommended 3rd grade and up): Using hot water and tin cnas, students explore the effects of animal body size on the thermoregulation using the scientific method.
- Fill the Bill (recommended for all ages): Students will conduct an experiment to model how effective different bird beak shapes are at eating various types of food.
All of these topics (excluding Fossil Frenzy and The Letter B), as well as custom naturalist experiences such as guided nature walks, can also take place at a location of your choosing through our Traveling Naturalist program.
Schools are responsible for their own transportation and must be accompanied by at least one teacher from school. We request at least one chaperone for every eight students. Chaperone admission is included in the program cost. MNHC reserves the right to cancel or shorten any Museum Field Trip if the group arrives late. Museum Field Trips should be booked at least three weeks in advance to ensure an open date.
Fill out our Museum Field Trip Request online form, or, to learn more, call 406.327.0405.
