Date: Thursday, July 30th
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History center
Cost: Free and open to the public

Join us for an MNHC Open House and Membership Drive! Come and experience a sampling of the incredible programs and nature educators that have defined the Montana Natural History Center for over three decades. We’re hosting micro programs throughout the evening where guests can choose from bird sounds trivia, rock painting and rockhounding, native plant education, taxidermy talk, and so much more! Enjoy printmaking with artist David Miles Lusk from Anomal Press. And be sure to bring in your gems and rocks and try and stump geologist Bruce Baty! The UM’s own Monte will be there to help teach us a little more about Montana’s bears!

There’s a little something for all interests and all ages. See program details below!

In addition, as we celebrate 35 years of nature education in western Montana, we’ll be unveiling our new display that honors these last three+ decades and invites our community to see themselves in the next great chapter of MNHC.

This Open House coincides with our Membership Drive. Our goal is to double our current membership. Come and check out MNHC and get to know more about our quality programming and membership benefits that include free admission to over 300 science and natural centers across the nation, including Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman and Exploration Works in Helena.

Ice cream and light refreshments included!

We can’t wait to host you on July 30th at this special community event.

ALL programs are FREE (unless noted) and open to the public. Here is a little bit of what we have in store!

Printmaking with David Lusk! Bring in a T-shirt, tea towel, or any piece of fabric you’d like, for printmaking with local Montana artist David Miles Lusk of Anomal Press. We’ll have all the supplies you need, just bring your fabric item and David will print it for you. While you’re here, take a look at MNHC’s gallery that currently features a collection of David’s work inspired by nature! Cost is $20 per pull, paid to Anomal Press.

Rock Painting and Garden Stepping Stones! Great activities for kids and kids-at-heart, educators Nora Christy and Erin Vielbig invite you to transform rocks into garden creatures, and build stepping stones inspired by some of our favorite pollinators and native plants. Nora and Erin are two of our incredible Teaching Naturalists in our VNS program, working with 4th- and 5th-graders throughout classrooms in western Montana. BEE ready for fun!

Bear Aware with the Griz’s Monte! Get up-close with bear claws, skulls, and scat?! and learn more about responsible cohabiting with bears in Montana, including a bear spray demonstration. Naturalist and wildlife biology student Elisa Spencer leads this program and is ready to share her years of bear work as a zookeeper and her undergrad research with grizzly skulls. Plus, the U of M’s Monte has a few (literal) tricks up his sleeve to make bear education extra memorable!

MONTANA ROCKS! Gems, minerals, and rocks – oh my! Bring in some of your favorite rocky treasures and geologist Bruce Baty will tell you a little more about the natural history of your crystals, minerals, and more. With almost six decades of geology studies under his belt (or belt-rock, if you will) if you can stump Bruce, you’ll receive a special prize!

CHIRP! TWEET! Do you hear that? Test your knowledge of bird calls and songs with Teaching Naturalist and birder Ryan Mahar. In addition to teaching 4th- and 5th-graders in our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools program, Ryan often leads our birding programs for our Master Naturalist Certification Course and hosts our Naturalist Trivia nights. He loves a good game, especially one that invites you to learn how to recognize patterns and rhythms in bird vocalizations that you can take with you on the trail!

Are You a Rockhound? Find a rock! Family fun! Practice a little bit of rockhounding and learn the difference between a rock a mineral. Educator and MNHC’s Community Programs Coordinator Christine Morris leads this fun activity that includes the chance to learn more about the incredible complexity of the rocks we walk upon every day! AND you get to take home a treasure all you own!

Talking Taxidermy! While taxidermy can’t talk, they do have a story to tell! Larry DePute will share the history of some of our most storied and unusual taxidermy at the museum, and provide insight into this unique art form and education tool! You’ll also have the chance to learn more about specimens in our collections that aren’t always available to the everyday public!