State of the Elk with Hellgate Hunters and Anglers
2026-08-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, August 26th
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free, and open to the public
Join MNHC, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for an update about our area’s elk populations. Learn about local elk trends straight from the Montana FWP biologists. This is a great time to get your questions answered before hunting season.
Light refreshments provided.

Adult Bug Hunting & Happy Hour
2026-09-04 17:00 - 19:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, September 4th
Time: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $15 MNHC members/$20 non-members
Who says kids should have all the fun? Grab a sweep net, dust off your sense of adventure, and join us for an evening of bug hunting at the Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula!
REGISTER HERE!
We’ll spend two hours exploring the garden, catching insects, and using field guides to identify our finds before releasing them back where they belong. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or someone who’s simply curious about the tiny creatures living all around us, this is your chance to slow down, look closely, and rediscover the joy of exploring nature.
Bring your favorite beverage (BYOB) to enjoy while you wander! The program begins at 5:00 p.m. and all insect-hunting equipment will be provided.
FAQs
What’s the refund policy?
The course fee (minus a 25% administrative fee) is refundable if a cancellation is made up to 7 days before the event. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline. See our full refund/cancellation policy here.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Nope! We will have a list of all the attendees.

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1
2026-09-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-10-13 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-11-10 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-12-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-01-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-02-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-03-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-04-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual Zoom Classroom
Date: Monthly, on the second Tuesday of the month
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location/Platform: Virtual Zoom Classroom
The only thing better than reading a fascinating natural history book (and there are so many of them!) is getting to discuss it with a wonderful group of like-minded people. We can help you do that! Join one of our free naturalist book clubs, where you can read and discuss a great new book each month, enjoying various perspectives and insights, all from the comfort of your own home. (Cozy pjs are perfectly acceptable attire.)
Your hosts are Master Naturalist Suzanne Hendrich and Deborah Drain.
You will need a computer that can access the internet and Zoom platform in order to participate.
There are some spaces available in this book club. Contact cmorris (at) montananaturalist.org to sign up.
Group is limited to 10 participants.

Botanical Imprints: Creating Clay Vessels
2026-09-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, September 9th
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $40 MNHC members/$45 non-members
Join us for a relaxing fall evening of nature and creativity.
REGISTER HERE
In this botanically inspired workshop, you’ll craft your own custom clay vessel—whether it’s a bowl, plate, cup, or vase—using simple hand-building techniques. Ceramics artist Donna Flannery will guide you through the process and help you achieve your vision.
We’ll use plants gathered from MNHC’s vibrant native plant gardens to imprint intricate botanical designs right into the clay, capturing the beauty of fall foliage forever.
Naturalists will be on hand to help identify the plants you choose.
Note: Finished pieces will be fired, glazed, and ready for pickup two weeks after the workshop.
Enjoy sparkling water and light snacks as you work!
Instructor: Teaching Artist Donna Flanery lives and works in Missoula MT. She has an MFA from The University of Florida and BFA from The University of Montana. Her playful painted pottery has taken her to residencies in China, Germany, Minnesota and Helena, MT.
FAQs
What’s the refund policy?
The course fee (minus a 25% administrative fee) is refundable if a cancellation is made up to 7 days before the event. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline. See our full refund/cancellation policy here.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Nope! We will have a list of all the attendees.

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)"
2026-09-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-11-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-01-11 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-02-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-03-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-04-12 18:00 - 20:00 and 1 more date | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Second Monday of the Month
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free, but please register
REGISTER HERE.
Whatever genre you prefer — poetry, essay, prose, flash, etc. — writing can help us connect with and reflect on our natural surroundings in deeply personal, unexpected, rewarding ways. But finding the time to write can often be challenging. This writing “hush hour(s)” is designed to provide nature writers with a quiet, supportive setting to work on your craft. This isn’t a workshop; this is space to write.
In this group, we’ll spend roughly the first 10-20 minutes inviting individuals to share what projects you’re working on, questions you might have about your work, suggest resources, any hurdles or writing blocks, and writing successes! Then we’ll write, write, write.
Bring your notebook, journal, or computer. Writing prompts will be available if you’re feeling stuck, or just want to play with words. Your MNHC group leaders are Allison De Jong (Montana Naturalist magazine editor and MNHC Field Notes instructor, and writer) and Beth Conway (Events and Marketing Coordinator, and writer).
Feel free to BYOB and snacks/dinner. Light refreshments provided.

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2
2026-09-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-10-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-11-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-12-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-01-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-02-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-03-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-04-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual Zoom Classroom
Date: Monthly, on the second Monday of the month (except January, May, June, July, and August)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location/Platform: Virtual Zoom Classroom
The only thing better than reading a fascinating natural history book (and there are so many of them!) is getting to discuss it with a wonderful group of like-minded people. We can help you do that! Join one of our free naturalist book clubs, where you can read and discuss a great new book each month, enjoying various perspectives and insights, all from the comfort of your own home. (Cozy pjs are perfectly acceptable attire.) This book club meets September-April and breaks for the summer.
Book List
1. SEPTEMBER 2026: “In Trees: An Exploration” by Robert Moor
2. OCTOBER : “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” byElizabeth Tova Bailey
3. NOVEMBER: “Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit” by Lynda Lynn Haupt
4. DECEMBER: “The Secret Wisdom of Nature” by Peter Wohllleben
5. FEBRUARY (NO MEETING IN JANUARY) “Made for Each Other: A Symbiosis of Birds and Pines” by Ronald M Lanner
6. MARCH: “A Year in the Maine Woods” by Bernd Heinrich
7. APRIL: “The Secret Life of Clams” by Anthony Fredericks
The club pauses for January and breaks from May-August.
Your hosts is Sherry Staub. Sherry has led the Sacajawea book club for over two years in Bozeman and has extensively read in the nature book genre.
You will need a computer that can access the internet and Zoom platform in order to participate.
Interested in joining? There are spaces available! Email Christine at cmorris [at] montananaturalist [dot] org to sign up.
Group is limited to 10 participants.

Wild Work: Adventures of Women Field Biologists
2026-09-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, September 15
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free, but please register
Join Sophie Osborn, Susie Adams, and Lindsay Carlson as they discuss the new collection, Wild Work: Adventures of Women Field Biologists that offers a rare and powerful glimpse into the extraordinary work, risks, and rewards experienced by people who dedicate their lives to understanding and protecting our planet’s wild inhabitants.
REGISTER HERE!
Wild Work is an inspiring and entertaining anthology that brings to light the often untold stories of women in wildlife science. Featuring first-person accounts by dozens of adventurous field biologists, this collection immerses readers in the thrilling and compelling reality of studying and conserving fish and wildlife across the globe.
From playing tag with wolves or cuddling wild foxes to wading through rivers filled with venomous snakes or evading poachers, these women share stories of courage, curiosity, and resilience. Alongside the adrenaline and adventure, they reveal the delicate balancing act of juggling demanding fieldwork with family life, the lifelong friendships they forge in the wild, and the transformative power of connecting deeply with the natural world. They also bear witness to the fact that while women have been integral to fish and wildlife research for decades, their stories have rarely been represented in literature.
Copies of Wild Work will be available for purchase and signing.
About the Speakers:
SUSAN (SUSIE) B. ADAMS is an internationally recognized freshwater ecologist with a PhD in biology and ecology from the University of Montana. As a senior scientist at a federal agency, she researches crayfish and fish ecology in freshwater ecosystems. She has presented her research on four continents and served as president of the International Association of Astacology (study of crayfish). An avid outdoor recreationist, she is committed to helping women find their places in science and the outdoors. Learn more at adamsecology.net.
SOPHIE A. H. OSBORN is an award-winning writer and wildlife biologist who has worked with birds throughout the Americas. She contributed to reintroduction efforts for several endangered species, including as a field manager for the California Condor Recovery Program in Arizona. Her book Condors in Canyon Country won the 2007 National Outdoor Book Award for Nature and the Environment. American Birding Association reviewers chose her second book, Feather Trails: A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds, as their favorite bird book of 2024. Learn more at wordsforbirds.net.
Lindsay Carlson is a field and quantitative ecologist and PhD candidate at the University of Saskatchewan. Her outdoor-centric upbringing sparked an early interest in wildlife and wildflowers that has never diminished. She completed her bachelor’s degree in biology at Montana Technological University and her master’s degree in ecology at Utah State University. Since those formative years, she has pursued opportunities to advance her career across the US and Canada but will always call the rugged peaks and windswept prairies of Montana home.

Owl Pellet Bone Jewelry
2026-10-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $45 MNHC members/$50 non-members
REGISTER HERE!
Ever wanted to transform wildlife forensics into wearable art?
Join us to explore the treasures hidden inside owl pellets. Then turn your discoveries into bone jewelry!
In this hands-on work shop we will dive into the science of owl pellets and use diagnostic charts to identify your skeletal finds. Once your dissection is complete, you will learn how to clean the bones and incorporate them into unique custom creations. We will have jewelry making supplies including wire, hooks, and beads available. Instructors will be on hand to help you as you work. And everyone will receive a pair of pre-cleaned, pre-drilled muskrat jaws to jumpstart your designs!
Enjoy sparkling water, tea, and cocoa as you work!
Materials Provided:

sterilized owl pellets
bone identification guides
pair of muskrat jaws
jewelry making supplies
beverages

FAQs
What’s the refund policy?
The course fee (minus a 25% administrative fee) is refundable if a cancellation is made up to 7 days before the event. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline. See our full refund/cancellation policy here.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Nope! We will have a list of all the attendees.
