Montana Natural History Center

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1
2025-07-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-09-09 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | 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.

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden
2025-07-13 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
June 13th is the final volunteering date at the Native Plant Garden until the fall. Stay tuned for fall dates.
Dates: Sundays, starting April 27-July 13
(There is no volunteering on the dates June 1, June 22, and July 6th)
Time: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Location: Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden
The beautiful Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula could use volunteers to weed, transplant plants out of the walkways and prune shrubs. Volunteering is available every Sunday morning from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and you can pop in and out any time during that period. We will supply the gloves and tools but if you have your own feel free to bring them. In addition to working, you can learn about the plants, birds and ecology of the garden from Elena Ulev, the Garden Manager.
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)"
2025-07-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-08 18:00 - 20:00 | 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 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. We’ll have light refreshments available.

Birding at the Fort Garden and River
2025-07-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, July 15
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members
(children 17 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult)
REGISTER HERE.
The migratory birds have returned to Missoula! It’s breeding season and the garden and the adjacent river habitat have a wonderful symphony of sounds. One can easily hear and see 30 species of birds here, including a nesting osprey and house wrens, gray catbirds and warblers. We will bird in the garden then walk down to the river to see waterfowl, raptors and woodpeckers.
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!
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.

Get into Rockhounding!
2025-07-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free for members, $5 individual/$10 family non-members
Get into rockhounding this summer!
REGISTER HERE!
In this show-and-tell program we will share the best resources to use to find amazing rocks, safety tips, rules and regulations, the clubs to join for group rockhounding – and how to identify our local rocks!
You can travel far or rockhound in your own backyard – amazing rocks are everywhere! In Western Montana you can find quartz crystals, fluorite, garnet, jasper, agate, evidence of Glacial Lake Missoula, nice examples of gneiss, calcite, and much more! Our friendly geologists and rock club members will share places they love and how these rocks fit into the fascinating geologic history of Montana.
If the weather is nice (gneiss?) we will meet in the Nature Adventure Garden at the east end of the Montana Natural History Center building, otherwise we will meet indoors.

Scavengers Photography Club
2025-07-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Dates: Third Thursday of the Month
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Photo by Kristi DuBois
Come find community and inspiration for your nature photography passion at our Scavengers Photography Club! Everyone is welcome – hobbyists, enthusiasts, professionals, and new beginners! Peggy Christian, artist, author, and Master Naturalist, hosts this unique club.
At each session we will share our photos (up to 6 per person) and discuss current projects, interests, successes, and challenges. Some sessions will feature a guest presentation on an aspect of photography.
At July’s meeting, retired wildlife biologist Kristi DuBois will talk about macro photography of insects and other bugs. She will cover exposure and lighting techniques along with equipment that can be helpful for successful macro pictures. From aphids and bees to dragonflies, come and celebrate our little neighbors that run the world.
Note: Please bring your photos to share on a thumb drive to use in our computer.
“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”
― Ansel Adams
Share your perspective and connection to nature through photography!

Insect Exploration at the Native Plant Garden
2025-07-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, July 22
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members
(children 17 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult)
REGISTER HERE.
Join us as we explore what types of insects, including pollinators such as butterflies and bees use the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden. We will use butterfly nets and other tools to catch and examine all sorts of interesting insects and discuss their important roles in our ecosystem.
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!
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.

Watercolor Painting Wildflowers at the Fort Garden
2025-07-29 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, July 29
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members
REGISTER HERE.
Join us whether you are brand new to watercolor painting or a seasoned pro! You will learn some basic techniques including how to use your brush, mix colors, and create strokes, then we’ll help you paint a wildflower of your choice in the garden. You’ll be surprised at how good of a painter you are! All supplies are included or you can bring your own.
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!
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.

Bug Photography!
2025-07-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Maclay Flat Nature Trail, Forest Rd 19155, Missoula, MT, 59804, United States
Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at Sam Braxton trail head- Pattee Canyon
Cost: $25/$20 MNHC members
REGISTER HERE.
Bug out with your camera and capture amazing close-up shots of tiny creatures!
Kristi DuBois, retired FWP non-game biologist and avid insect photographer, will provide instruction and guidance during this outdoor photography adventure! Kristi will help you get the most out of your macro shots with discussion on equipment, close focus tips, exposure, lighting, and image composition. You will also learn how to find bugs – habitats, host plants, online resources – and how to identify them. Find the beauty in the details!
Kristi is also presenting her photography with a lecture on bug photography at the monthly Scavengers Photography Club at MNHC on Thursday, July 17, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. FREE. Attend this lecture and then follow it up with practice in the field!
What to Bring:

clothes for changing Montana weather conditions- layers, good shoes, hat, sunscreen
water
snacks
camera (SLR, digital with macro features, or phone)
anything you need to be comfortable walking and standing outside for two hours in hot weather

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.

Birding at the Fort Garden and River
2025-08-05 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, August 5
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members
(children 17 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult)
REGISTER HERE.
The migratory birds have returned to Missoula! It’s breeding season and the garden and adjacent river is a symphony of songs. One can easily hear 30 species of birds here, including a nesting osprey and house wrens, gray catbirds and warblers. We will bird in the garden then walk down to the river to see waterfowl, raptors and woodpeckers.
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!
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)"
2025-08-11 18:00 - 20:00 | 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 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. We’ll have light refreshments available.

Twenty Native Plants for Food, Medicine, and More
2025-08-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, August 12
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members
(children 17 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult)
In this class, we will stroll around the Native Plant Garden and adjacent floodplain to find at least 20 species of native plants that can be used for food, medicine, dye, cordage and more! From yarrow and black cottonwood to golden currant and Oregon grape, so many plants have useful and wonderful qualities.
REGISTER HERE!
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!
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.

Confident Color Mixing for Nature Journaling with Nancy Seiler
2025-08-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at Greenough Park (the site with the picnic pavillion and playground)
Cost: $50, $45 MNHC members
REGISTER HERE
Master color mixing with artist Nancy Seiler!
Have you been nature journaling for a while and feel a bit overwhelmed when mixing colors? This class is for you! Nancy will help you understand how to choose colors to match the natural objects that you see. She’ll explain pigments so that you will come away understanding how to obtain bright and dull colors, use complimentary colors, mix grays, and utilize whatever watercolors you have on hand.
Nancy will be teaching from the QoR Mini 12-pigment set. We’ll start with swatching to understand the pigments you have, tricks for blending and layering color, and how values play a big part of helping your drawings pop. The first two hours will be teaching and working with your pigments. The last hour will be color mixing on your own from objects you find at site with Nancy there to help you achieve color matches.
Nancy Seiler received her Visual Communications degree from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1981. As a Golden Working Artist for Golden Artist Colors she presents lectures, demonstrations, and workshops in acrylics, watercolors, and oils in Southern California and Montana. She has taught classical botanical illustration and nature journaling since 2003. Her work is represented by Frame of Reference Fine Art in Whitefish and Bigfork, Montana.
What to Bring:

water/snacks
clothes for changing Montana weather conditions – layers, sunscreen, hat
your watercolor set
watercolor paper or watercolor/mixed media journal
#8 round brush or similar
graphite pencil and eraser
micro pen (any size point)
anything you may need to be comfortable sitting and journaling outside for 3 hours. There are picnic tables, but you may want your own chair, or pillow, or whatever you use when journaling.

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.

Dig Your Own Native Shrub Sale
2025-08-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, August 19
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members
(children 17 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult)
REGISTER HERE!
This class includes instruction for successful transplanting, and as many chokecherry, snowberry, golden currant seedlings as you like! Bring a bucket or several large plastic bags for your new plants!
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!
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.

FUNdraising with the PaddleHeads!
2025-08-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, August 19
Time: Gates open at 6:00 p.m., first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
Location: Ogren Park at Allegiance Field
Cost: Ticket prices vary, depending on seat ($9-$50)
Gather your friends, family, and fellow supporters, and let’s fill the stands to support MNHC!
We are excited to invite you to a special night at the ballpark in support of the Montana Natural History Center! Join us at the Missoula PaddleHeads game on August 19th as we come together for a fun-filled evening while raising funds for MNHC.
PaddleHeads Community Tuesdays at the ballpark are a celebration, recognition, and educational opportunity focused on nonprofits in Missoula for all who attend.
50% of every ticket purchased through this link goes directly to supporting MNHC and our mission to connect people with nature. The Missoula PaddleHeads ownership will then match that 50%! Meaning 100% of the ticket revenue will go back to supporting our organization! This is a fantastic way to enjoy a great game at an affordable price while making a difference in our community!
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY and help us knock this fundraiser out of the park!

Scavengers Photography Club
2025-08-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Dates: Third Thursday of the Month
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Come find community and inspiration for your nature photography passion at our Scavengers Photography Club! Everyone is welcome – hobbyists, enthusiasts, professionals, and new beginners! Peggy Christian, artist, author, and Master Naturalist, hosts this unique club.
At each session we will share our photos (up to 6 per person) and discuss current projects, interests, successes, and challenges. Some sessions will feature a guest presentation on an aspect of photography.
Photo by Forest Chaput de Saintonge
For August’s meeting we are joined by Forest Chaput de Saintonge, former director of Rocky Mountain School of Photography, who will outline a step-by-step workflow to take you from your first star trail photo to capturing a deep-sky image of a galaxy or nebula in just five nights of shooting. Included are making star trails and pinpoint stars, finding faint objects, and photographing them with a long lens. Anyone new to astrophotography or curious about the topic will enjoy this presentation.
Note: Please bring your photos to share on a thumb drive to use in our computer.
“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”
― Ansel Adams
Share your perspective and connection to nature through photography!

Nature Journaling at the Fort Garden
2025-08-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, August 26
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula
Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members
(children 17 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult)
REGISTER HERE.
Are you curious about how to keep a nature journal? Or are you a seasoned nature journalist looking for some new techniques and ideas? The Fort Garden is a treasure trove of interesting plants and animals with plenty of subject matter to add to a journal. Supplies including paper, pencils, colored pencils, watercolor paint, paintbrushes and magnifying loupes will be provided.
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!
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.

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program
2025-09-02 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-09-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-09-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
The miniNaturalist pre-K program encourages curiosity for the natural world.
Dates: Every Tuesday, September – May
Time: 10:00-11:00 am
Location: Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory Street.
The miniNaturalist program encourages curiosity for the natural world through exploration and play. We sing songs, read books, play games, and develop skills with art and science tools. Each program begins with songs, movement, and stories. We then provide materials for learner directed discovery in our garden. We look for bugs and birds, color on rocks, build with branches, experiment with science tools and play with a variety of art materials.
Please bring clothes for outdoor play! We have some snow clothes to borrow.
Best for ages 2-4, though any age is welcome!
Cost: FREE!

Fall Online Master Naturalist
2025-09-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, September 3 – November 19, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (online)
Location: Online with Field Day Weekend
In-Person Field Weekend: September 13-14
Cost: $325 MNHC members/$355 non-members
Are you a self-directed, curious learner, eager to explore your natural surroundings? Our immersive online certification course will help you develop naturalist skills and a deeper understanding of the natural world through a blend of live online classes, recorded lectures, guided independent study, and an in-person field weekend.
Fall Online Certification Course 2025
Wednesdays, September 3rd – November 19th, 2025
10:00 a.m.-noon MDT

Field Weekend, September 13-14
Engage with the course anytime, anywhere. The online format can fit your schedule. Though attending the field weekend and live online classes is highly encouraged, they will be recorded and supplemental material can be provided. This class works best for independent learners who can complete activities outside of the traditional classroom format. Your instructors will be available throughout the course for one-on-one guidance and mentorship.
(REGISTRATION CLOSED Thursday, August, 21.)
Taught by MNHC Naturalist Christine Morris, this class includes:

a live Zoom or recorded lecture once per week for 12 weeks. 6 classes are live, 6 are recorded lectures.
weekly assignments
in-person weekend field experience in Missoula on September 13-14
course workbook
an online classroom platform to engage with instructors and fellow students throughout the course

We’ll cover a wide breadth of topics with the goal of giving you a foundation of naturalist skills and knowledge on which you can build. Learn how to identify common birds, plants, butterflies, insects, mammal tracks, and more. From landscape processes to lichen we will look at specific details and how each part contributes to the greater ecology.
Instructors:

Christine Morris, community programs coordinator MNHC
Kelly Dix, naturalist, MNHC
Allison De Jong, Naturalist Magazine editor/outreach coordinator, MNHC
Ylva Lekberg, soil scientist/ecologist, MPG ranch
Jenah Mead, artist/naturalist
Peter Lesica, botanist, author
Greg Peters, botanist, Missoula College instructor
Geoff Farinholt, BLM fuels technician
Angela Hornsby, previous Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum curator
Glenn Marangelo, Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium
Rob Rich, naturalist/writer

View the course syllabus (some elements may be subject to change).
Upon course completion, students:

Will receive a Master Naturalist certificate and pin
Be a part of an engaged and curious Master Naturalist community
Have the knowledge and skills to perform environmental stewardship

To complete this certification course, students are expected to attend classes/view recorded lectures, complete weekly self-guided study assignments, keep a nature journal, and complete a final class project.
Plan on putting in about 5-6 hours per week including class time, independent study assignments, nature journaling, and final assignment.
Master Naturalist Certification is maintained by completing 20 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of continuing education each year. You will receive a new pin each year you certify!
Recommended Materials:

binoculars
hand lens or loupe
blank journal (required)
micron or small sharpie pen
colored pencils or watercolor pencils
bird guide such as Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds of Western North America
Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel
plant/flower guide such as Plants of the Rocky Mountains or Wildflowers of Montana (depending on what you can find in print)

Registration Information:

Cost: $355/$325 members
Full payment due upon registration. The course fee (minus a $100 administrative fee) is refundable ONLY if a cancellation is made 30 days before the first day of class. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline. Read our full refund/cancellation policy.
Some scholarships are available! Please contact cmorris@montananaturalist.or for more information
REGISTRATION CLOSED Thursday, August 21

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden
2025-09-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Dates: Sundays, September 7 & 21, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Location: Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden
The beautiful Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula could use volunteers to weed, transplant plants out of the walkways and prune shrubs. Volunteering is available most Sunday mornings from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and you can pop in and out any time during that period. We will supply the gloves and tools but if you have your own feel free to bring them. In addition to working, you can learn about the plants, birds and ecology of the garden from Elena Ulev, the Garden Manager.
DIG IN! For more information on programs happening at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, click here!

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2
2025-09-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual Zoom Classroom
Date: Monthly, on the second Monday of the month (except January, 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-May and breaks for the summer.
Book List
September: Light Eaters
October: The Serviceberry
November: The Stubborn Light of Things
December: Flight Paths
January: no meeting this month
February: Woman Among Wolves
March: What an Owl Knows
April: Restoring the Kinship Worldview May: Tenacious Beasts
Your hosts will be Sherry Staub and Cas Kendley. Sherry has led the Sacajawea book club for over two years in Bozeman and has extensively read in the nature book genre. Cas started and led a book club as a UM student and is looking forward to starting an advanced degree in forestry at the UM.
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.

Hush of the Land: Stories from the Bob Marshall Wilderness
2025-09-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, September 10th
Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free, but please register! (Donations are always appreciated.***)
REGISTER HERE
In Hush of the Land: Stories from the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Arnold “Smoke” Elser and Eva-Maria Maggi take the audience on a journey with horses and mules deep into the mountains of Western Montana. This engaging, hands-on campfire storytelling event is based on the inspiring memoir Hush of the Land, which chronicles the six-decade quest of packer and outfitter Smoke Elser to protect wild lands by bringing thousands of people deep into Montana’s mountains on horseback. Experience the joys and thrills of summer rides, harrowing grizzly bear encounters, fishing in clear mountain streams, and many nights around a campfire in some of the West’s last wild places. In this lively program, Eva shares how meeting Smoke ignited her love for storytelling, while Smoke recounts how his testimony for the Wilderness Act and his fight to preserve and expand Montana’s wilderness lands influenced his career as an outfitter and educator, giving him a voice at the center of Montana’s conservation movement.
About the presenters: Arnold “Smoke” Elser is a legendary packer, author, teacher, and U.S. conservationist who has traveled every trail of the 1.5 million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in Western Montana on horseback over the past sixty years. As a professional wilderness outfitter, he has provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience deep in the mountains for thousands of people, many of whom had never ridden a horse before. His famous “Horse and Mule Packing Class” has been taken by the U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Army, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, as well as thousands of civilians and college students. He is the co-author of the leading textbook on horse and mule packing, Packin’ in on Horses and Mules. His skills, life, and persistent work to preserve public lands and wilderness for future generations have been featured in the PBS documentary 3 Miles an Hour, National Geographic, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, among others. Smoke is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Montana, the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award from The Conservation Roundtable, and the Backcountry Horseman of America award. He is honored to be the only inductee of both the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame and the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. He lives with his wife Thelma, their dog Spunky, and their horses and mules in Missoula, MT.
Eva-Maria Maggi is a writer, teacher, and packer. Her new book, Hush of the Land: A Lifetime in the Bob Marshall Wilderness (Bison Books), is co-written with and about Montana outfitter, conservationist, and packer Arnold “Smoke” Elser. She holds a Ph.D. in political science and has been teaching college classes and giving public talks for over 15 years. Currently, she teaches Wilderness Policy and Packing at the University of Montana, Missoula. Her recent work has been published in Big Sky Journal and the Montana Magazine of Western History (both forthcoming). Her past research on Europe and the Middle East was published as the book The Will of Change (2018, Springer) and in several academic journals, newspapers, and magazines. She grew up in Germany, lived in Italy and Morocco, and now calls Missoula home.
***This program was previously offered free to the community thanks to support from Humanities Montana, which has since lost their federal funding and shuttered their Montana Conversations programming. Smoke and Eva are committed to keeping their program accessible to the community; this is a free event and open to the public. Any donations are greatly appreciated and will support MNHC and these knowledgeable speakers.

Hunting Dinosaur Fossils in the Bighorn Basin!
2025-09-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, September 16
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $15 for MNHC members, $20 for non-members
(Children 17 and under free with ticketed adult.)
REGISTER HERE!
If you’re a fan of dinosaurs, this evening program is for you!
MNHC has partnered with Elevation Science Institute to prepare and conserve dinosaur fossils collected by their paleontologists and citizen-scientists each summer in southern Montana. These fossils come from the world-famous Morrison Formation of southern Montana, rocks dating back over 150 million years!
It has been a record year for the team from Elevation Science Institute. Join Jason Poole to hear the latest from this summer’s field work digging up dinosaur bones in Montana’s Bighorn Basin, some of which will be exposed over the next few months at the Montana Natural History Center before your very eyes!
Drinks and light refreshments/snacks provided.
Instructor: Jason C. Poole has worn many hats, Adjunct Professor of Paleontology, Scientific Illustrator, art teacher, and Paleontology field instructor. Jason has excavated dinosaurs on three continents, including Africa, South and North America. Paralititan, Dreadnoughtus and Suuwassea are three dinosaurs worked on by Poole, all were new to science when discovered and two of which are supermassive titanosaurs. Poole is also a Paleontological Artist who has published in National Geographic and whose art work appears in many museum and private collections. Jason resides in Missoula, Montana and can often be found sketching in the studio and the great outdoors.
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.

Fall Tree Fruits with Marilyn Marler
2025-09-17 17:30 - 19:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at the Root Interpretive Center at University of Montana, between Main Hall and the Natural Sciences Greenhouse. Free parking after 5 pm.
Cost: Free, and open to the public
Come on a short, shady walk with botanist Marilyn Marler (MNHC’s Executive Director) to learn about fall fruit types in the State of Montana Arboretum at UM. Many trees produce fruit, but they go way beyond the sweet edible varieties. Instead of pears and apples, we’ll talk about legumes, samaras, capsules, nuts and maybe a few berries. Non-crop tree fruits are beautiful and diverse.
Wheelchair accessible, no prior knowledge needed. Kiddos welcome with a grown up but no dogs please (except service dogs).

Scavengers Photography Club
2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Dates: Third Thursday of the Month
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Come find community and inspiration for your nature photography passion at our Scavengers Photography Club! Everyone is welcome – hobbyists, enthusiasts, professionals, and new beginners! Peggy Christian, artist, author, and Master Naturalist, hosts this unique club.
At each session we will share our photos (up to 6 per person) and discuss current projects, interests, successes, and challenges. Some sessions will feature a guest presentation on an aspect of photography.
For our September class, Marcy James, owner of Paper & Ink Studio in Missoula, joins us for a guest critique focused on composition and intention behind the image(s). If you would like to have your pictures critiqued, please email 3-5 large JPEG files to eyster.kathy@gmail.com by September 16.
Photo by Marcy James
Note: Please bring your photos to share on a thumb drive to use in our computer.
“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”
― Ansel Adams
Share your perspective and connection to nature through photography!
