Make a Birdseed Wreath!
2025-11-22 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, November 22
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $30 MNHC members, $35 non-members
REGISTER HERE
Feed your feathered friends and get into the holiday spirit with a decorative birdseed wreath!
Elena Ulev will help you get to know the common winter birds who might visit your yard – chickadees, juncos, nuthatches, and more. Then let the festive wreath making begin! Using seeds, gelatin, and decorative dried berries, you will create a lovely wreath to keep or give as a holiday gift. You’ll be able to watch the antics of backyard birds as they fly to and from your wreath, practice your birding skills, and connect with wild nature right outside your window!
Instructor: Elena Ulev is a Master Naturalist and Certified Interpretive Guide with 30 years of experience as a scholar, professional biologist, writer, and educator. She teaches with MNHC, the Glacier Institute, MOLLI, the O’Hara Commons and Sustainability Center, and her business, Blue Heron Nature Tours.
Included:

Silicone bundt pan to take home and use year after year
Materials to make the wreath in class – birdseed and berries, gelatin
Ribbon to hang your wreath outside
Hot cocoa to sip while you work!

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
2025-11-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-12-02 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-12-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-12-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-12-23 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-12-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-06 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-13 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!

Drop-In Nature Journaling
2025-11-26 11:30 - 13:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Last Wednesday of the Month
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free with admission/membership!
Fellow naturalists! Are you looking for community, accountability, inspiration, and more? We’re excited to offer monthly drop-in nature journaling / phenology wheel / nature writing sessions September-May. Bring your nature journals, phenology wheels, pens, pencils, and paints, and have fun crafting your observations in community. We’ll have some supplies available (colored pencils, micron pens, watercolor pencils, etc.), as well as field guides and specimens, and we’ll provide a fun journal prompt, too! For those working on phenology wheels – whether daily, monthly, or seasonal – this is a great time to work on your wheel template for the next month or catch up on your daily or monthly observations.
Scheduled over the lunch hour, this is a perfect mid-day break; please feel free to bring lunch or snacks.
This program is FREE with admission/membership!
Come join us for fun, creativity, and naturalist exploration!
2025-2026 dates:
September 24th, 2025
October 29th, 2025
November 26th, 2025
NO SESSION in DECEMBER
January 28th, 2026
February 25th, 2026
March 25th, 2026
April 29th, 2026
May 27th, 2026
We’ll be back in September!

CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING
2025-11-27, 2025-11-28 | Montana Natural History Center
MNHC is closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27th, and Friday, November 28th, so our staff can spend time with their families.
We will be open on Saturday the 29th!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Make a Mini Wreath at Western Cider
2025-12-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Western Cider, 501 North California St., Missoula, 59801, United States
Location: Western Cider, 501 North California St.
Date: Wednesday, December 3
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Cost: $20 MNHC members, $25 nonmembers. You can add your MNHC membership to your order when you register.
REGISTER HERE!
Get crafty with natural materials and create your own mini wreath while enjoying beverages from Western Cider!
Montana Natural History Center naturalists will provide instruction on how to identify our local conifers by needle and cone and how to recognize a variety of shrubs. These will be your materials!
Next, learn tips and techniques for attaching boughs and accent materials to your wreath. There are so many creative choices – all conifer boughs and cones, winding wild rose, dried grass, and yarrow, or a combination! We will have all the materials you need to create an exceptional 6-inch wreath!
Class Includes:

Conifer identification instruction
Wreath-making instruction
Use of paddle wire, scissors, and ribbon
Your own 6-inch natural wreath frame to take home completed in a bag with hot cocoa and a candy cane
*Drinks are not included*
You can add your MNHC membership to your order when you check out.

FAQ
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.

MNHC's 2025 Holiday Bazaar
2025-12-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, December 5th
Time: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: FREE! (Unless you buy something…)
MNHC’s Holiday Bazaar is back! This fan-favorite festive event brings together the best of the holiday spirit: local artistry, support for nature education, delicious food provided by Riversong Gourmet, beverages, homemade cookies and family recipes, and the joy of giving back to our community.
At MNHC’s Holiday Bazaar, you’ll find unique gifts crafted with care by local artists. From beautiful prints and photography to gorgeous glasswork and ceramics, there’s something for everyone on your list. By shopping here, you not only bring home one-of-a-kind gifts but also support our talented local artists and our Montana community.

Join us at MNHC’s Holiday Bazaar, and enjoy a little magic of this special time of year by giving back, supporting local artists, and nurturing a love for learning and nature. We look forward to celebrating the season with you!
MEET THE ARTISTS
Mary Engstrom, Rich Adams, Diane Olhoeft, Brian Christianson,
Michelle Nowels, Jason C. Poole, Kiley Voss, Erynn Neill, David Lusk, Theo Ellsworth,
Elena Ulev, Bailey Zook, and Pat Kittelson

Mary Engstrom / Adornments
Mary Engstrom makes jewelry by hand from sterling silver, using traditional silversmithing techniques. Hammering, rolling or etching silver creates a unique tactile surface that invites touch and storytelling. No two pieces are ever identical; each one has its own story to tell. Her casual but sophisticated pieces are designed to be comfortable and flow with your body’s movements. Wearing jewelry for personal adornment is an individual aesthetic, and she hopes that some of her pieces resonate with your style. Instagram @adornmentsmt_maryengstrom

David Lusk / Anomal Press
David Miles Lusk is an artist living and working out of Missoula, Montana. David received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in printmaking from the University of Montana in 2014. He is inspired by the intersection of science and mythology, and nature & humanity. He started Anomal Press in the fall of 2016. INSTAGRAM @anomalpress

Bailey Zook / B. Zook Ceramincs
Bailey is the gal behind B. Zook Ceramics and she enjoys hand making unique and functional pottery. Her pottery is inspired by patterns and the natural world around us. Each piece is handmade and infused with the peace that comes naturally when the maker is connected to the earth through mud-covered hands. INSTAGRAM: @bzook_ceramics

Rich Adams / Rich Adams Fine Art
Rich’s artwork is really a reflection of his love for the natural world. Rich likes to say that his drawings are his love letters to Montana. He really can’t imagine a better place to live and raise a family. If his work can connect with other people’s experiences and love of the natural world, Rich feels like it has served its function. He produces all of his own fine art prints and inspect each one to ensure it is of the highest quality he can produce. They are made with U.S. made, acid-free fine art paper and pigment-based inks to ensure they will last a lifetime when hung on the wall. INSTAGRAM @adams.rt

Michelle Nowels / Ashes and Arbor
Michelle draws inspiration by looking for the beauty in nature and preserve it in creative ways, like her beautiful hand pressed paintings from cross sections of trees found through the Northwest. Each of Michelle’s pieces are handmade, and due to their nature — of being from nature — one of a kind. INSTAGRAM: @michelle_nowels

Theo Ellsworth / Cartoonist
Theo Ellsworth is a cartoonist and fine artist living in Missoula. His latest graphic novels were published by Drawn and Quarterly (Montreal) and WW Norton (NYC). His woodcut fine art has ben exhibited internationally. He is the house artist for the UK based record label, Astral Industries. INSTAGRAM @theo_ellsworth_
Brian Christianson / Brian Christianson Photography
Brian’s guiding principle is ‘what makes today different from any other day?’ With that question, he does his best to make strong photographic decisions about where and what to shoot. How is the light interacting with fall colors? What atmospheric conditions complement the feeling of spring wildflower blooms? What frozen/snow texture balances well with the semi-frozen creek? These are the types of questions that he love to explore! Each photographic outing affords an opportunity to practice, implement and evolve this practice. Every day is a new opportunity to better understand and photograph the landscape. INSTAGRAM: @bchristiansonphoto
Erynn McNeill / Up Moss Creek Studio
Erynn McNeill is an artist, botanist, and scientific illustrator. While obtaining their Bachelor of Science in Biology they worked throughout the backcountry of Montana, Idaho and Alaska tracking animals and recording plant species until the fall of 2020 when isolation brought back an old love of creating art. Taking inspiration from their wilderness experiences, they created Up Moss Creek Studio in 2021 as a habitat for experimentation where they combine their knowledge of scientific illustration, botany, mycology and multiple art mediums to create realistic figure paintings, jewelry and art objects that highlight the hidden mossy worlds within western Montana’s diverse ecosystems. They are currently based in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana where they share a home with their partner Brandon, dog Dagwood, and cat Orion. INSTAGRAM: @Upmosscreekstudio
Kiley Voss / Topophilia Photography
For the past six years, Kiley has worked as a seasonal National Park Ranger. She is a lover of landscapes and little moments, of multitudes and wild spaces, of vast openness and the details on a single pinecone, of cliffs that look like they have been painted onto the sky, and of bees buzzing from tiny flower to tiny flower. Topophilia means “a strong sense of place; a love for peculiar places; a sense of home.” It reflects Kiley’s desire to connect herself and others to the breathtaking spaces in which she works and lives, and to help guide visitors towards a deeper appreciation for our remarkable natural world. She makes handmade nature cards and earrings of her photography from her time working in the national parks and exploratory weekend road trips. INSTAGRAM @topo.wanders
Elena Ulev / Artisan and founder of Blue Heron Nature Tours
Elena Ulev is a Master Naturalist and Certified Interpretive Guide with 30 years of experience as a scholar, professional biologist, writer, and educator. Elena has been making and selling her crafts in Missoula since 2000. She teaches with the Montana Natural History Center, the Glacier Institute, MOLLI, the O’Hara Commons and Sustainability Center, and her business, Blue Heron Nature Tours. INSTAGRAM @blueheronnaturetours
Diane Olhoeft / Ouzel Cliff Artwork
Diane is a watercolor artist living in Corvallis. She grew up watching her mother paint and sketch ideas for clothing she wanted to create. Most of Diane’s time was spent outside, building forts, exploring old homesteads and pretending she was a wild horse. Her ties to the outdoors remain strong. Watercolor was a perfect medium as it was light, portable and could go on any adventure. It has really helped Diane see her surroundings in a more appreciative and detailed way. She loves the colors and free flowing way the paint goes on the paper. It seems to be in tune with the unpredictability, adaptability and movement of nature. Silk painting has the free spirit of watercolor with the added advantage that you can wear it and it feels so good.
Jason C. Poole / Paleo Artist: Painting, Sketches, & More
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. INSTAGRAM: @jasoncpoolepaleoartist
Pat Kittelson / Bee-cycled Crayons
Pat Kittelson grew up in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota college of education. She went on to complete a master’s degree in library science with an emphasis in early children’s literature. Pat, working with illustrator Brooke Connor, started writing books for children in 1978 for the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association and created a series of books focused on scientists tackling environmental problems using homespun research. Also, a beekeeper, Pat works with the National Crayon Recycling Program to keep old crayons out the landfill. “Bee-cycled Crayons” are made using broken abandoned crayons and beeswax from Pat’s hives.

Make a Mini Wreath at MNHC!
2025-12-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: $20 MNHC members, $25 nonmembers. You can add your MNHC membership to your order when you register.
REGISTER HERE!
Get crafty with natural materials and create your own mini wreath while enjoying beverages such as cocoa, tea, and beer.
Montana Natural History Center naturalists will provide instruction on how to identify our local conifers by needle and cone and how to recognize a variety of shrubs. These will be your materials!
Next, learn tips and techniques for attaching boughs and accent materials to your wreath. There are so many creative choices – all conifer boughs and cones, winding wild rose, dried grass, and yarrow, or a combination! We will have all the materials you need to create an exceptional 6-inch wreath!
Class Includes:

Conifer identification instruction
Wreath-making instruction
Use of paddle wire, scissors, and ribbon
Your own 6-inch natural wreath frame to take home completed in a bag with hot cocoa and a candy cane

FAQ
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.

Saturday Kids' Activity: Snow Science!
2025-12-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free with membership/cost of admission
Join us for exciting and educational Saturdays filled with delightful activities designed to captivate young minds and inspire a love for nature!
Our drop-in Saturday programs feature activities, art, science experiments, and more. Stop in anytime between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. for the fun! Kids might look for Osprey with binoculars, dissect owl pellets, or walk a model of the solar system. Every month features a new topic. The whole family can be involved, as the exploration and activities are suitable for a wide age range.
On Saturday, December 6th we’ll explore snow science!
Saturday Kids’ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school.

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)"
2025-12-08 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.

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2
2025-12-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-01-12 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.

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1
2025-12-09 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.

Master Naturalist Club
2025-12-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Monthly, on the second Wednesday of the month
Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: Various – contact club host
Share outdoor explorations and learning experiences with other curious naturalists at our monthly Master Naturalist Club! We will connect with experts and hone our skills, meeting at field locations around Missoula.
April Topic: Introduction to Oding: Looking for dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in Western Montana
Suzanne Hendrich, Master Naturalist, has led dragonfly field trips for MOLLI and is in the midst of a multiyear survey of Odonata in this region. She will share keys to identifying Odonata, key features of their life cycle, habitat and ecology, and good local spots for oding adventures.
Club hosts: Master Naturalists Sarah Elsasser, Bill Buseman, and Elizabeth Johns
Interested in joining? There are spaces available! Email Christine at cmorris@montananaturalist.org to sign up.

Missoula's Cultural Heritage and the Clark Fork River - An Ever-Changing Landscape
2025-12-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location: The Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $15 MNHC members/$20 non-members
REGISTER HERE!
Historically, the path of the Clark Fork River has both shaped and transformed the appearance of the Missoula Valley. Similarly, the city of Missoula’s diverse cultural heritage has been shaped and transformed by the river as well over the course of the last two centuries. In this presentation, guests will not only gain natural historical knowledge of the Clark Fork River, but also the innate partnership between cultural and natural heritage landscapes. This presentation will primarily examine the heritage of Missoula’s restricted communities between 1860 and 1940.
Light refreshments provided.
ABOUT Sophia Etier: Sophia is a longtime Bitterroot Valley local and public historian, focusing her research on the development of local Montana heritage. Sophia has previously partnered with numerous Montana organizations in hopes of developing authentic community histories including the Montana Historical Society, Daly Mansion, Historic Museum at Fort Missoula, Missoula Historic Preservation Office, and the Missoula Public Library. Sophia also is a lead guide and tour developer for the Unseen Missoula heritage tour program, primarily overseeing the Carnal Enterprises and Screams & Spirits tours. Etier is currently working on the advancement of her research as a doctoral student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Montana.
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.

Gallery Exhibit Opening: The Artistry of Herbariums
2025-12-12 17:00 - 18:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, December 12
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Time: 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE and open to the public
Join us for a new gallery opening at the Montana Natural History Center, featuring work by Missoula photographer Peggy Christian!
In conjunction with the new Naturalist Field Station exhibit featuring the University of Montana Herbarium, this show contains a collection of photographic prints that explore the beauty of botanical forms found in three different herbariums.
From UM’s, 16 of the most popular Montana wildflowers, chosen by the Missoula Native Plant Society, as well as a selection of specimens from Glacier Park’s Belly River herbarium are rendered in cyanotype. This is one of the earliest photographic printing processes and was used by Anna Atkins for her images of her seaweed collection in the first photographically illustrated book in 1843. In addition there is a collection of hand-painted photographs using botanical inks from John Pierce’s herbarium of the Rattlesnake.
Peggy Christian is a Missoula photographer, writer, and book artist who works in a variety of historical alternative printing processes and is an herbarium aficionado.
Light refreshments provided.

Saturday Kids' Activity: Hibernation Celebration!
2025-12-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, December 13
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free with membership/cost of admission
Join us for exciting and educational Saturdays filled with delightful activities designed to captivate young minds and inspire a love for nature!
Our drop-in Saturday programs feature activities, art, science experiments, and more. Stop in anytime between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. for the fun! Kids might look for Osprey with binoculars, dissect owl pellets, or walk a model of the solar system. Every month features a new topic. The whole family can be involved, as the exploration and activities are suitable for a wide age range.
On Saturday, December 13th we’re having a hibernation celebration!
Saturday Kids’ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school.

Naturalist Trivia Night: Winter Ecology!
2025-12-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, December 16
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free and open to the public. $5 suggested donation.
Show off your skills or come to learn something new—trivia nights are fun for any background level. Join a team when you arrive or bring a crew to compete in Naturalist Trivia Night. This month’s theme is Winter Ecology. MNHC teaching naturalist Ryan Mahar is running the show. We’re excited to bring you another fun trivia night!
This is a FREE event, but registration is required so we don’t overcrowd the space!
REGISTER HERE
BYOB and snacks.
How does Naturalist Trivia work?

Come with a team or join up with new friends when you arrive. MNHC staff will help you find a table.
There are usually 4 rounds of questions each frequently on a common theme such as “Montana cats” or “poisonous plants.” Some rounds are verbal, others are visual, or auditory (such as “guess that bird call”!).
After each round the answers are divulged and each team’s score is displayed.
Two hours later there will be a winner!

Trivia nights this season are:
November 19th (Wednesday)
December 16th (Tuesday)
January 22nd (Thursday)
February 18th (Wednesday – WILD LOVE TRIVIA!)
March 26th (Thursday)

Sip & Sketch: Create a Phenology Wheel
2025-12-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, December 17th
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $30 for MNHC members, $35 for non-members
REGISTER HERE
Are you looking for a reflective, inspiring, fun new project for 2026? Start a daily phenology wheel! Phenology is the study of change in the natural world – when flowers bloom and go to seed, when birds migrate, when trees leaf out, when butterflies emerge, when the snow falls, and so much more. Taking a few minutes each day to observe and record these changes can add up to something truly beautiful over time, and we’d love to help you get started. And there’s no better time than just before the beginning of a new year!
During this program you’ll create the template for your daily phenology wheel for January 2026, and ponder the possibilities for how you’ll fill it in come the new year. You can experiment with colored pencils and other media, practice different forms of lettering, and look at various examples of other naturalists’ phenology wheels for inspiration.
We’ll provide drawing paper, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, drawing pencils, micron pens, templates, and rulers for you to use during the program, but please feel free to take along your own favorite art materials. (A compass and protractor, if you have them, can also come in handy!) You may also want to purchase a sketchpad for this project (we recommend a larger size, 8.5″x11″ or 9″x12″), but you can easily paste or tape your template into your own sketchbook later.
Ticket includes two beverages! We’ll have alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available.
About the instructor: Allison De Jong is the editor of Montana Naturalist magazine and Field Notes at the Montana Natural History Center. She has no formal art training but has picked up a thing or two about nature journaling in her years at MNHC, and is proof that anyone can learn to keep a nature journal or phenology wheel! She began her first phenology wheel in January 2021, and has been phenologizing daily ever since. She’s looking forward to starting year #6—and to inspiring a few more people to join her.
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.
Register here:

Scavengers Photography Club
2025-12-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Montana Natural History Center
NOTE: There is no December meeting of the Scavenger’s Photography Club. We wish everyone a happy holiday season.
Instead, we encourage everyone to join Peggy Christian for her exhibit opening “The Art of Herbariums” on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 5:00-6:30pm. It is free and open to the public.
———-
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.
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!

MNHC Holiday Closure
2025-12-25 - 2025-12-29 | Montana Natural History Center
MNHC is closed December 25, 26, 27, 28, 29th and January 1st so our staff can celebrate the holidays with their families!
MNHC will be OPEN during our regular hours (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) on December 30th and 31st.
Happy Holidays!

CLOSED for the HOLIDAYS!
2026-01-01 | Montana Natural History Center
We will be closed December 25, 26, 27th and January 1st so our staff can celebrate the holidays with their families!
MNHC will be OPEN during our regular hours (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) on December 30th and 31st.
Happy Holidays!

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)"
2026-01-12 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
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.
REGISTER HERE.
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. We’ll have light refreshments available.
