Montana Natural History Center

Birding at the Fort Garden and River
2025-08-05 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Denver) | 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.

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1
2025-08-12 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.

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.
