Montana Natural History Center

Scavengers Photography Club
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | 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 October session, Kathy Eyster, a photography teacher for more than 25 years, will discuss creating effective black and white photos using either a smartphone or digital camera. Kathy will also demonstrate how to change color photos into strong black & white images. Anyone curious about what makes a successful black and white photo will benefit from 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!

Saturday Kids' Activity: Spooky Skeletons!
2025-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, October 18
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, October 18th, we’ll have fun with spooky skeletons!
Saturday Kids’ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school.

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden
2025-10-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Dates: Sundays, October 5 & 19, 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!

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program
2025-10-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-28 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-11 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-12-02 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!

MNHC's 2025 Fall Banquet and Auction
2025-10-24 17:00 - 21:00 | University Center Ballroom, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, United States
Date: Friday, October 24th, 2025
Time: 5:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: University Center Ballroom
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS! Click here.
Join the Montana Natural History Center for a fun and nature-filled evening at our Fall Banquet and Auction on October 24th, at the University Center Ballroom!
Gather with us for an evening of food, drinks, and fun to support MNHC’s science and nature educational programming for our community, and support MNHC’s mission of connecting people of all ages to nature.
This fun and rewarding evening starts with a large silent auction, filled with great items donated by local businesses, artists, and friends of MNHC. Grab a drink and mingle as you peruse this diverse array and engage in some fun and fierce bidding all while raising funds for a good cause! Once we have all had a chance to bid (more than once!) we will shift to our main event: the live auction! As always, MNHC’s live auction is full of amazing experiences, adventures, and gear—you won’t want to miss it!
Our emcee for the night is MNHC Teaching Naturalist Kevin Niehaus who will guide us through the evening. And auctioneer, Reed Tobol with Rivers West Auction, will keep the bidding hopping!
And because this is MNHC, we can’t hold an event without offering opportunities for some nature-learning, trivia, and a few surprises!!
This year we’re making it even easier for patrons to participate in bidding: You’ll have the opportunity to bid & buy early on featured online items, as well as participate in-person at our exciting silent and live auctions on the night of the event! You can start preview live and silent auction items now! CLICK HERE!
Bring your best bids and a little friendly competition to this rewarding and exciting event!
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS! Click here.
We’re using the platform GiveSmart to manage our ticket sales and auction items this year. This platform allows early check-in, streamlines bidding, and makes check-out a breeze.
Stay tuned for updates as they come in. MNHC staff, Board, and auction committee are working tirelessly to put together the greatest fundraiser yet!
Sponsorship Opportunities
Are you a business interested in being a sponsor for MNHC’s Fall Banquet and Auction? Please contact our Development Director, Kellen Beck, at kbeck@montananaturalist.org.
THANK YOU TO OUR GROWING LIST OF AUCTION SPONSORS

CLOSED for post-auction recovery
2025-10-25 | Montana Natural History Center
We will be CLOSED on Saturday, October 25th, to give our staff a post-auction rest!

Drop-In Nature Journaling
2025-10-29 11:30 - 13:00, 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!

Saturday Kids' Activity: Ice Age Animals!
2025-11-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, November 1
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, November 1st, we’ll explore Ice Age animals!
Saturday Kids’ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school.

Online Field Notes Writing Workshop, 6-Part Class – Fall 2025
2025-11-04 10:00 - 11:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Location: Virtual Classroom on Zoom
Dates: Tuesdays, November 4, 11, 18, 25, and December 2, 9
Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $225 MNHC members, $245 non-members
Explore various forms of nature writing, then research and write your own Field Note during this online, workshop-based six-part class!
Instructors:
Allison De Jong, writer, naturalist, and editor of Montana Naturalist magazine and Field Notes on Montana Public Radio
Drew Lefebvre, naturalist, writer, and owner of Turnstone Nature Education
REGISTER HERE.
In this six-part class, you’ll work with Field Notes editor Allison De Jong, naturalist Drew Lefebvre, and your fellow participants to research, write, and workshop your very own Field Note. We’ll read and discuss a variety of nature writing; brainstorm ideas; practice writing prompts; discuss tone, style, and research methods; and provide feedback for each other’s Field Notes. And you’ll have the opportunity to record your Field Note with Montana Public Radio sometime later this year, if interested. Many of the Field Notes aired since 2021 were written in previous workshops! (You can read and listen to them here.)
This class will be a delightful combination of natural history and creativity. You’ll get to explore a natural history topic of your choice, practice different writing techniques, get and give feedback on your and others’ writing in a small, supportive workshop setting, and finish the class with a lovely natural history essay that’s ready to be shared with the Montana Public Radio listening area (if you wish!).
Course fee includes a copy of our beautiful Field Notes from the Montana Natural History Center book*, a collection of 134 Field Notes as well as original artwork from dozens of naturalists from the program’s first 25 years. We’ll read and discuss several of these Field Notes in class, and the rest of the book is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Cost: $225 MNHC members, $245 non-members. You can add your MNHC membership to your order when you check out.
REGISTER FOR THE FIELD NOTES WORKSHOP HERE.
What participants are saying about this workshop:
“I loved this class. Learning to write field notes was way different than what I expected. Allison and Drew both really brought to life the importance of sharing personal experience and scientific information in story form. I learned so much about the writing process, how to refine pieces for reading aloud, and how to give a voice to the voiceless. I have much more confidence about writing field notes now, and many ideas!!”
~Marnie Craig, Spring 2020
“A complete and successful experience! Involving, stimulating. Great to experience the writing and expression abilities of the other writers. I was often amazed how the leaders and the other writers could analyze, dissect, and interpret our reading assignments and any topic of discussion. I loved the class. A learning and writing experience for sure, thank you!”
~Terry Habeger, Spring 2020
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. This class was extremely grounding in a period of big transition in my life, and it really bolstered my self-confidence to sit with a group of strangers every week and feel seen and heard. Knowing that I have the capacity to sit down and write words that make people feel excited to go outside is an incredible gift, and I am very grateful for this class for it.”
~Zola Kell, Fall 2021
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the classroom community. Would recommend taking this class for anyone interested in creative science/nature writing, either for fun or as a career.”
~Kayla Heinze, Spring 2023
“It was all so rewarding! I loved crafting a piece that felt digestible to get me back into a writing routine. I loved our 10-minute writes. The [workshopping] session was really helpful as well as the detailed suggestions and feedback from both Allison and Drew. I loved the poetry and writing pieces we read and discussed in class. It was a great class!”
~Victoria Yee, Fall 2024
“I enjoyed it all. The 6-week process was such a lovely journey together and I learned more about my writing style, how to write a field note, and it inspired me to want to be outdoors even more as spring arrives here in Montana. Allison and Drew are outstanding facilitators and writers. Their communication skills and invitation to all of us to step into and trust this process, and to create community along the way, was inspiring. It’s nice to get to the last week of a class and to be truly sorry to see it end. I know this experience touched me, expanded me as a naturalist and a writer, and as an outdoor and conservation enthusiast. This class will long be remembered. Thank you for this wonderful experience!”
~Dawn Gelderloos, Spring 2025
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.
*The cost of the Field Notes book is non-refundable (if you cancel after you’ve received the book).
*If you are unable to pick up the book from the Montana Natural History Center, we will ship it to you for an additional fee. (Choose the Field Notes Book Shipping add-on when you check out.)

Lichen Field Day with Tim Wheeler
2025-11-08 10:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Location: MNHC, walk along Kim Williams trail
Cost: $60 MNHC members/$65 non-members
REGISTER HERE!

Delve deep into the study of lichens and never look at your forest the same way again.
The Missoula valley has a high diversity of lichen species in an array of beautiful forms. Learn about the ecology and biology of lichens as you become comfortable identifying common species.
Join us this fall for a lichen presentation and field trip with Tim Wheeler, lichenologist and mycologist from the University of Montana. We will begin in the classroom with an introduction to lichens slideshow followed by a walk along the Kim Williams trail exploring saxicolous and terricolous lichen communities and then a short jaunt up the Smokejumpers Trail to investigate the epiphytic lichen communities.
Instructor: Tim Wheeler is a biologist specializing in fungi (lichenized and otherwise). He has been teaching, studying, and publishing on Montana’s mycota for over 20 years. He is currently a research scientist for the Division of Biological Sciences at UM working on the genetics and genomics of the tree of life.
Check out this National Geographic video of UM researchers’ lichen discovery.
Activity Level (please read): Moderate. Most of the walking is on flat ground. The Smokejumper Trail section is steeper and a dirt trail. This program involves multiple hours of walking and standing. Lunch will be most likely be eaten seated on the ground. There are no bathrooms along the Kim Williams Trail or Smokejumper Trail.
What to Bring:

Clothes appropriate for changing Montana weather conditions layers, rain, and more
Good walking shoes or boots
Hand lens (we have some to borrow)
Lunch
Water

Reading Materials for the Curious:

Ways of Enlichenment: Lichens of Western North America, photography by Tim Wheeler
Lichens of North America by Erwin M. Brodo, Sylvia Duran Sharnoff, and Stephen Sharnoff

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)"
2025-11-10 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
2025-11-10 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
2025-11-11 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
2025-11-12 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.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty with Mariah Gladstone of Indigikitchen
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Thursday, November 13
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: MNHC
Cost: $20 MNHC members/$25 non-members
Free for Native peoples
REGISTER HERE
Join us for an evening with Mariah Gladstone, founder of Indigikitchen and celebrated advocate for Indigenous food sovereignty, as she shares stories and recipes from her new book, Mountains to Oceans: Kids’ Recipes from Native Land. Through this engaging talk and book signing, Gladstone will explore the deep connections between culture, land, and food, highlighting the commitment to reclaiming Indigenous culinary traditions.
All tickets include an entry for a chance to win a custom gift basket containing food and beauty products from Native companies. (See details below).
About Mariah Gladstone: Mariah Gladstone (Blackfeet, Cherokee) grew up in Northwest Montana. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Environmental Engineering and returned home where she developed Indigikitchen. Mariah has been recognized as a “Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow” through the First Nations Development Institute, a “Culture of Health Leader” through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and an MIT Solve Indigenous Communities Fellow. She serves on the board of the FAST (Food Access and Sustainability Team) Blackfeet. Mariah completed her Master’s Degree at SUNY – ESF through the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.
Win This Gift Basket

Mountains to Oceans, Kids’ Recipes from Native Land by Mariah Gladstone

Desert Mint White Sage Tea (Desert Decadence, Arizona)

White Sonora Wheat Berries (Ramona Farms, Arizona)

Fish Batter Mix (Red Lake Nation Foods, Minnesota)

Highbush Cranberry Jelly (Red Lake Nation Foods, Minnesota)

70% Cacao Bar (Hacienda el Castillo, Ecuador)

Sweetgrass Sugar Scrub (Sakari Farms, Oregon)

Beaded Earrings by Mariah Gladstone

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.

Saturday Kids' Activity: Turkeys!
2025-11-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, November 15
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, November 15th, we’re talking — GOBBLE GOBBLE — turkeys!
Saturday Kids’ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school.

Sip & Sketch with Jason Poole: Drawing Dinosaur Bones
2025-11-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, November 15
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $35 MNHC members, $40 non-members
REGISTER HERE!
Find the beauty of line and form while diving into the ancient past as you learn to draw dinosaur bones!
Missoula-based artist Jason C. Poole will start the class by demonstrating drawing techniques particular to dinosaur bones and a discussion of anatomical features. As you begin your own study, Jason will provide both individual and class-wide pointers. This class is perfect for all skill levels. Enjoy a beverage (beer, wine, or sparkly water) while you work!
Instructor: Jason C. Poole has worn many hats: Adjunct Professor of Paleontology, scientific illustrator, art teacher, and paleontology field instructor. He has excavated dinosaurs on three continents, including Africa and South and North America. Paralititan, Dreadnoughtus, and Suuwassea are three dinosaurs Jason has worked on; all were new to science when discovered and two are supermassive titanosaurs. Jason is also a paleontological artist who’s been published in National Geographic and whose art work appears in many museum and private collections.
Jason resides in Missoula and can often be found sketching in the studio and the great outdoors. Or you may find him at MNHC: in addition to teaching various drawing and painting classes, Jason has hosted lectures on Montana’s ancient past, and is currently spending Tuesdays-Saturdays at MNHC preparing and conserving 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils collected by Elevation Science Institute in Carbon County, Montana, during the 2025 field season.
What to Bring:

H or 2B pencils (we will have plenty to use as well)
Sketchbook no larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inches (we will have paper to use as well)

“The skulls were there and I could say something with them. To me they are as beautiful as anything I know. To me they are strangely more living than the animals walking around…” Georgia O’Keefe
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.

Naturalist Trivia Night!
2025-11-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, November 19
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 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. Each trivia night has a theme (stay tuned). 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 a score for each team 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 26th (Thursday)
March 26th (Thursday)

Scavengers Photography Club
2025-11-20 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.
Photograph by John Snell
November’s class features Kentucky photographer John Snell who travels around the country, creating new images. Join John as he shares photographs from Yellowstone, Devil’s Tower, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Niagara Falls, among other places, as well as some tips and challenges regarding how he made these pictures.
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!

Exhibit Opening: The University of Montana Herbarium
2025-11-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Location: The Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
This is a FREE community event.
We are excited to invite you to the opening of our latest exhibit! Join us for a special evening celebrating the quiet wonders of The University of Montana Herbarium where art, history, and science come together in our newest exhibit in the Naturalist Field Station.
Enjoy light refreshments, meet the herbarium team, and mingle with other nature lovers!
Whether you’re a lifelong plant lover or just curious about how leaves become lasting records, we’d love to share this experience with you. Free and open to all!

Make a Birdseed Wreath!
2025-11-22 13:00 - 15:00 | 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.

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!
