Montana Natural History Center

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2
2027-02-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-03-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-04-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-05-10 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Virtual Zoom Classroom
Date: Monthly, on the second Monday of the month (except January, May, June, July, and August)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location/Platform: Virtual Zoom Classroom
The only thing better than reading a fascinating natural history book (and there are so many of them!) is getting to discuss it with a wonderful group of like-minded people. We can help you do that! Join one of our free naturalist book clubs, where you can read and discuss a great new book each month, enjoying various perspectives and insights, all from the comfort of your own home. (Cozy pjs are perfectly acceptable attire.) This book club meets September-April and breaks for the summer.
Book List
SEPTEMBER: “In Trees: An Exploration” by Robert Moor
OCTOBER: “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” byElizabeth Tova Bailey
NOVEMBER: “Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit” by Lynda Lynn Haupt
DECEMBER: “The Secret Wisdom of Nature” by Peter Wohllleben
FEBRUARY (NO MEETING IN JANUARY) “Made for Each Other: A Symbiosis of Birds and Pines” by Ronald M Lanner
MARCH: “A Year in the Maine Woods” by Bernd Heinrich
APRIL: “The Secret Life of Clams” by Anthony Fredericks
The club pauses for January and breaks from May-August.
Your hosts is Sherry Staub. Sherry has led the Sacajawea book club for over two years in Bozeman and has extensively read in the nature book genre.
You will need a computer that can access the internet and Zoom platform in order to participate.
Interested in joining? There are spaces available! Email Christine at cmorris [at] montananaturalist [dot] org to sign up.
Group is limited to 10 participants.

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program
2027-02-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2027-02-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2027-02-23 10:00 - 11:00, 2027-03-02 10:00 - 11:00, 2027-03-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2027-03-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2027-03-23 10:00 - 11:00, 2027-03-30 10:00 - 11:00 and 6 more dates | 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!

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

Master Naturalist Club
2027-02-10 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-03-10 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-04-14 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.
June Topic: TBA
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.

Drop-In Nature Journaling
2027-02-24 11:30 - 13:00, 2027-03-31 11:30 - 13:00, 2027-04-28 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!
2026-2027 dates:
September 30th, 2026
October 28th, 2026
November 25th, 2026
NO SESSION in DECEMBER
January 27th, 2027
February 24th, 2027
March 31st, 2027
April 28th, 2027
May 26th, 2027

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)"
2027-03-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-04-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-05-10 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 10-20 minutes inviting individuals to share what projects you’re working on, questions you might have about your work, suggest resources, any hurdles or writing blocks, and writing successes! Then we’ll write, write, write.
Bring your notebook, journal, or computer. Writing prompts will be available if you’re feeling stuck, or just want to play with words. Your MNHC group leaders are Allison De Jong (Montana Naturalist magazine editor and MNHC Field Notes instructor, and writer) and Beth Conway (Events and Marketing Coordinator, and writer).
Feel free to BYOB and snacks/dinner. Light refreshments provided.
