Summary of Events from January 27, 2024 – December 19, 2023 – Montana Natural History Center

Dec 2025
- Wed 10
  - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
    
    Master Naturalist Club
    
    FREE
  - 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
    
    Missoula’s Cultural Heritage and the Clark Fork River – An Ever-Changing Landscape
    
    $15 – $20
- Fri 12
  - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
    
    Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole
  - 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
    
    Gallery Exhibit Opening: The Artistry of Herbariums
- Sat 13
  - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
    
    Saturday Kids’ Activity: Hibernation Celebration!
    
    FREE
- Tue 16
  - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
    
    miniNaturalist Pre-K Program
    
    Free
  - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
    
    Naturalist Trivia Night: Winter Ecology!
- Wed 17
  - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
    
    Sip & Sketch: Create a Phenology Wheel
    
    $30 – $35
- Thu 18
  - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    
    Scavengers Photography Club
    
    FREE
- Fri 19
  - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
    
    Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole
- Tue 23
  - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
    
    miniNaturalist Pre-K Program
    
    Free
- Thu 25
  - All day
    
    MNHC Holiday Closure
- Fri 26
  - All day
    
    MNHC Holiday Closure
- Sat 27
  - All day
    
    MNHC Holiday Closure

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
0 events 1 0 events, 1	1 event 2 1 event, 2 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program December 2 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program 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. […] Free	1 event 3 1 event, 3 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Make a Mini Wreath at Western Cider December 3 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Make a Mini Wreath at Western Cider 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 […] $20 – $25	0 events 4 0 events, 4	2 events 5 2 events, 5 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole December 5 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jason’s uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHC's Naturalist Classroom / Fossil Prep Lab Date: Fridays Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m. Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Science Institute, MNHC is hosting paleontologist Jason C. Poole at the Center to prepare and conserve dinosaur […], 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm MNHC’s 2025 Holiday Bazaar December 5 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm MNHC’s 2025 Holiday Bazaar 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 […] FREE	2 events 6 2 events, 6 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Make a Mini Wreath at MNHC! December 6 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Make a Mini Wreath at MNHC! 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 […] $20 – $25, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday Kids’ Activity: Snow Science! December 6 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday Kids’ Activity: Snow Science! 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 […] FREE	0 events 7 0 events, 7
2 events 8 2 events, 8 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Nature Writing “Hush Hour(s)” December 8 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Nature Writing “Hush Hour(s)” 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 […], 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2 December 8 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2 Date: Monthly, on the second Monday 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 […] Free	2 events 9 2 events, 9 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program December 9 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program 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. […] Free, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1 December 9 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1 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 […] free	2 events 10 2 events, 10 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Master Naturalist Club December 10 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Master Naturalist Club 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. December Topic: Taxidermy and Behind the […] FREE, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Missoula’s Cultural Heritage and the Clark Fork River – An Ever-Changing Landscape December 10 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Missoula’s Cultural Heritage and the Clark Fork River – An Ever-Changing Landscape 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 […] $15 – $20	0 events 11 0 events, 11	2 events 12 2 events, 12 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole December 12 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jason’s uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHC's Naturalist Classroom / Fossil Prep Lab Date: Fridays Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m. Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Science Institute, MNHC is hosting paleontologist Jason C. Poole at the Center to prepare and conserve dinosaur […], 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Gallery Exhibit Opening: The Artistry of Herbariums December 12 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Gallery Exhibit Opening: The Artistry of Herbariums 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 […]	1 event 13 1 event, 13 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday Kids’ Activity: Hibernation Celebration! December 13 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday Kids’ Activity: Hibernation Celebration! 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 […] FREE	0 events 14 0 events, 14
0 events 15 0 events, 15	2 events 16 2 events, 16 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program December 16 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program 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. […] Free, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Naturalist Trivia Night: Winter Ecology! December 16 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Naturalist Trivia Night: Winter Ecology! 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 […]	1 event 17 1 event, 17 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Sip & Sketch: Create a Phenology Wheel December 17 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Sip & Sketch: Create a Phenology Wheel 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, […] $30 – $35	1 event 18 1 event, 18 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Scavengers Photography Club December 18 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Scavengers Photography Club 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 […] FREE	1 event 19 1 event, 19 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole December 19 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jason’s uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHC's Naturalist Classroom / Fossil Prep Lab Date: Fridays Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m. Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Science Institute, MNHC is hosting paleontologist Jason C. Poole at the Center to prepare and conserve dinosaur […]	0 events 20 0 events, 20	0 events 21 0 events, 21
0 events 22 0 events, 22	1 event 23 1 event, 23 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program December 23 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program 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. […] Free	0 events 24 0 events, 24	1 event 25 1 event, 25 2025-12-25 MNHC Holiday Closure MNHC Holiday Closure December 25 - December 27 MNHC Holiday Closure 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!	1 event 26 1 event, 26 2025-12-25 MNHC Holiday Closure	1 event 27 1 event, 27 2025-12-25 MNHC Holiday Closure	0 events 28 0 events, 28
0 events 29 0 events, 29	1 event 30 1 event, 30 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program December 30 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am miniNaturalist Pre-K Program 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. […] Free	0 events 31 0 events, 31

There are no events on this day.

December 2

December 2 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

December 3

December 3 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Make a Mini Wreath at Western Cider

There are no events on this day.

December 5

December 5 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole

December 5 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

MNHC’s 2025 Holiday Bazaar

December 6

December 6 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Make a Mini Wreath at MNHC!

December 6 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Saturday Kids’ Activity: Snow Science!

There are no events on this day.

December 8

December 8 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Nature Writing “Hush Hour(s)”

December 8 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2

December 9

December 9 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

December 9 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1

December 10

December 10 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Master Naturalist Club

December 10 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Missoula’s Cultural Heritage and the Clark Fork River – An Ever-Changing Landscape

There are no events on this day.

December 12

December 12 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole

December 12 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Gallery Exhibit Opening: The Artistry of Herbariums

December 13

December 13 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Saturday Kids’ Activity: Hibernation Celebration!

There are no events on this day.

There are no events on this day.

December 16

December 16 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

December 16 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Naturalist Trivia Night: Winter Ecology!

December 17

December 17 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Sip & Sketch: Create a Phenology Wheel

December 18

December 18 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Scavengers Photography Club

December 19

December 19 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole

There are no events on this day.

There are no events on this day.

There are no events on this day.

December 23

December 23 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

There are no events on this day.

December 25

All day

MNHC Holiday Closure

December 25

All day

MNHC Holiday Closure

December 25

All day

MNHC Holiday Closure

There are no events on this day.

There are no events on this day.

December 30

December 30 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

January 2

January 2, 2026 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole

There are no events on this day.

January 1

All day

CLOSED for the HOLIDAYS!

January 2

January 2, 2026 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole

There are no events on this day.

There are no events on this day.