miniNaturalist Pre-K Program
2026-01-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-27 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-17 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-03 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Denver) | 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!

How to Know the Minerals: Crystallization and Identification
2026-01-21 09:00 - 11:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00
Location: MNHC
Cost: $20 MNHC members/$25 non-members.
Add your MNHC membership to your order when you check out!
Part 1 of a 2-part course. Sign up for one or both! Learn about part 2 here.
REGISTER HERE
Have you ever held a crystal in your hand and wondered how it formed?
Quartz, jasper, agate and chalcedony are all formed from the same elements, silicon and oxygen, yet they display wonderful variation in form and color. The science behind crystal formation and the chemical composition of minerals is a fascinating exploration of our earth’s treasures. Join geologist Bruce Baty and his extensive collection of mineral specimens to learn how to identify minerals and to find out how and why crystals form.
Instructor: Bruce Baty graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1967 with a major in geology. In September of 1967 he enrolled in a master’s graduate program in geology at the University of Montana. While there, he taught some undergraduate geology lab courses and enjoyed the challenge of designing course work, tests, and working with students. As a result of those experiences, Bruce graduated with a master’s degree in geology with a teaching endorsement in earth science. He taught geology and earth science at Hellgate High School for the next thirty years, retiring from teaching in 2001.
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.

Naturalist Trivia Night - Winter Ecology!
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Thursday, January 22
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)
Register here:

Winter Fireside Storytelling with Chris La Tray
2026-01-23 18:00 - 21:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: The Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula (directions)
Cost: $10 MNHC members/$15 non-members
Free for Native peoples.
REGISTER HERE!
For millennia, Indigenous people passed the winter telling stories. Some stories – particularly trickster stories – were allowed to be told only in winter, or when the land was covered with snow. This winter, spend an evening with Anishinaabe/Métis storyteller and 11th Montana poet laureate Chris La Tray and the Montana Natural History Center in
dipping our toes fireside into this ancient, inter-tribal tradition.
THIS IS AN OUTDOOR, WINTER EVENT
This is an evening, wintry, outdoor event – there will be cold and snow. Please dress for the weather and note that there will be very limited artificial light. There will be an outdoor bonfire to keep us warm and light our way. Guests should bring their own camp chairs (MNHC will NOT be providing). A porta potty will be onsite and available for use.
Includes hot beverages (such as cider and hot chocolate).
About Chris La Tray: Chris La Tray is a Métis storyteller, a descendent of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North and a citizen of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. His third book, Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home, was published by Milkweed Editions on August 20, 2024 and has received a number of accolades including a Pacific Northwest Book Award and a Writing the West Award, and Best Memoir of the Year selections from both People and Esquire magazines. His first book, One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large won the 2018 Montana Book Award and a 2019 High Plains Book Award. His book of haiku and haibun poetry, Descended from a Travel-worn Satchel, was published in 2021 by Foothills Publishing. Chris served as the 2025 Kittredge Distinguished Visiting Writer at the University of Montana and was awarded the 2025 Montana Heritage Keeper Award by the Montana Historical Society. Chris writes the weekly newsletter “An Irritable Métis” and lives near Frenchtown, Montana. He was the 11th Montana Poet Laureate, holding that post for 2023–2025.
www.chrislatray.com
https://chrislatray.substack.com

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.

How to Know the Ore Minerals: Mining and Identification
2026-01-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: MNHC
Cost: $20 MNHC members/$25 non-members
Add your MNHC membership to your order when you check out!
Part 1 of a 2-part course. Sign up for one or both! Learn about part 1 here.
REGISTER HERE
From early gold rushes, silver claims, copper kings and the Berkeley pit, the mineral ores take center stage in the Montana’s extractive resource history.
Join geologist Bruce Baty and his extensive collection of mineral specimens to learn how to identify the mineral ores. You will also find out how they are mined, concentrated, and turned into useful products. Using techniques like the Moh’s hardness scale and streak plates you will get to investigate the ores hands-on!
Instructor: Bruce Baty graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1967 with a major in geology. In September of 1967 he enrolled in a master’s graduate program in geology at the University of Montana. While there, he taught some undergraduate geology lab courses and enjoyed the challenge of designing course work, tests, and working with students. As a result of those experiences, Bruce graduated with a master’s degree in geology with a teaching endorsement in earth science. He taught geology and earth science at Hellgate High School for the next thirty years, retiring from teaching in 2001.
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.

Drop-In Nature Journaling
2026-01-28 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-02-25 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!

Certified Interpretive Guiding Course
2026-01-29 08:30 - 2026-02-01 17:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Dates: Thursday, January 29 – Sunday, February 1
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Thursday & Friday – Montana Natural History Center; Saturday & Sunday – Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Cost: $600 regular registration (includes a complimentary one-year NAI membership)
$525 with NAI member discount. Student discounts available (please contact MNHC at 406.327.0405 for more information).
Register with the National Association of Interpretation.
About this Course
The nationally recognized Certificate of Interpretive Guiding (CIG) program is designed for anyone wanting to learn more about developing and leading interpretive programs. This course will introduce you to the history, definitions, and principles of interpretation. During the course, you will develop a program outline and deliver a 10-minute thematic presentation, all with the support of your instructor(s) and fellow participants. You will learn how to make your programs purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic, and leave ready to facilitate meaningful experiences that inspire engagement with the world around us.
Join instructors from both the natural interpretation and historical interpretation world for this great class. Class will be held at the Montana Natural History Center for the first two days and the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula for the final two.
Before the start of the course, you will receive information from your instructors on how the course will work and the times you will be meeting.
Instructors: Kristjana Eyjólfsson and Christine Morris
Special Terms and Cancellations
Courses may be canceled due to low enrollment. If this course is canceled, NAI will contact you, and you will receive a full refund.
Cancellations requested before January 22, 2026: will be subject to a $75 cancellation fee; no refunds will be issued after this date. If you need to cancel your registration it must be emailed to certificate@nai-us.org.
Register with the National Association of Interpretation.

Winter Raptor Excursion
2026-02-07 09:00 - 16:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, February 7
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: meet at MNHC, travel to the Ninepipe in MNHC bus
Cost: $100 MNHC members/$110 non-members
REGISTER HERE!
Registration closes on Monday, February 2nd.
Enjoy the beauty and majesty of Montana’s winter raptors while learning key identification techniques, anatomy, and behaviors.
Naturalist Brian Williams will begin the day with an in-class orientation and a series of journaling exercises to reinforce field mark recognition. We will then move into the field to practice our skills and gain greater understanding of raptor behavior and ecology.
Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and the Mission Valley provide spectacular raptor viewing opportunities including: rough legged hawks, harriers, kestrels, merlins, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and more.
Instructor: Brian Williams sharpened his birding chops under the Montana Natural History Center’s first staff naturalist – Charles Miller – in the early 2000s. Since then he has worked as a professional bird guide in South Texas, staff naturalist at MNHC, 4th-grade teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School, and, most recently, a Forester for the State of Montana. He coordinated the Christmas Bird Count at the Ninepipe NWR for 10 years.

We will meet at the Montana Natural History Center and travel by bus to the field site.
Activity level: easy. minimal walking, less than one mile. Frequent getting on and off the bus. Potentially cold temperatures. Please bring whatever you need to be comfortable in cold weather.
Minimal bathroom breaks.

Please Bring:

Warm clothes! Hand and toe warmers, layers, hat, etc.
Boots
Water
Lunch and snacks
Journal
Binoculars (MNHC has some to borrow)
ID guide of your choice (MNHC has copies to borrow)
Whatever you need to be comfortable on and off the bus

Recommended reading:

Hawks in Flight by Pete Dunne, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton (Brian’s Favorite)
Hawks from Every Angle: How to Identify Raptors by Jerry Liguori
A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors by Brian K. Wheeler
Raptors of the West: Captured in Photographs by Kate Davis, Rob Palmer, and Nick Dunlap

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.
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2.

Saturday Kids’ Activity: Big Fauna of Montana
2026-02-07 11:00 - 13:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, February 7
Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 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 11:00 a.m and 1:00 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, February 7th we’ll explore the big fauna of Montana!!
Saturday Kids’ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school.
Dates and themes for 2026 Saturday Kids’ Activities at MNHC are:
• January 24: Creatures of the Night
• February 7: Big Fauna of Montana
• February 21: Glow in the Dark
• March 7: Geology
• March 28: Beavers
• April 11: Ospreys
• April 25: Slimy Creatures
• May 2: Flowers

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)" - CANCELED
2026-02-09 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
THE FEBRUARY 9TH SESSION OF NATURE WRITING “HUSH HOUR(S)” IS CANCELED. We hope you can join us in March.
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. We’ll have light refreshments available.

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2
2026-02-09 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
2026-02-10 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
2026-02-11 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.

Spring 2026 Master Naturalist Certification - 12 Week Wednesday Course
2026-02-11 16:00 - 19:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Wednesdays, February 11 – May 6
4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Cost: $425 MNHC members/$450 non-members. Some scholarships are available – please contact us at 327.0405 for details.
3 UM credits available. This course is listed at UM ENST 391. A $155 fee is required to UM Extended Credits to take the class for credit. Credit registration and payment will be conducted at MNHC in class.
REGISTER HERE! Registration closes January 21
Our certification courses consist of at least 40 hours of instruction in a mix of lectures, in-class labs, and outdoor field trips. We’ll cover a wide breadth of topics with the goal of giving you an essential foundation of skill and knowledge on which you can build.
“The course has helped me to be more curious, observant, and connected with my surroundings. I’ve met people who share this passion, their experiences, and curiosity with whom I can wander and wonder.”– 2023 Master Naturalist
“Revelatory and life changing.” – 2025 Master Naturalist
Taught by MNHC Naturalist Christine Morris and guest instructors, this class:

is a 12-week course
runs on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 pm (no class March 18, the week of UM’s spring break)
includes 2 full-day Saturday field trips, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., tentatively scheduled on February 21 and April 18.

This course will enable you to interpret the landscape on your own; to pry out its secrets and share those secrets with others; to take in the natural world first hand rather than through a guide. This confidence begins with knowing the details: the names of the local flowers, birds, trees, and butterflies. Throughout the course you will practice specific naturalist skills and gain foundational knowledge that will assist in your engagement with the natural world for years to come.
See our local forests in new light as you learn about the role our conifers play in a coordinated ecology with fire and snow pack moisture. Or marvel in the diversity of lichen. Spend an entire day identifying winter raptors in the Mission valley. Become attuned to bird songs and butterfly wings. Get a handle on flower identification by recognizing patterns in form. Our emphasis will be on learning how to identify local flora, fauna, and landscape processes while gaining insight on how each part is connected.
Guest instructors include:

botanist and author Peter Lesica
botanist and Missoula College instructor Greg Peters
naturalist Kelly Dix
birder Chadwick Moore
MNHC communications coordinator Allison De Jong
MNHC naturalist Ryan Mahar
geologist Ian Watson
MNHC ED and botanist Marilyn Marler

The class will be be based at the Montana Natural History Center. Travel to field sites will be by MNHC bus.
See sample syllabus here (some elements could be subject to change).
Registration Information:

Cost: $450/$425 members. Some scholarships are available – please contact us at 327.0405 for details.
Full payment due upon registration. The course fee (minus a $100 administrative fee) is refundable ONLY if a cancellation is made 30 days before the first day of class. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline.
3 UM credits available. This course is listed at UM ENST 391. A $155 fee is required to UM Extended Credits to take the class for credit. Credit registration and payment will be conducted at MNHC in class.

Master Naturalist Certification requirements:

Attend at least 40 hours of instruction.
Complete journal entries and a final project.

If you want to maintain your certification in years to come (and earn successive Master Naturalist pins), you’ll have to log 20 hours of volunteer service per year with organizations connected with the natural world, as well as 8 hours of continuing education per year.
*If you have a significant background in the natural sciences or hold a Master Naturalist certificate from another state or Montana provider, you may want to start with Master Naturalist II.
For more information on volunteer service & continuing education requirements, click here.
Recommended Materials:
The only required material is a blank journal. We will provide details and recommendations on the first day of class. Everything else can be borrowed or used in class from our supply. Each student will receive a Master Naturalist Handbook.

binoculars (we have plenty to borrow)
hand lens or loupe
blank journal (required)
micron or small sharpie pen
colored pencils or watercolor pencils
bird guide such as Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds of Western North America
Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel
plant/flower guide such as Wildflowers of Montana or Plants of the Rocky Mountains
insect guide such as Kaufman’s Guide to Insects of North America

Register here by JANUARY 21st:

Reimagining Relatedness Writing Workshop: Lessons from the Fluvial, Fungal, and Forestal
2026-02-17 17:30 - 20:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $110 MNHC members, $125 non-members. You can purchase an MNHC membership when you register.
REGISTER HERE!
Join MNHC for an evening of creative imagining of and exploratory writing about systems and relationships. Everyone is welcome. Ahead of our session together, you’ll be invited to read a few pieces of remarkable, thought-provoking prose that challenge traditional concepts of the “nature writing” genre. You’ll also be invited to respond to a prompt with your own writing and/or art. During our workshop together, we’ll write more, bravely share our work, and playfully grapple with evolving questions around relationality, collaboration, and natural systems. Chandra Brown, founder of the Missoula-based outdoor arts organization Freeflow Institute, will facilitate.
Early registration is encouraged to allow time for reading materials prior to the class.
Instructor Chandra Brown is an educator, river guide, and writer originally from Alaska. She has worked within the realm of river conservation since her 2010 Fulbright grant to Ecuador, and she founded Freeflow Institute in 2017. Her stories can be found in places like Adventure Journal, The Dirtbag Diaries, Kayak Session, NRS, and Patagonia. Chandra earned her M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana and has called Missoula home since 2014.
Light refreshments provided. Attendees are welcome to bring additional food, snacks, and/or drinks.
Because of the pre-work participants will be asked to do, we ask you to register by Thursday, February 12th.
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.

Wild Love Trivia Night!
2026-02-18 19:00 - 21:00
Date: Wednesday, February 18th
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: The Balsamroot Conference Room at the Missoula County Extension Office, 1075 South Ave W at the Missoula Fairgrounds
Cost: $10 a person, $5 for university/college students – this is an ages 18+ event 😉
REGISTER HERE
Join us for a special Naturalist Trivia Night at the Missoula County Extension Office at the Fairgrounds! This “Wild Love” Naturalist Trivia, created by volunteer hosts Leigh and Kylie, is a hilarious hit every year with questions focused on…you know it! Plant and animal anatomy and mating.
You can bring a team or join one when you arrive. Naturalist Trivia Nights are a great way to learn about our local natural world. Come to show off your skills or acquire new knowledge.
There are usually 4 rounds of questions. Some rounds are verbal, others visual or even auditory (guess that sound!). Two hours later, one team will be the winner.

Please note the location for this event: Missoula County Extension Office’s Balsamroot Conference Room at the Missoula Fairgrounds! In the past we’ve over-filled the room at MNHC and needed a bigger spot.
Food will not be served at this event and it is BYOB.
Tickets are $10 a person or $5 for university/college students. Teams can be made up of 5-10 people!
This is a popular event and registration is recommended to save your spot.

FAQs:
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Nope! We will have a list of all the attendees.

Scavengers Photography Club
2026-02-19 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 Kathy Eyster
For February’s class, we’ll focus on still life photography. Still life photography is all around us in images of food and cooking, in fine art creations, as well as advertisements for products of all kinds. Photographer Kathy Eyster will offer suggestions on arranging and photographing this widely used genre.
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!

Cabin Fever Lecture! Glacial Ice History in Mission Valley and Vicinity
2026-02-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, February 20
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: Free, but please register. Donations accepted.
It’s that time of the year! Time to contemplate ice ages and glacial lakes.Time for the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute’s Cabin Fever Lecture! Warm up your curiosity about glacial ice history in the Mission Valley with geologist Skye Cooley.
REGISTER HERE!
About the Instructor: Skye Cooley is a Montana-based field geologist and geomorphologist specializing in quaternary geology, paleosols (ancient soils), and GIS mapping, currently focused on the Mission Valley. Based in Ronan, MT, he has a diverse background including contract mapping for the Idaho Geological Survey, teaching at Boise State, and serving as a soil scientist.

Saturday Kids' Activity: Glow in the Dark!
2026-02-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 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 11:00 a.m and 1:00 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, February 21st we’ll explore natural wonders that glow in the dark.
Saturday Kids’ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school.
Dates and themes for 2026 Saturday Kids’ Activities at MNHC are:
• January 24: Creatures of the Night
• February 7: Big Fauna of Montana
• February 21: Glow in the Dark
• March 7: Geology
• March 28: Beavers
• April 11: Ospreys
• April 25: Slimy Creatures
• May 2: Flowers

The Blackfoot Place Map: Prehistoric Land and Animal Management
2026-02-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $10 MNHC members/$15 non-members
Free for Native people.
REGISTER HERE.
Souta Calling Last, has made it a mission to map significant sites of traditional Blackfoot places of creation, animal management, prehistoric presence, and more for the Blackfoot Place Map that is part of the watershed and land management tool. From bison corrals to fasting shelters, and from buffalo jumps to rock art and effigies, she has spent more than 10 years mapping 1,000 sites (200 of them public) not only in Montana but in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Join us on February 25th to learn more about Souta Calling Last’s work.
More about Souta Calling Last: Souta Calling Last, Blackfeet/Blood Nations, is the Founder and Director of Indigenous Vision, Inc., a non-profit whose mission is to re-vitalize Indigenous peoples, culture and land. For over 18 years she has focused her efforts around water quality, mining contamination clean-up, and water-treatment working for tribal and federal governments. She believes that land and Indigenous peoples knowledge are inextricably linked and that sustainable land management must include Indigenous perspectives.

Confident Color Mixing for Journaling with Nancy Seiler (Part 2)
2026-02-27 09:00 - 12:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Friday, February 27
Time: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Location: The Montana Natural History Center
Cost: $45 MNHC members, $50 non-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! As a follow up to the August, 2025 color mixing class, which will be summarized before we start, you’ll continue to understand how to choose colors to match the natural objects that you see. Nancy will 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.
Please note that participation in Part 1 of this workshop is NOT a requirement for the February class. All interested parties are welcome.
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 provided natural objects. Nancy will assist you to achieve color matches.
Instructor: Nancy Seiler received her Visual Communications degree from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1981. She has taught classical botanical illustration and nature journaling since 2003. Nancy has been painting in acrylics since 2009. She has exhibited her paintings and classical botanical illustrations since 2002. Her work is represented by Frame of Reference Fine Art in Whitefish and Bigfork, Montana.
What to Bring:

your watercolor set
watercolor paper or watercolor/mixed media journal
#8 round brush or smaller
graphite pencil and eraser
micro pen any size point
we will have some of these materials available to use at MNHC if you need them!

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:

iNaturalist Workshop
2026-03-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Date: Thursday, March 5th
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center
Cost: FREE, but please register
REGISTER HERE
Snap a photo of your nature observations wherever you roam to conserve our state’s remarkable wild diversity!
Can using a phone app help scientists with conservation work? Bryce Maxell, program director at the Montana Natural Heritage Program, will show you how to collect and access information on Montana’s plants and animals using iNaturalist. He’ll also explain how agencies use your data to inform conservation of native species and control of invasive species. Come learn about this fun interactive learning tool!
The Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) is Montana’s source for reliable and objective information on over 18,000 different species and habitats that occur in Montana, emphasizing those of conservation concern. The MTNHP has centralized over 6.1 million observation records and over 515,000 surveys for species, assigned conservation status ranks to over 5,000 species, constructed predicted habitat suitability models for over 2,300 species, and created predicted biodiversity layers for vertebrates, species of conservation concern, and noxious weeds. This and other information the MTNHP manages informs stakeholders in a variety of environmental review, permitting, and planning processes and it can be easily accessed by anyone on the program’s Montana Field Guide, Map Viewer, Species Snapshot, and other web pages.
iNaturalist is an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you while generating data for science and conservation. Get connected with a community of millions scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research-quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.
Instructor: Bryce Maxell (PhD in Fish and Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana) is the Program Coordinator with the Montana Natural Heritage Program. He has worked with the MTNHP in various capacities dating back to 1996 and has led the program in since 2015. Bryce has conducted research on seaweeds in the Puget Sound, a number of species in Australia and New Zealand, and Harlequin Ducks, amphibians, reptiles, bats, and invasive species in Montana.

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)"
2026-03-09 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.
