Montana Natural History Center

Nature Writing "Hush Hour(s)"
2027-04-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-05-10 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | 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. We’ll have light refreshments available.

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2
2027-04-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-05-10 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-06-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-07-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-08-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-09-13 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-10-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-11-08 18:30 - 20:30 and 1 more date | 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
2027-04-13 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-05-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-06-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-07-13 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-08-10 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-09-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-10-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2027-11-09 18:30 - 20:30 and 1 more date | 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
2027-04-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-05-12 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-06-09 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-07-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-08-11 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-09-08 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-10-13 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-11-10 14:00 - 16:00 and 1 more date | 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.

Master Naturalist II - Summer 2027
2027-06-22 09:00 - 15:00 | Montana Natural History Center
Summer 2027 Master Naturalist Certification II Course
June 22-26, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
REGISTER HERE – registration coming January 1, 2027.
This course is for anyone who has certified as a Master Naturalist in Montana or elsewhere or has the professional/academic background to begin with a level II course. This level II certification course consists of at of instruction in a mix of lectures, in-class labs, and outdoor field trips. We will build on the foundations established in our Master Naturalist level I course by advancing skills in topics such as birding by ear, nature journalling, plant family ID, grasses, ecology, and invertebrate ID.
If you are taking this for your initial certification you will have pre-course work and homework throughout the week to reach the required 40 hours of content.
The course will be taught by an amazing selection of instructors, all experts in their field.
More information coming soon.
The class will be be based at the Montana Natural History Center. Travel to field sites will be by MNHC bus. Activity level will be easy to moderate with potential extended time standing and/or sitting in the field.
Registration Information:

Cost: $425/$400 members
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.
Some scholarships are available–please contact us at 406.327.0405 for details.

Master Naturalist Certification requirements:

Full attendance
Complete your field journal and final exercise
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 to the natural world, as well as 8 hours of continuing education per year.

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 for your journal 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
