Using our natural history exhibits, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, MNHC naturalists provide a guided program for your group.
To schedule your visit, fill out our online form.
Museum field trips for all ages take place year-round at the Montana Natural History Center. We schedule programs Monday – Friday between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. based on naturalist availability. Please contact us well in advance to secure your date and time!
Please note: Due to MNHC summer camps, we generally cannot accommodate museum field trips from June through August. If you would like to have a naturalist come to your location to run a program, please fill out that form here.
Fees:
The following prices include admission to the museum for all students in the group as well as for teachers and chaperones. For the best educational experience, we ask that groups larger than 30 be split into smaller sections. If our fee structure presents a problem for you and your school, please contact us. We are happy to work with you as much as we can to provide access to your students.
- Up to 10 students: $75 per group
- 11-20 students: $100 per group
- 21-30 students: $125 per group
Join MNHC’s Teacher Benefits Program for discounts on Field Trips and more!
Do any classes in your school participate in our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Program? If so, your school is eligible for a 20% off discount! Please reach out to Hope at hensminger@montananaturalist.org or 406.327.0405 for more details.
Choose from the following hands-on lessons:
- Skull Detectives (recommended for 1st – 5th): Students play detectives as they learn about the characteristics that make up different animal skulls and sleuth the identity of skull specimens.
- Seed Dispersal: Engineering Challenge (recommended for 1st – 5th): In this activity, students will observe types of seeds, explore why so many plants put their seeds inside a container, and engineer their own seed container to meet a specific habitat.
- Animals in Winter (recommended for pre-K – 2nd): In this lesson, we will discuss how animals in Montana adapt to winter conditions by migrating, hibernating, or tolerating the changes outside.
- Fill the Bill (recommended for all ages): Students will conduct an experiment to model how effective different bird beak shapes are at eating various types of food.
All of these topics (excluding Fossil Frenzy and The Letter B), as well as custom naturalist experiences such as guided nature walks, can also take place at a location of your choosing through our Traveling Naturalist program.
Schools are responsible for their own transportation and must be accompanied by at least one teacher from school. We request at least one chaperone for every eight students. Chaperone admission is included in the program cost. MNHC reserves the right to cancel or shorten any Museum Field Trip if the group arrives late. Museum Field Trips should be booked at least three weeks in advance to ensure an open date.
Fill out our online Museum Field Trip Request form, or call 406.327.0405 to learn more.
