Montana Natural History Center Events

Wednesday May 7 8:30am - 4:30pm MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Exploring Glacial Lake Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley

Date: Wednesday, May 7Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.Location: Bus to leave the Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory Street, Missoula, at 8:30, return at 4:30. Additional pick-up about 9:30 at the Forest Service, 1801 North First Street, Hamilton (please park in far ......More

Montana Natural History Center

Sunday May 11 9:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden

Dates: Sundays, starting April 27-July 13(There is no volunteering on the dates June 1, June 22, and July 6th)Time: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.Location: Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden The beautiful Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula could use volunteers to weed, transplan......More

Montana Natural History Center

Monday May 12 10:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

The miniNaturalist pre-K program encourages curiosity for the natural world.Dates: Every Monday, September – MayTime: 10:00-11:00 amLocation: Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory Street. The miniNaturalist program encourages curiosity for the natural world throug......More

Montana Natural History Center

Monday May 12 4:00pm - 8:00pm MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Spring Writing Immersion: Water, Respiration, and Flow

Date: Monday, May 12, 2025Time: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $110 MNHC members, $125 non-members REGISTER HEREJoin Chandra Brown, founder and director of the Missoula-based Freeflow Institute, for an evening steeped in the elements ......More

Montana Natural History Center

Tuesday May 13 9:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Native Plant Garden: Nature Journaling at the Fort Garden

Date: Tuesday, May 13Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.Location: Native Plant Garden at Fort MissoulaCost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members REGISTER HERE.Are you curious about how to keep a nature journal? Or are you a seasoned nature journalist looking for some new techniques and i......More

Montana Natural History Center

Tuesday May 13 6:30pm - 8:30pm MDT

Virtual Zoom Classroom

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-mi......More

Virtual Zoom Classroom

Wednesday May 14 12:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Spring Luncheon 2025: Learning for a Lifetime

Date: Wednesday, May 14thTime: 12:30-2:30 p.m.Location: Governor’s Room in the Historic Florence Building, Catering by River and Range. GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!Learning for a Lifetime!Join us for the 13th Annual Montana Natural History Center Spring Luncheon to support our Summer Camp scholarship funds! Gather with friends for a good purpose and enjoy a lovely, fresh lunch in a beautiful setting. This year, we will also take advantage of our luncheon location in Missoula’s historic downtown and join field experts on short walking tours (optional) to learn more about our region’s geology, hydrology, wildlife biology, and unique history. Attendees can choose from six different “field trips” at the time of ticket purchase. All proceeds go directly to our camp scholarship funds. When you purchase tickets for this event, you are donating to make a real and tangible difference in a child’s life. The Montana Natural History Center is committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to hear meadowlarks warbling, breathe in the vanilla fragrance of sun-warmed ponderosa pine bark, and fall in love with Montana’s wild places. Our compassionate, fun, and experienced Seasonal Naturalists help guide summer campers through Missoula’s natural spaces and encourage lifelong learning and curiosity through the lens of an artist, writer, scientist, and naturalist. All ticket holders will also be entered into a raffle for a chance to win one of five copies of Mariah Gladstone’s cookbook Mountains to Oceans: Kids’ Recipes from Native Land. Sponsorship OpportunitiesAre you a business interested in being a sponsor for MNHC’s Spring Luncheon? Please contact our Development Director, Kellen Beck, at [email protected], or click here for more information. Field Trips Aren’t Just for Kids and Campers!There is no substitute for hands-on experiences that encourage us to learn more about ourselves, our community, and our environment. And just like our campers, MNHC Spring Luncheon guests have the opportunity to learn, discover, and to take a Field Trip as we explore downtown Missoula like you’ve never seen it before! These short excursions will have you walking away with new curiosities and knowledge about our historic hub’s culture and landscape. Field Trips are optional and are offered as an added way for MNHC to show our gratitude for your attendance at our Spring Luncheon and support of our scholarship program. There’s a little something for everyone and every interest (please choose only ONE option). Sign-ups are first-come first-serve, so don’t wait to reserve your preferred option. Field Trips will follow lunch. Each tour is 30-40 minutes long and requires roughly 10 minutes of walking outside (come rain or shine), with the exception of the Wild Wanders option. This field trip remains at the Florence Building. MNHC is guided by our values that promote learning, growing, and encouraging people to discover new experiences and different environments in our natural world! We hope you will enjoy your Field Trip and never stop learning never stop exploring our remarkable Montana. About the Field Trips 1. Birding Under the BeartracksMNHC Teaching Naturalist Ryan Mahar takes you under the Beartracks Bridge on a guided birding tour. Spring offers unique opportunities to see and hear some of Montana’s most charismatic avifauna, right in the heart of town. The bridge is a great vantage point to spot cliff swallows, yellow warblers, osprey, great blue herons, bald eagles, and common goldeneyes, just to name a few. No experience is required, and all are encouraged to come! Ryan will also offer a few tips on birding by ear for beginning birders. 2. A Geologic Sense of PlaceTake a walk with us through Missoula’s ancient past, as we discuss and look at the geologic and biological history written all over its landscape. It is easy to forget that Missoula currently resides at the bottom of what was once an enormous ancient lakebed of one of the most influential geologic features of North America: Glacial Lake Missoula. This lake was so massive that when it finally drained it scarred the majority of three western states, rewriting the ecology and topography of our region. Understanding and remembering these calamities of our not-so-distant past are the crucial key to understanding the context for the beloved natural landscape we enjoy around us today. Led by MNHC Teaching Naturalist Kevin Niehaus. 3. Whoopsie Boop! Arnica Showcase with Wild WandersJoin Sydney Morical and Cathryn Raan of Wild Wanders to learn about the nitty gritty on Montana’s favorite pain reliever, arnica. We’ll learn how to identify arnica, first aid applications, chronic use cases, and how we craft the most potent medicine. This “field trip” takes place at Governor’s Room in the Florence Building and is a good option for guests with limited mobility or who would prefer to stay inside. 4. What Built This City: GeologyBruce Baty, geologist and educator, will lead you on this fascinating downtown tour to visit select iconic buildings, learning about both their geologic and cultural history. Bruce will identify the various rocks used in their construction and the stories they tell about Montana’s geology. Gain a fun, fresh perspective on Missoula’s downtown buildings! 5. Carnal Enterprises with Unseen MissoulaWhile most in Missoula are familiar with the name Mary Gleim or the brief history of Front Street’s “red light district,” many of the district’s stories remain untold, including Gleim’s and her businesses. From 1889-1917, West Front and Main Streets became home to a vibrant “restricted” community of working women, Chinese laborers, African American soldiers, and immigrants who built the environment we as Missoulians have come to love today. This field trip discusses the district through the historical lenses of sex, race, class, and occupation in order to create a broader social understanding against the backdrop of the remaining built environment. Led by Sophia Etier of Unseen Missoula. 6. Clark Fork’s Lost Islands and Hidden HistoriesThe Clark Fork River is the lifeblood of the landscape and conduit to cultural connection in our region. Comparing what we see today to historical maps and photos, we will rewind the river’s path and discover hidden treasures along the way. Learn about lost islands and a regenerating aquifer, beavers and bull trout and much more. Led by MNHC Naturalist and Community Programs Coordinator Christine Morris.

Montana Natural History Center

Thursday May 15 6:00pm - 8:00pm MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Scavengers Photography Club

Dates: Third Thursday of the MonthTime: 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 ......More

Montana Natural History Center

Saturday May 17 1:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Drawing Dinosaurs with Jason C. Poole

Date: Saturday, May 17Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $40 for MNHC members, $45 for non-members (some scholarships available – call 406.327.0405 for more information) REGISTER HEREArt and science meet in the reconstruction of an ancie......More

Montana Natural History Center

Sunday May 18 9:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden

Montana Natural History Center

Monday May 19 10:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

Montana Natural History Center

Tuesday May 20 8:15am - 10:15am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Birding for Beginners! in Greenough Park

Date: Tuesday, May 20Time: 8:15-10:15 a.m.Location: Meet at Greenough Park picnic shelter parking lot (the second one you come to on Monroe St.) REGISTER HERE!Become attuned to the bird life all around you. Through birding tips and bird stories – some wild, some comical, some incredible – you will enter the feathered world of song and drama. Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the U.S. It can be done anywhere – your backyard, local parks, across the country, or exotic locales. And identifying birds is a challenging and satisfying pastime – or, in the case of instructor Pat Jamieson, an overwhelming passion. With all the variety of birds, where do you begin? Join naturalist, birder, and retired National Bison Range ranger Pat Jamieson for a two-hour walk in Greenough Park, where we will learn how to use field guides, binoculars, and phone apps to identify birds. Best of all, we’ll be out ENJOYING birds! Once you learn to identify birds, you can become part of a growing number of citizen scientists who support conservation of our feathered friends. Instructor: Pat Jamieson is a retired National Bison Range ranger. While there she taught people of all ages about the flora and fauna of the Bison Range. Pat continues to work with UM, MNHC, and other groups to lead bird programs and tours. What to Bring: Clothes appropriate for changing weather conditions – layers, sun or shine, sunscreen, hat, sunglassesWater and snacksBinoculars (optional, we have some to borrow)Bird field guide (optional, we have some to borrow)There are a few free apps from Cornell University that help with birding (Merlin) and with contributing to citizen science (eBird). You can download those on your phone. Pat will demonstrate how to use these if folks want to follow along (optional)Cost: $35/$30 MNHC members. Some scholarships are available. Please call 406.327.0405 to inquire. 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.

Montana Natural History Center

Tuesday May 20 9:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Mount Jumbo Wildflower Walk

Date: Tuesday, May 20Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.Location: Meet at the Mount Jumbo Lincoln Hills TrailheadCost: $40 for MNHC members, $45 for non-members Taking a field trip from our regular programming at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden. This Tuesday we’ll be explorin......More

Montana Natural History Center

Wednesday May 21 7:00pm - 8:00pm MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Tribal Reconnections - Partners & Public Lands Seminar Series

Tribal Reconnections: Exploring CSKT’s and BLM’s Tribal Co-stewardship Agreement and Showcasing Our Projects Date: Wednesday, May 21Time: 7:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free!, but please register FREE REGISTRATION HERE!PARTNERS & PUBLIC LANDS SEM......More

Montana Natural History Center

Sunday May 25 9:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden

Montana Natural History Center

Tuesday May 27 9:00am - 11:00am MDT

Montana Natural History Center

Important Shrubs for a Native Plant Garden

Date: Tuesday, May 27Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.Location: Hickory Street Garden (120 Hickory Street)Cost: $30 MNHC members/$35 non-members REGISTER HERE.Did you know that MNHC maintains two native plant gardens? One is located at Fort Missoula and the other is located on the ......More

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Exploring Glacial Lake Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

Spring Writing Immersion: Water, Respiration, and Flow

Native Plant Garden: Nature Journaling at the Fort Garden

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #1

Spring Luncheon 2025: Learning for a Lifetime

Scavengers Photography Club

Drawing Dinosaurs with Jason C. Poole

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

Birding for Beginners! in Greenough Park

Mount Jumbo Wildflower Walk

Tribal Reconnections - Partners & Public Lands Seminar Series

Volunteering at Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden

Important Shrubs for a Native Plant Garden

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