miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

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

The miniNaturalist pre-K program encourages curiosity for the natural world.Dates: Every Tuesday, September – MayTime: 10:00-11:00 amLocation: 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!

Montana Natural History Center

Naturalist Trivia Night: Winter Ecology!

Date: Tuesday, December 16Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: 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 arr......More

Date: Tuesday, December 16Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: 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 HEREBYOB 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)

Montana Natural History Center

Sip & Sketch: Create a Phenology Wheel

Date: Wednesday, December 17thTime: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $30 for MNHC members, $35 for non-members REGISTER HEREAre you looking for a reflective, inspiring, fun new project for 2026? Start a daily phenology wheel! Phenology is th......More

Date: Wednesday, December 17thTime: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $30 for MNHC members, $35 for non-members REGISTER HEREAre 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, when birds migrate, when trees leaf out, when butterflies emerge, when the snow falls, and so much more. Taking a few minutes each day to observe and record these changes can add up to something truly beautiful over time, and we’d love to help you get started. And there’s no better time than just before the beginning of a new year! During this program you’ll create the template for your daily phenology wheel for January 2026, and ponder the possibilities for how you’ll fill it in come the new year. You can experiment with colored pencils and other media, practice different forms of lettering, and look at various examples of other naturalists’ phenology wheels for inspiration. We’ll provide drawing paper, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, drawing pencils, micron pens, templates, and rulers for you to use during the program, but please feel free to take along your own favorite art materials. (A compass and protractor, if you have them, can also come in handy!) You may also want to purchase a sketchpad for this project (we recommend a larger size, 8.5″x11″ or 9″x12″), but you can easily paste or tape your template into your own sketchbook later. Ticket includes two beverages! We’ll have alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available.  About the instructor: Allison De Jong is the editor of Montana Naturalist magazine and Field Notes at the Montana Natural History Center. She has no formal art training but has picked up a thing or two about nature journaling in her years at MNHC, and is proof that anyone can learn to keep a nature journal or phenology wheel! She began her first phenology wheel in January 2021, and has been phenologizing daily ever since. She’s looking forward to starting year #6—and to inspiring a few more people to join her. 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:

Montana Natural History Center

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 ......More

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 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 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. 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!

Montana Natural History Center

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 LabDate: FridaysTime: 1:00-2:00 p.m.Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Scie......More

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 LabDate: FridaysTime: 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 fossils collected in southern Montana, including the Allosaurus. This dinosaur from the Jurassic period is known for its ferocious lifestyle and its dozens of serrated teeth! Watch and learn from Jason onsite, as he works thoughtfully and carefully to prepare these 150-million-year-old fossils. Jason has spent 27 years at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia working on new specimens from three continents. A talented paleo-artist, his work has been published in National Geographic and whose art work appears in many museum and private collections.

Montana Natural History Center

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

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

The miniNaturalist pre-K program encourages curiosity for the natural world.Dates: Every Tuesday, September – MayTime: 10:00-11:00 amLocation: 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!

Montana Natural History Center

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!

Montana Natural History Center

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

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

The miniNaturalist pre-K program encourages curiosity for the natural world.Dates: Every Tuesday, September – MayTime: 10:00-11:00 amLocation: 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!

Montana Natural History Center

CLOSED for the HOLIDAYS!

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!

Montana Natural History Center

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 LabDate: FridaysTime: 1:00-2:00 p.m.Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Scie......More

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 LabDate: FridaysTime: 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 fossils collected in southern Montana, including the Allosaurus. This dinosaur from the Jurassic period is known for its ferocious lifestyle and its dozens of serrated teeth! Watch and learn from Jason onsite, as he works thoughtfully and carefully to prepare these 150-million-year-old fossils. Jason has spent 27 years at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia working on new specimens from three continents. A talented paleo-artist, his work has been published in National Geographic and whose art work appears in many museum and private collections.

Montana Natural History Center