Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole

Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jasonâs uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHCâs Naturalist Classroom / Fossil Prep LabDate: FridaysTime: 1:00-2:00 p.m.Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Sci......More

Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jasonâs uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHCâs 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 â 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 â 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

Reimagining Relatedness Writing Workshop: Lessons from the Fluvial, Fungal, and Forestal

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $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 ......More

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $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, youâll be invited to read a few pieces of remarkable, thought-provoking prose that challenge traditional concepts of the ânature writingâ genre. Youâll also be invited to respond to a prompt with your own writing and/or art. During our workshop together, weâll 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 Whatâs 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

Wild Love Trivia Night!

Date: Wednesday, February 18thTime: 7:00-9:00 p.m.Location: The Balsamroot Conference Room at the Missoula County Extension Office, 1075 South Ave W at the Missoula FairgroundsCost: $10 a person, $5 for university/college students â this is an ages 18+ event đ REGISTER ......More

Date: Wednesday, February 18thTime: 7:00-9:00 p.m.Location: The Balsamroot Conference Room at the Missoula County Extension Office, 1075 South Ave W at the Missoula FairgroundsCost: $10 a person, $5 for university/college students â this is an ages 18+ event đ REGISTER HEREJoin us for a special Naturalist Trivia Night at the Missoula County Extension Office at the Fairgrounds! This âWild Loveâ Naturalist Trivia, created by volunteer hosts Leigh and Kylie, is a hilarious hit every year with questions focused onâŚyou 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 Officeâs Balsamroot Conference Room at the Missoula Fairgrounds! In the past weâve 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

Dates: Third Thursday of the MonthTime: 6:00 â 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 â hobbyists, enthusiasts, professionals, an......More

Dates: Third Thursday of the MonthTime: 6:00 â 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 â 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 Februaryâs class, weâll 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. âA great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.ââ 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 Jasonâs uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHCâs Naturalist Classroom / Fossil Prep LabDate: FridaysTime: 1:00-2:00 p.m.Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Sci......More

Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jasonâs uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHCâs 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

Cabin Fever Lecture! Glacial Ice History in Mission Valley and Vicinity

Date: Friday, February 20Time: 7:00 â 8:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free, but please register. Donations accepted. Itâs that time of the year! Time to contemplate ice ages and glacial lakes.Time for the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the I......More

Date: Friday, February 20Time: 7:00 â 8:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free, but please register. Donations accepted. Itâs 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 Instituteâs 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.

Montana Natural History Center

Saturday Kids' Activity: Glow in the Dark!

Date: Saturday, February 21Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: 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 lov......More

Date: Saturday, February 21Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: 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 weâll explore natural wonders that glow in the dark. Saturday Kidsâ Activities are great for kids ages pre-k through elementary school. Dates and themes for 2026 Saturday Kidsâ 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

Montana Natural History Center

miniNaturalist Pre-K Program

The miniNaturalist pre-K program encourages curiosity for the natural world.Dates: Every Tuesday, September â 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 â 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

Drop-In Nature Journaling

Date: Last Wednesday of the MonthTime: 11:30 a.m. â 1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free with admission/membership! Fellow naturalists! Are you looking for community, accountability, inspiration, and more in the new year? Weâre excited to offe......More

Date: Last Wednesday of the MonthTime: 11:30 a.m. â 1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free with admission/membership! Fellow naturalists! Are you looking for community, accountability, inspiration, and more in the new year? Weâre excited to offer monthly drop-in nature journaling / phenology wheel / nature writing sessions this year. Bring your nature journals, phenology wheels, pens, pencils, and paints, and have fun crafting your observations in community. Weâll have some supplies available (colored pencils, micron pens, watercolor pencils, etc.), as well as field guides and specimens, and weâll provide a fun journal prompt, too! For those working on phenology wheels â whether daily, monthly, or seasonal â 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, 2025October 29th, 2025November 26th, 2025NO SESSION in DECEMBERJanuary 28th, 2026February 25th, 2026March 25th, 2026April 29th, 2026May 27th, 2026  

Montana Natural History Center

The Blackfoot Place Map: Prehistoric Land and Animal Management

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $10 MNHC members/$15 non-membersFree for Native people. REGISTER HERE. Souta Calling Last, has made it a mission to map significant sites of traditional Blackfoot places ......More

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $10 MNHC members/$15 non-membersFree 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 Lastâs 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.

Montana Natural History Center

Confident Color Mixing for Journaling with Nancy Seiler (Part 2)

Date: Friday, February 27Time: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.Location: The Montana Natural History CenterCost: $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 wh......More

Date: Friday, February 27Time: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.Location: The Montana Natural History CenterCost: $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, youâll 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. Weâll 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 setwatercolor paper or watercolor/mixed media journal#8 round brush or smallergraphite pencil and erasermicro pen any size pointwe will have some of these materials available to use at MNHC if you need them!FAQs: Whatâs 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

Brown Bag & Bones with Paleontologist Jason Poole

Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jasonâs uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHCâs Naturalist Classroom / Fossil Prep LabDate: FridaysTime: 1:00-2:00 p.m.Cost: FREE with admission/membership. In partnership with Elevation Sci......More

Bring your lunch and curiosity and see what Jasonâs uncovering as he preps the fossils unearthed last summer! Location: MNHCâs 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