Make Your Own Herbal Remedies

Date: Thursday, November 12thTime: 6:00-8:30 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $40 MNHC members/$45 non-members Fall in Montana is the perfect time to prep some herbal remedies for the winter. In this dynamic, hands-on workshop, you’ll dive into the worl......More

Date: Thursday, November 12thTime: 6:00-8:30 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: $40 MNHC members/$45 non-members Fall in Montana is the perfect time to prep some herbal remedies for the winter. In this dynamic, hands-on workshop, you’ll dive into the world of botany, explore some of the science behind herbal medicine, and create two personalized herbal remedies to take home. REGISTER HERE!We’ll start out with a basic overview of plant adaptations and identification tips. We’ll then discuss a handful of common medicinal herbs, both cultivated and native to western Montana, highlighting chemical constituents, medicinal properties, and the ethics of collecting. Together, we’ll work to create two high-quality plant medicines personalized just for you: a variety of tea blends to enjoy at home, and a healing lip balm to get you through the dry weather. If you’ve been interested in botanical medicine and just need a little nudge to start, this program is for you! FAQsWhat’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

Master Naturalist Club Saturday Event

Date: Saturday, November 14 Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m. Location: Council Grove State Park Bird Council Grove with Braden Collard! Braden Collard is a longtime Missoula birder who graduated from UMaine with a degree in Ecology and Environmental Science in 2025. He’s passionat......More

Date: Saturday, November 14 Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m. Location: Council Grove State Park Bird Council Grove with Braden Collard! Braden Collard is a longtime Missoula birder who graduated from UMaine with a degree in Ecology and Environmental Science in 2025. He’s passionate about teaching and sharing his love of birding. We’ll meet in the parking lot of Council Grove State Park at 9 a.m. We’ll be looking for resident birds and later migrants, including chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and sparrows, and if we’re lucky, we may see waterbirds or a Northern Shrike. This club is only open to certified Master Naturalists (any state certification is valid). Club hosts: Master Naturalists Sarah Elsasser, Bill Buseman, and Elizabeth Johns Interested in joining? There are spaces available! Email Christine at [email protected] to sign up.

Council Grove State Park, 11249 Mullan Rd, Missoula, MT, 59808, United States

Tracking and Sign with Jamie Schultz

Date: Saturday, November 14thTime: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Location: Meet at Council Grove State ParkCost: $40 MNHC member/$45 non-members REGISTER HERE!Join certified tracker Jamie Schultz at Council Grove State Park for a hands-on morning of exploring the wild world of......More

Date: Saturday, November 14thTime: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Location: Meet at Council Grove State ParkCost: $40 MNHC member/$45 non-members REGISTER HERE!Join certified tracker Jamie Schultz at Council Grove State Park for a hands-on morning of exploring the wild world of animal tracks and signs! Learn how to read the clues animals leave behind—from tracks and scat to feeding marks, trails, and other evidence—and discover who has been moving through the landscape. Finding tracks on the ground can be weather dependent, but rain or shine (or snow) there will be plenty of animal sign for us to find! Tracking handouts and field guides will be provided for the walk, along with a few extra measuring tapes. You’re encouraged to bring a journal, and we can practice drawing what we see in tracks and sign! Whether you’re a seasoned tracker or simply curious about the animals around you, come sharpen your observation skills and put your detective skills to work! Kids are welcome to join as well. About Jamie Schultz:Jamie is a certified wildlife tracker in multiple states, and spent her childhood deep in the forests of Western Washington following deer trails, spending time with the birds and the trees, and learning everything she could from the natural world and library books. She moved to Montana five years ago, and has enjoyed discovering both the new and the familiar on a different landscape. She has worked as an outdoor educator for most of her life, and loves helping people see the immense richness that nature has to offer. She uses her tracking knowledge to contribute to various conservation and community science projects, and as a way to intimately know the land and the beings who spend their time there. When she’s not tracking, birding, or wandering in the woods, she embraces the hobbit life and loves to curl up with her cats, a cup of tea and a good book.

Montana Natural History Center

Virtual Naturalist Book Club #2

Date: Monthly, on the third Monday of the month (except January, May, June, July, and August)Time: 6:30 p.m.Location/Platform: Virtual Classroom The only thing better than reading a fascinating natural history book (and there are so many of them!) is getting to discuss ......More

Date: Monthly, on the third Monday of the month (except January, May, June, July, and August)Time: 6:30 p.m.Location/Platform: Virtual 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-April and breaks for the summer. Book List 1. SEPTEMBER 2026: “In Trees: An Exploration” by Robert Moor2. OCTOBER : “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” byElizabeth Tova Bailey3. NOVEMBER: “Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit” by Lynda Lynn Haupt4. DECEMBER: “The Secret Wisdom of Nature” by Peter Wohllleben5. FEBRUARY (NO MEETING IN JANUARY) “Made for Each Other: A Symbiosis of Birds and Pines” by Ronald M Lanner6. MARCH: “A Year in the Maine Woods” by Bernd Heinrich7. APRIL: “The Secret Life of Clams” by Anthony Fredericks The club pauses for January and breaks from May-August. Your host is Sherry Staub. Sherry is a Yellowstone Naturalist, a Montana Master Naturalist, and an Iowa Master Conservationist. She holds an undergraduate degree in Education and a Masters in Environmental Education. She has led the Montana Natural History Center’s Naturalist book club for over 5 years and has extensively read in the nature book genre. You will need a computer that can access the internet 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 Zoom Classroom

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

Drop-in Nature Journaling

Date: Last Wednesday of the Month (except for November, when it will be the third Wednesday so as not to conflict with Thanksgiving!)Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free with admission/membership! Fellow naturalists! Are you loo......More

Date: Last Wednesday of the Month (except for November, when it will be the third Wednesday so as not to conflict with Thanksgiving!)Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free with admission/membership! Fellow naturalists! Are you looking for community, accountability, inspiration, and more? We’re excited to offer monthly drop-in nature journaling / phenology wheel / nature writing sessions September-May. Bring your nature journals, phenology wheels, pens, pencils, and paints, and have fun crafting your observations in community. We’ll have some supplies available (colored pencils, micron pens, watercolor pencils, etc.), as well as field guides and specimens, and we’ll provide a fun journal prompt, too! For those working on phenology wheels – whether daily, monthly, or seasonal – 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! 2026-2027 dates:September 30th, 2026October 28th, 2026November 18th, 2026 **We have rescheduled this session to the week before because of the Thanksgiving holiday!**NO SESSION in DECEMBERJanuary 27th, 2027February 24th, 2027March 31st, 2027April 28th, 2027May 26th, 2027

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

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. Photo by Kathy Eyster For our November session, our theme is Creating Multiple Exposures in Camera: Many digital cameras include the ability to combine multiple images into one for a creative effect. Kathy Eyster will review the menu choices necessary to enable multiple exposures for a variety of camera brands and provide examples to spark your creativity. Bring your camera for help setting up this feature. Multiple exposures are not available on smartphone cameras. 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

Naturalist Trivia Night!

Date: Friday, November 20thTime: 7:00-9:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: FREE, but please register REGISTER HERE!Show off your skills or come to learn something new! MNHC teaching naturalist Ryan Mahar is running the show in collaboration with the Gr......More

Date: Friday, November 20thTime: 7:00-9:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: FREE, but please register REGISTER HERE!Show off your skills or come to learn something new! MNHC teaching naturalist Ryan Mahar is running the show in collaboration with the Great Burn Conservation Alliance! Topics for the night include history and ecology of the Great Burn, Animal Preservation, and a mystery category! There are prizes for the winners, and the losers will get to pick a topic for the following month’s trivia! There will be three rounds of ten questions plus a “betting” round with three questions at the end! Some rounds are verbal, others are visual, or auditory (guess that bird call!). This is a FREE event, but registration is required so we don’t overcrowd the space! Feel free to bring your own beer and snacks. About GBCA: The Great Burn Conservation Alliance (GBCA) is a nonprofit organization based in Missoula, Montana. Their mission area stretches from Lookout Pass to Lolo Pass, encompassing nearly 1.9 million acres across Montana and Idaho. GBCA fosters the connection between people and place to further conservation and stewardship in the Great Burn ecosystem.

Montana Natural History Center

Saturday Kids' Activity: Fall Turkeys

Date: Saturday, November 21stTime: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free with membership/admission Join us for exciting and educational Saturdays filled with delightful activities designed to captivate young minds and inspire a love fo......More

Date: Saturday, November 21stTime: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Location: Montana Natural History CenterCost: Free with membership/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. Each week features a new topic. The whole family can be involved, as the exploration and activities are suitable for a wide age range. This week’s Saturday Kid’s Activity features fall turkeys! Note: MNHC’s Saturday kids’ programming is not available every Saturday. Please review our events calendar for dates and themes.

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

Nature Journaling Club

Dates: Weekly, on Thursdays*Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.Location: Missoula, various sites – contact club hostCost: FREE Join us in this creative, relaxing, and observational activity that blends art and science. No art background is needed! Bring curiosity to learn more about......More

Dates: Weekly, on Thursdays*Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.Location: Missoula, various sites – contact club hostCost: FREE Join us in this creative, relaxing, and observational activity that blends art and science. No art background is needed! Bring curiosity to learn more about our natural surroundings. Observations are recorded in a personal journal, with sketches, notes, and reflections. Everyone is welcome! This is a great opportunity to build community with people who love nature. What to bring: a journal and something to write with. Options include: a portable chair, paints with brushes, palette, and water. *(This club also meets on the last Wednesday of the month at MNHC. This is part of a Drop-in Nature Journaling program for the public and there is a fee. $5 individual/$10 for non-members.) “The pleasure and value of every walk or journey we take may be doubled to us by carefully noting down the impressions it makes upon us.” — John Burroughs Interested in joining? Email Christine at [email protected] to sign up.

Montana Natural History Center

CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving! MNHC is closed on Thursday, November 25th, and Friday, November 26th, so our staff can celebrate the holiday. We’ll be open again on Saturday the 27th. 

Montana Natural History Center

CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving! MNHC is closed on Thursday, November 25th, and Friday, November 26th, so our staff can celebrate the holiday. We’ll be open again on Saturday the 27th. 

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