Discover ways to involve yourself with MNHC this Fall!

photo by Merle Ann Loman

Visiting Naturalist Program

We're kicking off the program with introducing 3rd-grade students to bird beaks and feet and 4th- and 5th-grade students to the idea of naturalist as scientist, artist, and writer.  Staff naturalists visit the classrooms once per month throughout the school year, and lead activities that incorporate creativity with a scientific study of the natural world.  Volunteers are always needed (and appreciated) to help assist with classroom activities. 

miniNaturalist Program
Youngsters can come and discover the natural world all year round with our miniNaturalist program.  As brand-new naturalists, kids engage in nature with a series of sensory, imaginative and (sometimes) musical activities.  Last week, we talked about squirrels--what they eat, where they live and who might eat them.  Our miniNaturalists taste-tested seeds, learned about squirrel habitats and became a squirrel in their own Squirrel Play Production. The miniNaturalist Program is offered every first and third Thursday at MNHC from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Admission is $3/non-member and $1/member.   

A Forest for Every Classroom
Don't worry, teachers, we won't let the kids have all the fun.  MNHC offers teachers a unique opportunity to learn about place-based education through seminars and workshops.  In the past, teachers have traveled to various places around western Montana, including Tarkio, the Blackfoot Valley, Seeley Lake, and the Bitterroot Valley, and met with various scientists, ecologists, forest service specialists, naturalists, ranchers, and conservationists.  This year-long program has two- three-day workshops in every season, which are designed to inform educators about what is going on in Montana's natural environment and how they can incorporate place-based education within their own curriculum. Educators are provided with supplemental course materials which offer a range of activities that can be used to teach children about anything from the wildlife diversity to patterns of change within the environment. We are currently recruiting interested educators  to be a part of our new workshop session which will begin in April 2013.

Fall Celebration and Auction
Celebrate with us on October 5 at the DoubleTree Hotel starting at 5 p.m.  There will be a silent and live auction with items graciously donated from artists, restaurants, designers, jewelry makers, and businesses throughout Montana.  Don't worry if you get tired from all that auction bidding, because the dinner menu includes salad, your choice of entree and a cookie sundae with Big Dipper Ice Cream.  If you're interested in attending we've made it easy!  Log onto our website at http://www.montananaturalist.org/ and follow the link to register and reserve your spot.

Interested in volunteering, learning about our programs or checking to see what's new?
Please contact MNHC Tuesday-Friday 12-5 at 406.327.0405

Spring at the MNHC!

As Allison said, so many exciting things have been happening this spring!

May ushered in the time of the year when we hold field trips for our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools program. This year, I had the opportunity to help with field trips held at Council Groves, Maclay Flats, and the Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula, but field trips were also going on at a few other places. All hands were on deck. The warm weather (or, mostly warm) brought lots of exciting animals and plants out and about for all the naturalists to see.

For those of you who don’t know, Visiting Naturalist in the Schools is a program for grade schoolers (mostly fourth graders) aimed at helping young students develop their artistic, writing, and scientific skills to explore the world as naturalists. We do two “field study” sessions; the first is in October and the second is in May. Slightly different stations occur depending on the season. In May, we have three stations: the wildlife hike, the solo hike, and the insect study. These stations at the end of the year are especially exciting because we get to put all of the lessons we learned throughout the school year into practice. 

The next few posts are all about a few of the very exciting things we saw and experienced during VNS field trips in May!

Weekly Round-Up February 26th

Can you believe February is almost over? Based on the weather, can you believe it was ever February at all?

All of us at MNHC are getting excited for the weekend (which for some of us, starts on Sunday). We are dog-tired but thrilled at all the great programming we put on this week - everything from Teachers' Workshops to Center Visits to Evening Lectures to the Master Naturalist classes. This week had it all!

Wednesday brought us an awesome lecture by University of Montana student Shannon Hilty about her research on pikas. Shannon has monitored pikas all over the Bitterroot region and is studying their habitat patterns.

These adorable little creatures are potential forecasters of rising temperatures. Due to their high sensitivity to heat, pikas are believed by some biologists to be an early-warning indicator of climate change in their habitats. Shannon is working on estimating the pika population in the Bitterroots and identifying the range of elevation they tolerate. Her research will eventually help biologists determine if there is a correlation between pika movement and climate change.

As we get ready for the weekend, take a look at the following interesting links:

Looking for a pair of ostrich boots? The Fish and Wildlife Service is auctioning off exotic contraband in Texas this week.

The Missoula Independent reports on the mysteries surrounding Colorado's first potential wolf pack in 70 years.

Montana Snowbowl is hosting its annual Gelande Championship this weekend. Think of it as Missoula's answer to the Olympics.

Our friends at Montana Wildlife Gardener profile the building of an outdoor grill shed. Burgers anyone?

That's it for now! If you have any news or would like to share pictures of your adventures in the Montana outdoors, please email us at office (@) montananaturalist.org. We want to hear from you!

Have a great weekend everyone! Have as much fun as this elk calf, in a video sent to us by friend of MNHC Ellen!

First Friday at MNHC a Smashing Success!

A few weeks ago the Natural History Center held its first ever First Friday event! The Center is lucky enough to host the Glacier Centennial Art show this month, which is traveling all across the state this year in celebration of Glacier National Park's Centennial. From photographs to oil paintings to jewelry, the fourteen pieces of art showcase the diverse interpretations of Glacier's natural beauty. The art will eventually be auctioned off later this year, with proceeds to benefit Glacier National Park's non-profit partners.

Ancient Quiet, Photograph

Bret Bouda 

View from the Backyard, Linocut

Kelly Apgar

The Crown Jewels, Dye on Silk

Nancy Cawdrey

Of course you must understand why we had to throw a little shindig to show off this collection. A well-placed story in the Missoulian combined with a special visit by Glacier National Park Superintendent Chas Cartwright attracted quite the crowd!  The Superintendent gave a nice speech while visitors nibbled on hors d'oeuvres and sipped wine. After the speech, guests stayed on eating, drinking and admiring the art well into the night. After such success, there may be more First Friday events to come!

Jessie, our Community Programs Coordinator, welcomes visitors to the Center

If you haven't yet visited us to check out the collection, you still have until the end of the month to catch it! Come down to the Center at 120 Hickory Street any time from 12-5 on Tuesday-Friday or 12-4 on Saturdays.