Spring 2026 Master Naturalist Course
Schedule
Wed Feb 11 2026 at 04:00 pm to 07:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
120 Hickory St # A, Missoula, MT 59801, USA | Missoula, MT
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Stoke your curiosity, deepen your knowledge of the natural world, & give back to your communities with our spring 2026 Master Naturalist Certification Course!Date/Time: Wednesdays, February 11 – May 6, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Our certification courses consist of at least 40 hours of instruction in a mix of lectures, in-class labs, and outdoor field trips. We’ll cover a wide breadth of topics with the goal of giving you an essential foundation of skill and knowledge on which you can build.
Taught by MNHC Naturalist Christine Morris, this class:
*is a 12-week course
*runs on Wednesdays from 4:00-7:00 pm (no class March 18, the week of UM’s spring break)
*includes 2 full-day Saturday field trips, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., tentatively scheduled on February 21 and April 18
This course will enable you to interpret the landscape on your own; to pry out its secrets and share those secrets with others; to take in the natural world first hand rather than through a guide. This confidence begins with knowing the details: the names of the local flowers, birds, trees, and butterflies. Throughout the course you will practice specific naturalist skills and gain foundational knowledge that will assist in your engagement with the natural world for years to come.See our local forests in new light as you learn about the role our conifers play in a coordinated ecology with fire and snow pack moisture. Or marvel in the diversity of lichen. Spend an entire day identifying winter raptors in the Mission valley. Become attuned to bird songs and butterfly wings. Get a handle on flower identification by recognizing patterns in form. Our emphasis will be on learning how to identify local flora, fauna, and landscape processes while gaining insight on how each part is connected.
The class will be be based at the Montana Natural History Center. Travel to field sites will be by MNHC bus.
Cost: $450/$425 members
3 UM credits available (pending approval). This course is listed at UM ENST 391. A $155 fee is required to the School of Extended and Lifelong Learning to take the class for credit. Payment and information will be collected at the first class.
Some scholarships are available–please contact us at 406.327.0405 for details.
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Where is it happening?
120 Hickory St # A, Missoula, MT 59801, USA, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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