Adult
Can you tell bluebunch wheatgrass from needle-and-thread?
Join the Montana Audubon Center and the Artemisia Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society for a grass identification workshop with expert Mark Majerus, titled “Identification and Appreciation of Montana’s Native Grasses.”
Learn how to identify Montana’s most important native grasses and discover the vital role they play in restoration, wildlife habitat, and sustainable landscapes.
Whether you’re a landowner, land manager, conservation professional, naturalist, or simply curious about Montana’s prairies, you’ll gain practical identification skills and a deeper appreciation for these often-overlooked plants.
Do you want to learn about the conservation of bumble bees and contribute to a community science project?
On June 6, join Michelle Toshack from the Montana Bumble Bee Atlas to learn and practice Atlas protocols. Anyone with an interest in bees and a desire to help them in a hands-on way is encouraged to attend — no prior experience needed!
The first part of the day will be spent indoors at the Montana Audubon Center. You will learn about bumble bee ecology, life cycle, and conservation issues, as well as an overview of how to participate in the Bumble Bee Atlas.
We’ll then head outside for lunch and some hands-on practice catching, photographing, and releasing bumble bees. Xerces will provide all project equipment (nets, vials, ice) to use during the training. Please bring your own camera (cell phone cameras work!).
Come prepared for the day with lunch, snacks, water, walking shoes, sun protection, and note-taking materials.
Registration is limited! Register here.
You will receive an email with more information one week before the event. Questions? Contact Michelle at [email protected]
The Future of our Wildlife and Working Lands
Tuesday, May 26, 6-8 p.m.
Montana Audubon Center, 7026 S. Billings Boulevard
Free and open to the public
The best part? A lot of that funding is available for local folks and groups to make a real on-the-ground impact right here, in your backyard.
- Hear how HB 932 works and what kinds of projects are eligible for funding.
- Learn about new community grant programs through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
- Share your ideas for projects that could benefit Billings, Yellowstone County, and all of eastern Montana.
Come join us and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for Common Nighthawk Survey Training at the Montana Audubon Center in Billings at 6:30 pm!
Join us for the Subaru Loves the Earth Tree Give Away! Register for your free trees, learn the best techniques for planting, and discover the many environmental benefits they provide to our community.
Guests include:
Yellowstone County MSU Extension
Wild Birds Unlimited
- Expert Guidance: Members of the Yellowstone Valley Astronomy Association will be on hand with high-powered telescopes to guide you through the constellations, planets, and deep-space objects.
- Night Sky Education: Learn about the seasonal stars visible over Montana and the importance of dark sky preservation for local wildlife.
- Family-Friendly Fun: An educational experience perfect for curious minds of all ages.
- What to Bring: Please dress in layers (Montana nights get chilly!), bring a red-light flashlight if you have one to preserve night vision, and feel free to bring your own binoculars or telescope.
- Weather Note: This event is weather-dependent. In the event of heavy cloud cover or rain, check our social media for updates on a backup “indoor sky” presentation.
Join us for this yearly event that’s quite the hoot! Learn all about the owls of Montana, particularly around the Billings area, before heading out to find them on this evening of exploration and discovery! Be sure to bundle up and bring your listening ears, as you’ll often hear the owls before you see them. Flashlights may spook the owls, so be sure to bring low-powered or red ones.
Discover meaningful ways to make a difference for native plants at this year’s Native Plant Symposium! Building on a legacy of community engagement and expert-led learning since 2016, our symposium offers an inspiring platform to explore the dynamic world of native plants and their vital role in our local ecosystems.
This year’s Native Plant Symposium invites you to explore where our native plant communities began—and how we can help shape their future.
With the theme “Rooted in History, Growing the Future,” our 2026 program looks both backward and forward: examining Montana’s historic landscapes, understanding how native plant communities once thrived, and exploring the tools and research helping us conserve and restore them today.
Produced in collaboration with local partners and conservation leaders, the Native Plant Symposium continues its tradition of bringing together land stewards, gardeners, researchers, and curious community members. Whether you’re interested in prairie history, hands-on restoration, or cultivating native plants in your own space, join us for a day of learning, connection, and conservation.
Together, we can honor Montana’s plant heritage while planting the seeds for resilient landscapes to come.
$10 per ticket. Registration required.
*Ticket price reduced thanks to the generosity of the Montana Native Plant Society!
Visit the Native Plant Symposium website to see the schedule of events, presenters, workshops, and other resources: Native Plant Symposium 2026
