UPCOMING CLASSES
UPCOMING CLASSES
UPCOMING CLASSES UPCOMING CLASSES
April 16th and 18th
June 11th and 13th
Birding for Beginners
Lifelong Learning Center (Missoula)
To sign up, go to www.missoulaclasses.com
It is spring and the migratory birds are arriving en masse to Western Montana In this class students will learn how to identify 25+ species of birds by sight and by sound, including woodpeckers, raptors, waterfowl and more. This is a 2-part class with a classroom session to learn the basics and then a morning birding at a hotspot to practice our skills.
May 2
8:00-9:30 a.m.
Gardening For The Birds
Rocky Mountain Gardens at the Missoula Department of Ecology and Extension
To sign up, go to
May 18th, June 1st and August 24th
Hands-on Healthy Cooking Classes: Minestrone Soup, Spanakopita, Three Spectacular Salads Featuring Farmer’s Market Produce
Lifelong Learning Center, (Missoula)
To sign up, go to:
Join Jill Leblow and Blue Heron Nature Tours in the Rocky Mountain Gardens for an hour of birding. Expect to see a variety of songbirds using this beautiful and diverse garden right in the middle of Missoula. We will also discuss what plants to add to your garden to attract all kinds of birds.
May 12 and May 26
June 9, and June 30
,July 14th (Birding Extravaganza)
July 28th (20 Plants for Food, Medicine and More)
August 11th (Nature Journaling)
August 25th (Watercolor Paint Wildflowers)
Natural History Classes at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden (by the silver water tower)
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Sign up through the Montana Natural History Center:
There are three things in life that I love- natural history, cooking healthy food and art. I will be teaching 2.5 hour hands-on cooking classes at Missoula’s Lifelong Learning Center. I will be teaching a Minestrone Soup With Homemade Pesto and Croutons class on May 18th, Spanokopita on June 1st and Spectacular Salads Featuring Missoula Farmer’s Market Produce on August 24th
In addition to owning Blue Heron Nature Tours, I am the Native Plant Garden Manager for the Montana Natural History Center. Our biggest garden is at Fort Missoula by the silver water tower.
The classes that I will be teaching include: Birding Extravaganza along the River, 20 Native Plants for Food Medicine and More, Watercolor Paint a Wildflower in the Garden, Nature Journaling and Dig Your Own Native Shrubs to Take Home
May 16th, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Adopt a Highway Cleanup
Hwy. 93 between the Humane Society and the awesome old weeping willow tree
Blue Heron Nature Tours has adopted a 2-mile stretch of Highway 93 for trash cleanup. We will meet at the Humane Society parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and be done by 11:30 a.m., possibly earlier depending on our crew size. Please bring your own gloves and trashbags and safety vests will be provided. Snacks provided too!
Please email Elena at info@blueheronnaturetours.com to sign up
September 9th-October 14th
Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-5:30 pm AND
2 Saturdays (Sept. 26th and October 10th from 9:00-a.m.-2:00 p.m)
Montana Master Naturalist Course
Lifelong Learning Center
Registration opens on August 1st at www.missoulaclasses.com
Engage in experiential, field-based education and get certified as a Montana Master Naturalist. Adults will learn how to identify species, interpret behaviors, and understand ecological relationships. This hands-on education strengthens both a sense of place and the confidence, curiosity, and attention needed to respect and conserve a variety of ecosystems in Montana.
This class meets twice a week, with Monday’s class in the classroom and Wednesday’s class in the field at various natural areas in Missoula and the Bitterroot. There will also be 2 guest speakers who are experts in their field.
*To become a Montana Master Naturalist you must complete the 40 hour course and to keep your certification and earn your yearly pins, 20 hours of volunteering and 8 hours of continuing education are required.
Dates TBD
Attracting Birds To Your Yard During Winter
Lifelong Learning Center (Missoula)
Registration opens October 1st
Winter is a great time to feed the birds from the comfort of your home. You don’t have to worry about bears raiding your feeders and since natural food is scarce, the birds will love what you provide for them. We will discuss what species of birds you can expect to see in your yard, as well as styles of feeders and foods that attract specific species. You will also learn some simple habitat features to provide for them..
November 22nd, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Make a Bird Seed Wreath!
Montana Natural History Center
Elena will help you get to know the common winter birds who might visit your yard – chickadees, juncos, nuthatches, and more. Then let the festive wreath making begin!
Using seeds, gelatin, and decorative dried berries, you will create a lovely wreath to keep or give as a holiday gift. You’ll be able to watch the antics of backyard birds as they fly to and from your wreath, practice your birding skills, and connect with wild nature right outside your window!
I will have a booth at this sweet little holiday bazaar selling my handmade pine needle baskets, bird seed wreaths and botanical earrings. Everything is affordable and make great gifts for the holidays! Come say “hi” and check out the Montana Natural History Center and all it has to offer too. Free entry.
January and February 2027
Free Naturalist Classes and Cooking Demos at the Missoula Public Librar
MOLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Montana) classes for winter/spring sessions 2027
The Story of Spices
Attracting Pollinators to Your Yard
The Culture and Food of Bulgaria
I’ve been teaching MOLLI courses through the University of Montana for 4 years during the winter and/or spring sessions. They range from 3 to 6 weeks long, there are no tests or homework and they are for anyone over 18 year s old.
