Join us on August 30th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for an open archery day at our 16 station 3D archery course!

When: Saturday, August 30, 2025, 9:00AM to 3:00PM
Where: Jack Creek Preserve Foundation’s Outdoor Education Center (Directions)
What: All levels of archers are welcome! This will be just a fun shoot without training, instruction, or competition. Participants must bring their own bows and arrows. Restrooms are available. Participants should bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and bear spray. You are welcome to pack a lunch and make a day out of it, if you wish!

Please RSVP (by 10AM August 29th) to reserve your spot:

Following your RSVP, we will confirm your attendance and will provide a road pass and directions.

SORRY! THIS EVENT IS FULL.

Join Us at the Preserve For An Opportunity To Connect, Learn About Our Mission And Programs, And Converse About The Amazing Place We Get To Call Home!

We look forward to spending some time with you!

Only Evening at the Preserve guests will have this amazing opportunity to bid on a once in a lifetime fishing adventure!

SORRY! This event is full!

Summer Wildlife Tracking

with Cedar Mathers-Winn

Tracking is not just a winter activity - the warm season gives us the opportunity to appreciate more subtle sign that may be covered in snow through winter. In this class, we'll investigate tracks left in mud, as well as other types of animal sign - on trees, logs, and the ground. Wildlife sign in summer more subtle and elusive, and will open up worlds that have been hidden plain sight all along. We will start with a 30-min lecture on tracks and trails, then spend the rest of the session in the field, exploring sign in the field. Bring sunscreen and come curious!

In this workshop you will:

- identify tracks in mud/dust/sand

- interpret a range of animal sign other than tracks

- learn what animals are up to this time of year, and the traces this leaves on the land

DETAILS:

• Date: SUNDAY, August 10, 2025, 10:30AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center

• Cost: $30 per person

• We will be hiking 0.5-2 miles and spending 2-3 hours outside in summer conditions

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and winter gear

• We are capping the event at 16 people

About the instructor, Cedar Mathers-Winn: Cedar is a naturalist, biologist, and educator based in Bozeman, MT. He has a Master’s degree in Ecology, and has studied animal behavior in deserts, rainforests, and mountains around the world. He has taught undergraduates, professional scientists, and the public in a great variety of topics in biology and natural history. His mission is to show how common subtleties of nature open up worlds of wildness – always there but hidden in plain sight. 

Tracking Survival: Monitoring Elk Calves for Population Management in Northwest Montana

• When: August 9, 2025

  • 6PM potluck dinner and Burnt Tree Brewing keg

    • Pulled pork sandwiches will be provided, please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert.

  • 7PM talk starts

• Who: Andi Stewart: Ph.D. Candidate and Boone & Crockett Fellow at the University of Montana

  Andi received her BSc in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and Environmental Science from Oregon State University and her MSc in Wildlife Biology from Utah State University.

• Where: At Jack Creek Preserve Foundation’s Outdoor Education Center. DIRECTIONS

• Access: The GATE CODE WILL BE 080925#. Parking is limited, carpooling is strongly encouraged!

Join us August 9th at 6 PM for a Wildlife Speaker Series talk on Tracking Survival: Monitoring Elk Calves for Population Management in Northwest Montana. Arrive at 6PM for a potluck dinner (we will provide pulled pork sandwiches) and we will have a keg, thanks to Burnt Tree Brewing!

At 7 PM we will welcome Andi Stewart: Ph.D. Candidate and Boone & Crockett Fellow at the University of Montana.

In northwest Montana, estimating elk calf survival is crucial for managing elk populations. This talk will highlight the significance of estimating calf survival, focusing on the field methods we use, and the insights we can gain from this research. We’ll walk you through the steps of our fieldwork while sharing the challenges of locating these elusive animals. Whether you're passionate about elk, wildlife management, or simply enjoy hearing about hands-on research, this talk will give you an inside look at what it takes to monitor elk calf survival in northwest Montana.

The talk will start at 7 PM so please arrive a little early to grab a beer, some food, and snag a seat. The talk will last approximately 1 hour and there will be some time for questions.

About the Speaker:

Andi received her BSc in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and Environmental Science from Oregon State University and her MSc in Wildlife Biology from Utah State University. For her doctoral research, Andi is working with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks on the Integrated Elk, Habitat, and Carnivore Management Project in northwest Montana. The focus of her research is to estimate population vital rates for elk in Hunting District 121 and evaluate how vital rates influence elk population growth.

A Day in the life of a naturalist - Summer

See nature through new eyes and notice the beauty in every day! Join naturalist, Christy Howard, for a summer day spent developing fundamental naturalist skills, learning more about local flora and fauna, and cultivating curiosity around nature’s patterns and intricacies.

This workshop will cover everything from learning the songs and calls of local birds, discovering the difference between conifers, and appreciating the microworlds of lichen.

***Teachers/educators you can earn 3 OPI credits during this workshop***

IN THIS WORKSHOP:

• What is a naturalist?

• Tools for the modern naturalist (Nature Journal, iNaturalist, apps, etc.)

• I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of (Basics of nature journaling and seeing the natural world)

• Cultivating Curiosity Exercise

• Outdoor Exploration

DETAILS:

• Date: July 12, 2025, 10:30AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center (OEC)

• Cost: $30 per person

• Nature journaling will be a component of this workshop.

• No experience necessary! Feel free to bring your own journal. 

• There will be an indoor classroom part of the workshop and the field portion.

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and layers.

• We will stay close to the Outdoor Education Center and cover 0.5-1 mile. 

• We are capping the event at 16 people.

About the instructor, Christy Howard: Christy is naturalist, a nature journal educator, and curiosity cultivator.  She is the founder of the Gallatin Nature Society in Bozeman, MT and has always been a self-proclaimed nature nerd. She spends much of her free time doing grant work bringing nature and nature journaling to underserved populations in the community. Recently she has been working with the Bozeman Senior Center, Eagle Mount, and Assisted Living and Memory Care facilities among others.  Her goal is to make sure that nature, nature education, and all of the valley’s wonders are open to everyone. Given the chance, she will gladly share about her special interest…lichen!

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS CLOSED

Celebrating & Identifying Breeding Birds in the Mountains of Montana

Join seasoned naturalist and expert birder Ashley Martens in a daylong exploration of Jack Creek Preserve and the amazing birds who breed there. We'll spend a little bit of time in the classroom getting oriented to some basic identification skills and then head out to the field to learn from the birds themselves. Expect to witness courtship antics and to hear a cacophony of sounds as we enjoy a gorgeous spring day at the Preserve.  

In this workshop you will:

• Learn how to awaken all of your senses to help you identify and appreciate wild birds anywhere you go

• Learn basic bird identification skills by sight and sound

• Learn about the different strategies birds use to find a mate, build a nest, and raise a family in the high country

• Spend time at a sit spot to observe how bird behavior changes when we get quiet and still

• Connect more fully to place using strategies to engage our analytical mind and our quiet mind

Details:

• Date: June 14, 2025, 9:00AM to 1:30PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center (OEC)

• Cost: $40 per person

• Bring your own binoculars and a field notebook.

• No experience necessary!

• There will be a brief indoor classroom part of the workshop and a field portion.

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and weather-appropriate gear.

• We are capping the event at 16 people.

About the instructor: Ashley Martens

Ever since hand-feeding chickadees with her grandparents as a young child, Ashley has sought out intimate relationships with nature through both scientific inquiry and mindful nature-connection.  After meandering her way through studying the life sciences in her young adulthood, she finally settled on a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Environmental Science, and certifications in teaching yoga, dance, and meditation. She has studied with leading researchers at various Universities and renowned teachers from the Wilderness Awareness School through the Art of Mentoring. Becoming a naturalist takes time and attention — from hunting for arrowheads in the gullys of high-desert Wyoming as a child, to surveying woodpeckers in the backwoods of north Idaho, to researching seabirds on a remote wildlife refuge island in the Straight of Juan de Fuca, to reintroducing Mountain Quail in eastern Washington, Ashley weaves all of her experiences into her work. She brings her values of lifelong-learning and community-building forward in her teaching and facilitation.  Her approach is to empower your learning journey by guiding you to learn from nature, rather than simply about it.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS CLOSED

Relational Foraging

Join us to remember ways of life that continually reinforce relationships and responsibilities between people and plants. As we visit with edible and medicinal plants and learn basic plant identification, foraging, and tending skills, we will also explore the landscape as a storied and diverse Indigenous homeland, ponder the plant relationships of our various ancestors, and discuss ways to build culturally rich, reciprocal relationships with this place that is now our common home.

In this workshop:

• Remember ancestral relationships to plants through story, culture, and language

• Strengthen plant identification, harvesting, and tending skills

• Learn about the ways that cultures shape food systems

• Go beyond outdoor recreation - live well in your place

Details:

• Date: June 7, 2025, 10:30AM to 3:00PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center (OEC)

• Cost: $40 per person

• Bring your own field guides, notebook, etc.

• There will be a brief indoor classroom part of the workshop and a field portion.

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and weather-appropriate gear.

• We are capping the event at 20 people.

About the instructors:

Jacob Zimmerer is a PhD Candidate in Indigenous and Rural Health at Montana State University and a Land-based educator. He works for Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative (BNSFI), supporting cultural knowledge and identity regeneration for Native Students as a coordinator for the BNFSI Summer Fellowship Program. Jacob’s work emphasizes global de-Indigenization processes and ways to reinvigorate Land-based cultures, languages, stories, and relationships. He is a dedicated traditional craftsperson, hunter, and gatherer. He holds a M.A. in Native American Studies and a B.S. in Environmental Sciences, both from Montana State University and is deeply invested in what it means to carry his ancestors with him while also adapting to, and being a good relative on, the homelands of the Buffalo Nations. He has been foraging extensively throughout Montana for nearly a decade, and grew up learning about plants from his mother and grandmother.

Seth Still Smoking (Blackfeet/Lakota) is a BNFSI Fellow and Culinary Arts student that is dedicated to feeding his People. Driven by love for his homelands, family, ancestors, and delicious food, Seth is not only developing his skills as a Chef, but also as a traditional plant gatherer, gardener, hunter, and story-teller. He has trained with award-winning chef, Sean Sherman (Lakota), interned with the education team at North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS), and most recently was an intern at FAST Blackfeet, where he used his culinary education to support health and sustainability in his community.

Reflecting on his relationship with food, Seth says, "Throughout time there have been hardships, things that truly make us human, suffering and sacrifice. These things can be grieved and healed through sharing meals and stories with community. It isn't until we come to the realization that we have been missing something that was so simple, until it's right in front of us. We were the ones that forgot."

WE HAVE ALL THE HELP WE WILL NEED AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL!

• When: May 31, 9:30AM to 3:30PM

• Where: Jack Creek Preserve Foundation’s Outdoor Education Center (Directions)

• What: We will be setting up two 3D archery courses, an archery range, erecting 3 canvas tents, and getting the camp area ready.

• What volunteers will need: Participants should wear sturdy shoes, field clothes that can get dirty, work gloves, water, sunscreen, hat, and you are welcome to bring your bows to stay and shoot after we set up the targets.

• We will provide water, sandwiches, chips, and cookies for lunch! 

Feeling overwhelmed by hunting licenses, permits, and regulations? You're not alone-and you don't have to figure it out solo!

THIS CLASS IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY SHEDHORN SPORTS!

Join us and Alex Stokman from Venery for "Hunting Rules and Regulations" on Tuesday, April 1 at 7PM via Zoom, where we'll break down Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' rules in a way that's clear, approachable, and empowering.

You'll learn how to confidently apply for licenses and permits, setting yourself up for a successful hunting season.

Come connect with others who are navigating the same questions you are.

Whether you're brand new to hunting or brushing up on the details, this is a supportive space to learn, ask questions, and build your hunting community. This class is for everyone!

This event is free for participants, but please register at the button below so that you can receive the Zoom link. This event is capped at 20 people.

To pick up your copy of the MT Rules and Regs, stop by Shedhorn Sports or your local outdoor retailer or FWP office.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Alex Stokman, Founder of Venery, is a Montana Master Hunter, an Artemis Ambassador for Montana, and a dedicated FWP Hunter Safety Instructor and Range Safety Officer. But Alex is more than just accolades; she's a mother of three who understands the importance of time for herself. For Alex, hunting is both a personal journey and a way to provide for her family. She values harvesting food from nature, from berries to deer and elk, finding deep satisfaction in nourishing her loved ones while minimizing waste. Alex's love for hunting goes beyond sustenance; it's about connecting with the Earth, embracing the elements, and rejuvenating her spirit.

Through Venery, Alex and her team empower women by teaching them the art, sport, and ethics of hunting. They create a welcoming community where women mentor and learn from each other, fostering self-reliance and sustainability. Together, they make hunting a powerful way to bring people closer and promote conservation.

Conservation Field School’s

Lifelong Learning Series presents:
A Day in the life of a naturalist-Winter

See nature through new eyes and notice the beauty in every day! Join naturalist, Christy Howard, for a late-winter day spent developing fundamental naturalist skills, learning more about local flora and fauna, and cultivating curiosity around nature’s patterns and intricacies.

Whether it is learning the songs and calls of local birds, discovering the difference between conifers, or appreciating the microworlds of lichen, this is the perfect workshop to start our Lifelong Learning Series.

In July the summer version of this event will take place! Attend both to compare the landscape’s seasonal variations just like a true naturalist!

IN THIS WORKSHOP:

• What is a naturalist?

• Tools for the modern naturalist (Nature Journal, iNaturalist, apps, etc)

• I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of (Basics of nature journaling and seeing the natural world)

• Cultivating Curiosity Exercise

• Outdoor Exploration

DETAILS:

• Date: March 15, 2025, 10:30AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center (OEC)

• Cost: $30 per person

• Nature journaling will be a component of this workshop.

• No experience necessary! Feel free to bring your own journal. 

• There will be an indoor classroom part of the workshop and the field portion.

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and winter gear.

• Snowshoes will be provided if needed, or you can bring your own. We will stay close to the OEC and cover 0.5-1 mile. 

• We are capping the event at 16 people.

About the instructor, Christy Howard: Christy is naturalist, a nature journal educator, and curiosity cultivator.  She is the founder of the Gallatin Nature Society in Bozeman, MT and has always been a self-proclaimed nature nerd. She spends much of her free time doing grant work bringing nature and nature journaling to underserved populations in the community. Recently she has been working with the Bozeman Senior Center, Eagle Mount, and Assisted Living and Memory Care facilities among others.  Her goal is to make sure that nature, nature education, and all of the valley’s wonders are open to everyone. Given the chance, she will gladly share about her special interest…lichen!

Winter Wildlife Tracking on Snowshoes

with Cedar Mathers-Winn

The world is a canvas, and animals track, chew, dig, and defecate their stories upon it daily. In this class, we will learn to identify tracks and other animal sign, and to interpret the behavior and even the mindset of the animals who have been there. We will start with an hour-long lecture on tracks and trails, then spend the rest of the session on snowshoes, exploring sign in the field. Dress warm, and come curious!

THIS CLASS IS FULL, PLEASE CHECK OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR OTHER UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES!!

DETAILS:

• Date: January 25, 2025, 10:30AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center

• Cost: $30 per person

• For ages 12 and up

• We will be snowshoeing approximately 2 miles and spending 2-3 hours outside in winter conditions

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and winter gear

• Snowshoes will be provided, or you can bring your own

• We are capping the event at 16 people

About the instructor, Cedar Mathers-Winn: Cedar is a naturalist, biologist, and educator based in Bozeman, MT. He has a Master’s degree in Ecology, and has studied animal behavior in deserts, rainforests, and mountains around the world. He has taught undergraduates, professional scientists, and the public in a great variety of topics in biology and natural history. His mission is to show how common subtleties of nature open up worlds of wildness – always there but hidden in plain sight. 

REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED

Fall Wonders - Field Day
with Cedar Mathers-Winn

Fall at Jack Creek Preserve is truly magical! Come spend the day with us on Saturday, October 5th, 10:30am-3pm to explore the wonders of Fall!

Naturalist instruction by Cedar Mathers-Winn will open your eyes to the details of this season!

COURSE CONTENT:

Elk Rut

• Learn about why elk bugle during this time of year

• Understand the differences between ungulates and their behaviors during the rut

• Listen for elk bugling on the Preserve!

Leaf Changes

• Discover the logic behind the beauty of why leaves change color

• Identify different tree species by observing their leaves

Migration

• Learn about what species are beginning their migrations

• Discover the intricacies behind mammal migration and autumn adjustments in behavior

• Learn about how animals are preparing for winter

DETAILS:

• Date: October 5th, 2024, 10:30AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center

• Cost: $30 per person

• We will be hiking up to 2 miles and spending 2-3 hours outside

• Outdoor exploration will follow a classroom portion

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and hiking gear

About the instructor, Cedar Mathers-Winn: Cedar is a naturalist, biologist, and educator based in Bozeman, MT. He has a Master’s degree in Ecology, and has studied animal behavior in deserts, rainforests, and mountains around the world. He has taught undergraduates, professional scientists, and the public in a great variety of topics in biology and natural history. His mission is to show how common subtleties of nature open up worlds of wildness – always there but hidden in plain sight. 

Join us Saturday, July 20th at 3:30pm for refreshments and discussion on conservation, community, and sustainability. Learn more about Jack Creek Preserve and what we do year round!

Some beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be provided but you are encouraged to bring you own cup/glass to minimize waste!

This event will take place at our beautiful Outdoor Education Center located at 1206 Jack Creek Road. Click here for directions! Carpooling is encouraged.

Jack Creek Road is a private road. Click here to acquire a road pass for this event! The Gate Code (for Big Sky and Ennis sides) is 072024#

For more information on Bozeman Green Drinks click here!

Summer Wonders-Field Day
with Cedar Mathers-Winn

Enjoy a day in nature learning about and discovering the wonders of Summer! Learn about wildflowers, pollinators, and birdsong while spending time in the sunshine on Jack Creek Preserve. Naturalist instruction from Cedar Mathers-Winn will have your mind buzzing just like the bees! See summertime in the mountains like you never have before!

COURSE SKILLS:

Wildflowers

• Discover the reasons for different flower shapes, colors and scents

• Identify unknown wildflowers in the field

Pollinators

• Discover the beauty & diversity of local pollinators

• Learn what pollinators need to thrive

Birdsong

• Learn about the sounds birds make, and why

• Learn to identify local birds by song

• Discover the intricacies of bird communication

DETAILS:

• Date: July 20, 2024, 10:30AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center

• Cost: $30 per person

• We will be hiking up to 2 miles and spending 2-3 hours outside

• Outdoor exploration will follow a classroom portion

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and hiking gear

About the instructor, Cedar Mathers-Winn: Cedar is a naturalist, biologist, and educator based in Bozeman, MT. He has a Master’s degree in Ecology, and has studied animal behavior in deserts, rainforests, and mountains around the world. He has taught undergraduates, professional scientists, and the public in a great variety of topics in biology and natural history. His mission is to show how common subtleties of nature open up worlds of wildness – always there but hidden in plain sight. 

THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL!

WILDFLOWER STROLL

Join Kevin and Kaye Suzuki on July 13, 2024, for a wildflower stroll at the Preserve. The walk will start at 3 PM from the Outdoor Education Center and will wrap up at 5 PM. Please note this walk focuses on plant identification and information, it is not a hike.

• When: July 13, 2024, 3:00 PM to 5:00PM

• Where: Jack Creek Preserve Foundation’s Outdoor Education Center (Directions)

• Access: A road pass will be provided

• What to bring: Participants should come ready with snacks, water, a field guide if available, and layers for all kinds of weather.

At 6PM we will have a potluck dinner and at 7PM a Wildlife Speaker Series talk. You are welcome to stay for the evening!

Winter Wonders - Field Day
with Cedar Mathers-Winn

DETAILS:

• Date: March 16, 2024, 10:30AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center

• Cost: $30 per person

• For ages 12 and up

• We will be snowshoeing up to 2 miles and spending 2-3 hours outside in winter conditions

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and winter gear

• Snowshoes will be provided, or you can bring your own

• We are capping the event at 16 people, please register and pay to save your spot!

About the instructor, Cedar Mathers-Winn: Cedar is a naturalist, biologist, and educator based in Bozeman, MT. He has a Master’s degree in Ecology, and has studied animal behavior in deserts, rainforests, and mountains around the world. He has taught undergraduates, professional scientists, and the public in a great variety of topics in biology and natural history. His mission is to show how common subtleties of nature open up worlds of wildness – always there but hidden in plain sight. 

Photo credit: Christy Howard, Cedar Mathers-Winn, and Abi King

Wildlife Tracking in a winter wonderland

with Cedar Mathers-Winn

DETAILS:

• Date: February 24, 2024, 11AM to 3PM

• Meet at Jack Creek Preserve’s Outdoor Education Center

• Cost: $30 per person

• For ages 12 and up

• We will be snowshoeing approximately 2 miles and spending 2-3 hours outside in winter conditions

• Bring your own lunch, water, snacks, and winter gear

• Snowshoes will be provided, or you can bring your own

• We are capping the event at 16 people, please register and pay to save your spot!

BOTH 1/10 AND 1/24 WINTER WILDLIFE tRACKING CLASSES ARE FULL. pLEASE CHECK BACK FOR OTHER EVENTS!

About the instructor, Cedar Mathers-Winn: Cedar is a naturalist, biologist, and educator based in Bozeman, MT. He has a Master’s degree in Ecology, and has studied animal behavior in deserts, rainforests, and mountains around the world. He has taught undergraduates, professional scientists, and the public in a great variety of topics in biology and natural history. His mission is to show how common subtleties of nature open up worlds of wildness – always there but hidden in plain sight.