Craftsmanship at its finest! MNHC friend and Garden Manager, Elena Ulev, crafted this pine needle basket. This basket is the perfect little catch-all for your small items including your new copper and tin earrings!

These earrings were also designed by Elena and are a great staple to add to anyone's earring collection!

We love fossils, and we know you do, too. Lean into those fossil feelings with this fabulous basket, which includes everything from clothing to art:

• Gorgeous, classy "Trilobyte" print by David Lusk
• Metal Philips County Museum "Dinosaurs & Outlaws" sign, because doesn't that just say it all?
• Titan Duck medium t-shirt in the color and style of the John Deere logo. Do with that what you will.
• Maiasaura medium t-shirt, honoring one of Montana's great fossil finds
• An onXmaps premium membership, which provides everything you need to plan, map, and hunt fossils in your preferred state (Montana, we know it's Montana)
• A old-timey bottle of whiskey barrel aged red wine, because it looks cool
• Two extremely fierce-looking toy dinosaurs, to keep you company while you search. Or to have pretend dino-fights with. We won't judge.
• A 6-pack of Big Sky IPA, to help you kick back and relax after your day of exploring
• Deck of sturgeon playing cards, because the evenings get long in fossil country
• A Pastasaurus for all your noodle needs!

Take home a piece of Missoula history! This gorgeous side table, donated by Heritage Timber, was crafted from wood taken from the old Missoula Mercantile, and will add rustic elegance to any home.

In addition, you get a 4x6 stonecast picture frame, the perfect decorative touch.

This impossibly soft, warm, snuggly bear afghan was crocheted by longtime supporter Pat Jamieson. Just the size for your toddler...or young kiddo...or your own lap. Just in time for cozy season!

Take home this gorgeous handcrafted pottery water dispenser, complete with wooden spigot and corks. Your drinking water has never tasted better!

Get a hands-on experience prepping 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils with paleontologist Jason Poole!

Spend a magical hour learning from Jason about the fascinating process of fossil preparation. Jason has spent 27 years at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia working on new specimens from three continents, and is currently spending his days at the Montana Natural History Center preparing and conserving dinosaur fossils collected in southern Montana this past summer. Also a talented paleo-artist, Jason's work has been published in National Geographic and his artwork appears in many museum and private collections.

The details:

• Group size: maximum 3 (one person gets to prep, and can bring up to two guests/parents). Children 13-17 need to be accompanied by at least one parent.
• Minimum age: 13 - great for older kids and adults!
• Location: Montana Natural History Center
• Availability: Your one-hour fabulous fossil experience will happen during Jason's regular prep hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-3pm, and must occur by May 15, 2026. However, you must get your date on the schedule no later than April 1st.

In addition, you get a signed copy of Jason's new book, Dinosaurs and Other Felonious Mischief: The Art of Jason C. Poole.

Calling all adventurous dog lovers! Yellowstone Dog Sled Adventures is generously offering this exhilarating experience for two people.

This Learn to Mush auction item is for a two-and-a-half-hour dog sledding experience. The trip is geared for an adventurous pair who wants to experience the thrill & excitement of driving a dog sled team. They will teach you and provide the opportunity to drive a sled team (all ages welcome but you must be at least 120lbs to drive the sled and mature enough to handle the responsibility).

This is a hands-on experience, not just a ride. This is not a sightseeing tour, but having fun working together with the dogs and their staff. It is not geared for passive spectators, but for people who want an interactive dog sledding experience near beautiful Big Sky and West Yellowstone.

This experience is limited to availability, must be booked in advance, and must be used by March 20, 2026.

Sit down with Bruce Bugbee over coffee, tea or cocoa and chat about his book, Saving the Big Sky, or indeed all things land conservation and stewardship. Saving the Big Sky is a gorgeously illustrated book showcasing land conservation achievements across Montana.

This one-of-a-kind papier-mache bat sculpture was painstakingly crafted by Aaron Conway (husband of MNHC auction goddess Beth Conway) and painted by Samuel Conway (Beth's son) (yes, the Conway family is insanely talented) for this year's banquet & auction. And YOU have the chance to take it home! Comes with stand (read: you must take the stand).

This one-of-a-kind papier-mache raven sculpture was painstakingly crafted by Aaron Conway (husband of MNHC auction goddess Beth Conway) and painted by Samuel Conway (Beth's son) (yes, the Conway family is insanely talented) for this year's banquet & auction. And YOU have the chance to take it home! Comes with stand (read: you must take the stand).