Run free and happy with Missoula's fun & supportive running community!

This package is perfect for runners and walkers of all speeds and all levels of experience (or lack of).

Get the gear and training you need to start moving and keep going, then put it into practice at the celebrated 2027 Missoula Marathon Weekend of Events!

The Missoula Marathon is one of our community's most beloved and best supported events. It's been named as the Best Marathon in the U.S. (repeatedly) by Runner's World magazine and others.

Package includes:

• (2) $150 gift cards to the Runner's Edge
• (3) Pairs of Runner's Edge socks
• (2) Runner's Edge-branded hat
• (2) HydraPak x Runner's Edge Water Bottles
• (4) Noogs Sour Energy Chews
• (1) MiiR x Runner's Edge Mug
• (1) Shokz OpenDots ONE Wireless Earbuds
• (1) Black Diamond Storm Headlamp
• (1) Freaks of Nature SPF Spray
• (2) Missoula Marathon, Half-Marathon or 5K entries
• (2) Training class memberships (17 weeks of coaching and group runs)
• (2) Race Weekend Finisher's Jackets
• (2) Race Day Hats

Value: $1,330

Thank you to the Brooker Family at the Runner's Edge and the team at Run Wild Missoula for offering such a fun, inclusive and motivational group of friends to run with, no matter your pace or distance.

Two-Day Fossil Dig for Four with Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration

Contribute to real scientific research by helping the Elevation Science team uncover 150-million-year-old dinosaurs.

Work alongside scientists and dig for dinosaurs in the fossil-rich and rugged landscapes of southern Montana and northern Wyoming, near Red Lodge.

In this experience, your group will join the field expedition for two days during the 2027 summer season. During your adventure, you'll be doing hands-on work, contributing to decades-long research projects by helping the field teams find and excavate the fossilized remains of dinosaurs and other prehistoric life.

What will you be excavating? Based on the success of previous field seasons, you'll have the chance to work on the Morrison Formation, which hold the remains of some of the largest animals ever to walk the Earth. Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus and more are the dinosaurs they uncover every day in the field. They're preserved with the remains of many other lifeforms -- all important pieces of the larger puzzle we're trying to assemble.

Whether you've held fossils before or you are a complete novice, the paleontologists on site will teach you everything you need to know. This will be an experience of a lifetime and you'll never look at the Montana landscape the same way again.

Value: $1800
4 guests, 2 days
Ages 8 and up
Does not include lodging or transportation.

For booking details see: elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-day-trips

A few more details: Winner should email Jason Schein at jschein@elevationscience.org and Beth Conway bconway@montananaturalist.org as soon as possible to ensure your best possible date. Day trips are limited to 5 people per day and they book fast.

AVAILABLE DATES FOR THE 2027 FIELD SEASON WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN EARLY 2027.

This auction item does not include lodging.

Thank you to Elevation Science Institute for this unique opportunity!

History and natural wonders await on this paddle through the wild and scenic upper Missouri River with Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures!

Made famous by the cross-continental journey of Lewis & Clark and Stephen Ambrose's bestselling book, Undaunted Courage, the region's rich history has inspired many to paddle the Missouri River's White Cliffs. You'll camp where Lewis & Clark camped and explore shared landscapes. For any willing traveler, this river trip offers an accessible route of discovery for the geology, wildlife, Native American culture, early explorers, and the pioneers that followed.

Peacefully float through white and gold sandstone canyons filled with the swooping swarms of swallows and the unending chorus of migrating songbirds. Re-image the prairie riverbanks covered with massive bison herds and curious grizzlies as you dine on delicious meals and rich stories alike. With no rapids and bathrooms at every campground, you will be free to pack your adventure anxieties away and focus instead on exploring this beautifully underappreciated landscape at the heart of the Great American Prairie and the histories of our nation.

When not on the river, stretch your legs onshore to discover narrow slot canyons, sandstone arches, petroglyphs, and historic tipi rings. You'll be treated with abundant wildlife viewing along one of North America's most crucial migration pathways through the Great Plains and open prairies of the American West.

Your expedition includes an MNHC Teaching Naturalist who can provide additional knowledge, context, and open up discussions about the landscape, wildlife, and history of the landscape. Take this opportunity to activate your curiosity and spend days basking in appreciation of one of the lesser-known natural splendors of our great state!

No prior river or naturalist experience necessary! Just a flexible attitude, patience with changing conditions, and a willingness to paddle up to 3-5 hours a day on calm waters. The Missouri is a favorite for beginner and experienced paddlers alike.

"The canoe trip down the Missouri River with Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures was an easy paddle through spectacular scenery with great Naturalist opportunities. We saw so many birds and magnificent geological features, and we learned a lot about the human and natural history of the amazing landscape from Wayne and Kevin. Jamie and the rest of the river guides made sure the guests were well fed and safe, which was very important to me as an inexperienced paddler." - Kelly Dix, Master Naturalist and 2025 L&C guest

Value: $2500
- 2 guests, 4 days
- Dates: June 24-27, 2027

Set your course for an unforgettable afternoon under sail on spectacular Flathead Lake!

Set your course for an unforgettable afternoon with Captain John Rimel and his classic 33' vintage sailboat.

The experience is entirely tailored to you and your guest. Want to feel the thrill of sailing? Trim the sails, heel the boat, and let Flathead's winds do the rest. Prefer a blend of adventure and exploration? We can glide across the glittering water to Skeeko Bay on Wild Horse Island, then hop into the dinghy or onto the paddle board and head ashore for a hike.

On Wild Horse Island, there's a real chance of spotting bighorn sheep, bands of horses, and maybe even an elusive ram perched high on the rocks. Or choose a more cultural voyage and sail to Painted Rocks to see ancient Native American pictographs etched into lakeside cliffs-a powerful reminder of the region's deep history. Throughout the day, you won't lift a finger: a delicious lunch and your beverages of choice are provided, whether enjoyed under sail or at anchor in a quiet cove.

Sails full, turquoise water, mountain views, and not a single responsibility on your list!

Value: Priceless
-2 guests
-Your trip must be used between mid-June and September 2027
-Subject to availability.

A year's worth of programs, events, courses, summer camp with an MNHC GOLDEN TICKET!

With your MNHC GOLDEN TICKET you can attend a full year of programs, courses, and events at the Montana Natural History Center! This includes our Master Naturalist Course, valued up to $450; our Field Notes Writing Workshop, valued at $255; art courses, lectures, field days, garden programs, and even a week-long summer camp (valued at $385) for a special nature-loving kiddo in your life! And more!

The Montana Natural History Center is known for our exceptional programming led by experts in the region. Guided field days include such destinations like Lee Metcalf and Freezout Lake. Art courses offer everything from watercolor and felting, to clay creations and bone art! Lectures focus on Montana's unique natural history from Glacial Lake Missoula to our region's legendary storytellers like Chris La Tray and Arnold "Smoke" Elser. And our writing workshop gives participants the chance to have your work broadcast on Montana Public Radio. Plus, your GOLDEN TICKET includes tickets to our major events like our Spring Luncheon and Fall Banquet and Auction!

With your GOLDEN TICKET you have the opportunity to experience the over 70+ programs that MNHC offers each year!

Don't miss your chance on this exclusive opportunity to fill your 2027 with nature connections!

Value: $2,500
-Limited to 1 person*
-Must be used between October 17, 2026-October 17, 2027.
-Subject to availability.
-Limited to one week of MNHC summer camps.

*The winning bidder is welcome to use the GOLDEN TICKET themselves or gift it to another person. However, once assigned, the GOLDEN TICKET cannot be transferred, with the exception of a summer camper.

Ski, soak, eat...what more could you want from a winter getaway? This fabulous package has it all. Head over to beautiful White Sulphur Springs and hit the slopes at Showdown (Montana's oldest and only woman-owned ski area!), then soothe your tired muscles with an indulgent soak at the Spa Hot Springs. Or maybe you'll choose food and beverages first, and enjoy a brew or two at 2 Basset Brewery followed by a delicious dinner at The Jawbone cocktail lounge & eatery. Either way, you'll sleep well in your double queen room at the Edith Hotel. When you wake up, an indulgent breakfast at Wild Oats Bakery tops off your adventure!

Package includes:

• Two single-day lift tickets to Showdown Ski Area
• One-night stay at the Edith Hotel in a Double Queen Essential room
• Two adult passes to soak in Spa Hot Springs at the Spa Hot Springs Hotel
• $50 gift certificate to the Jawbone
• $25 gift certificate to 2 Basset Brewery
• $25 gift certificate to Wild Oats Bakery

Valid during the 2026-2027 winter season and expires in April 2027. Black-out dates include: Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, MLK Jr. Weekend and Presidents' Day Weekend.

You and your sweetie are in for a treat with this fun date night package! Start off with an afternoon at Glacier Ice Rink at one of their delightful public skate sessions, then warm up with brews and snacks at Bayern Brewing & Edelweiss Bistro. As the evening progresses, get cozy at Bar Plata for some tapas and cocktails, then end the night at home and pop some bubbly.

Includes:

• 2 admission passes to Glacier Ice Rink
• $50 gift card to Bayern / Edelweiss
• $50 gift card to Bar Plata
• a bottle of 2023 Saint-Hilaire Brut

This March, enjoy two tickets to the fabulous performance of "Steel Magnolias" at the Missoula Children's Theater!

Steel = strength and Magnolias = dignity. What fitting descriptors for the women of Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana-the true Steel Magnolias of the 1980s. Weekly visits to Truvy's Beauty Salon provide a place to share their lives, loves ("If he's trying to drive me crazy, it's too late"), town gossip, and concerns for the health of M'Lynn's daughter Shelby, a diabetic. Playwright Robert Harling wrote the story in 1987 as a loving tribute to his sister, Susan, who died from type 1 diabetes.

The 1989 motion picture of the same name received numerous nominations and awards that delivered the comedy, the tragedy, and the testament to the shared bonds of female friendship. It's so full of big hearts, bigger hair, and razor-sharp Southern wit ("The nicest thing I can say about her is that her tattoos are spelled correctly"), you'll want to schedule your next hair appointment and reserve your tickets right away!

Performances are March 5-7 and 11-14, 2027.

Join us for the 50th (!!) Annual International Wildlife Film Festival based out of Missoula, MT. This year's festival will continue its legacy at The Roxy Theater celebrating the magic of wildlife and the power of storytelling through film.
An IWFF All-Access Pass offers patrons an exceptional experience by providing the opportunity to see everything IWFF has to offer, including both in-person screenings and the Virtual Festival.

Dates: April 17-22, 2027

Give yourself and 5 friends the gift of a 3-day/2-night trip into the wild!

The cozy, well-equipped Cayuse Cabin is surrounded by the Helena NF and proposed Nevada Mountain Wilderness Area, in hunting district 343. It sits along the North Fork of Prickly Pear Creek, 35 miles from Helena or Lincoln.

Bring your hiking boots, ATVs, XC skis, snowmobile, or horses - the possibilities are endless! There are lots of trails out the front door - the cabin is just below the CDT.

Amenities:

Lots of light, front porch with seating, king bed on the main floor, 4 queens in the loft, fully equipped kitchen, shower, outhouse or chamber pot, wood stove, comfortable living area. Outside BBQ, picnic table, and seating.

Please note: Limited to 6 guests. The cabin is unsuitable for young children, but those 13 and older are welcome!

Don't be petrified! All these animals are really, really dead. The University of Montana Paleontology Collection houses around 50,000 specimens from over 20 different countries. During your private tour, you'll be able to touch a 2.5 billion-year-old fossil, check out the life that swam in a shallow sea that covered Montana 320 million years ago, take some selfies with the skull of Montana's T. rex, and get all your questions about ancient life answered!

Details:

• What: Spend up to two hours on a private, backstage tour of the University of Montana Paleontology Collection with Kallie Moore, the Collections Manager, Fossil Librarian, and co-host of the YouTube channel Eons (youtube.com/eons). You'll have the freedom to explore fossils of specific interest to you, and the chance to ask all the questions you can think of, while you share in Kallie's enthusiasm for earth's history. The University of Montana houses a collection of around 50,000 fossils that represent the ancient heritage of North America in addition to specimens from 20 different countries. Ask to see the oldest fossil in the collection - a 1.3 billion-year-old Stromatolite from Glacier National Park, learn about Montana's ancient sea life, or see fossils from some of Montana's earliest mammals. It is up to you!
• For: Up to 6 people (ages 8+)
• Expiration Date: Must have this experience before November 2027
• When: Tours must be scheduled during the week, but can be during evening hours (M-F).
• Value: 4.6 billion years of history

Golf with a buddy at the Ranch Club! (Cart not included, so you'll get your exercise, too.)

The Ranch Club features 7027 yards, par 72 championship 18-hole golf course, a first-class practice facility and PGA certified golf instruction for players of all levels.

Get your bug on with a family membership to the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium...plus some GREAT swag!

With a tropical greenhouse filled with butterflies from around the world and an exhibit area featuring a wide array of insects, arachnids, millipedes, centipedes, and crustaceans, the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium provides a truly unique Montana experience. Whether you're looking for a memorable and powerful learning opportunity for yourself or your entire family, we've got something for visitors of all ages.

Package also includes an MBHI travel mug, magnet, bug key chain, and large BEETLES t-shirt!

Membership includes:

• Unlimited free admission for two adults and up to 6 children under 18 for one full year from date of purchase
• Two one-time use guest passes
• $2 off additional adult admissions (up to 4)
• 10% off gift shop purchases
• Discount on special events, birthday parties, camp registrations, and other programs.

Join NRRES Executive Director Mat Seidensticker for a night of learning about moths and local moth diversity under dark skies at a 12-acre private residence in the Bitterroot Valley near Florence, Montana.

The night will begin with Mat highlighting moth natural history and why moths are important, ways of observing moths, and background on NRRES moth research, including the Montana Moth Project, while participants enjoy light snacks and beverages. After sunset we will turn on the lights at a "light sheet" set-up to attract and observe the local moth fauna. Attracting moths with lights tends to be most effective on the darkest nights, so nights on or around the new moon phase is best, but not mandatory.

When: July 15 - September 1, 2027

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Looking for a luxurious Montana getaway? This two-night stay in Whitefish's sophisticated Firebrand Hotel, with a $200 gift certificate to the Firebrand Restaurant, is just the ticket.

The Firebrand Hotel brings urban sophistication and service combined with the atmosphere and adventurous style of Northwest Montana's rugged landscapes. The Firebrand's premier location in downtown Whitefish positions you steps away from world-class dining and nightlife options and within easy access to golfing, Whitefish Lake, trails, and skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort, and it's a short drive to the West Glacier entrance to Glacier National Park.

The Firebrand menu showcases regionally-inspired entrees and small plates to satisfy your hunger and ignite your senses! The Firebrand Restaurant continuously strives to use the freshest seasonal ingredients while supporting local Montana businesses and farms.

Enjoy a fabulous day on the slopes with two full-day lift tickets to Blacktail Mountain!

At Blacktail Mountain, a unique top-down ski area located just outside of Lakeside, MT, the snow stays light and dry on our north-facing slopes, and the views of Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park are world-class. With over 1,000 acres of terrain and 1,440 feet of vertical, Blacktail warmly welcomes the whole family to explore the mountain the authentic Montana way.

The Missoula Symphony has generously donated two sets of two tickets. Each set is good for two general admission or section 4 seats to any Masterworks show in the 2026-2027 season. Check out upcoming performances at missoulasymphony.org.

The Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Chorale has delivered unique, live symphonic and choral music to Western Montana since 1954. Locals and visitors of all ages and backgrounds attend our concerts, from our first-time symphony goers to our dedicated sponsors and community members.

Now, under the leadership of our new Music Director, Julia Tai, we have expanded our offerings even more. Our outreach and education program continues to provide scholarships to University of Montana music students and educational activities in regional public schools.

Ski season is approaching (woohoo!) and this pair of one-day lift tickets to Big Sky will have you looking forward to it even more!

Big Sky is a special place that takes skiing seriously. Surrounded by the beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Region, 5,850 acres of skiable terrain range from cruisy groomers to bucket-list descents. Big Sky is known for consistently getting snow throughout the season, averaging 400 inches of snowfall a year. No matter the weather, with over 5,850 acres of terrain covering a variety of micro-climates, you can find good conditions all over the mountain.

Treat yourself to a one-night stay in a double queen room at the fabulous Fairmont Hot Springs Resort - and all the hot springs soaking that comes along with it!

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is known throughout the Northwest for its pools. There are two oversized Olympic swimming pools and two mineral soaking pools. One of each located indoors and outdoors. AND there's a waterslide for the young and young at heart! The pools are fed by a virtually unlimited supply of 155-degree natural hot spring water, cooled to various temperatures for comfort and maximum enjoyment.

Blackout dates: holidays.

Must be used by August 30, 2027.

Enjoy a fantastic winter weekend (or midweek getaway) in Whitefish with two lift tickets to Whitefish Mountain Resort bookended by a two-night stay in the cozy Whitefish Riverfront Hotel!

With over 3,000 skiable acres, Whitefish Mountain Resort is one of the largest ski resorts in the US and Canada. The resort offers state-of-the-art grooming, snowmaking, and lifts as well as some of the friendliest staff you will ever meet.

Lift tickets are good through April 4, 2027.

Enjoy two nights at the Whitefish Riverfront Hotel, formerly The Pine Lodge, where riverside charm meets contemporary comfort. Located on the banks of the Whitefish River and just moments from downtown Whitefish, this hotel is the ideal base for Glacier National Park adventures, Whitefish Mountain Resort skiing, and year-round outdoor recreation. Ski transportation is available via the hotel and the free SNOW bus!