Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium
Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium
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About this organization
Mission
TO INSPIRE AN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF INSECTS AND THEIR RELATIVES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND INNOVATIVE SCIENCE EXHIBITS FEATURING LIVE INVERTEBRATES.
About
The mission of the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium is to inspire an appreciation and understanding of insects and their relatives through educational programs and innovative science exhibits featuring live invertebrates. in fulfilling this mission in 2019, we operate the first phase of our vision, the Missoula Insectarium -- an arthropod zoo and museum that is open to the public 4 days per week. The Missoula Insectarium is comprised of six main exhibits and 19 aquariums and terrariums with live arthropods, an animal encounter cart, and various other educational elements. Adjacent to the exhibit space is a laboratory with a window so guests can view our animal keepers at work. Both of these spaces are designed to be USDA containment facilities, allowing us to secure the necessary permits to display a wide variety of arthropods. Down the hallway from the Missoula Insectarium is our classroom that provides space for field trips, community programs, birthday parties, and special events. Unfortunately, we were not presented with the opportunity to renew or extend our lease. The insectariums last day of public visitation was August 17, 2019.With plans underway to open a new facility featuring a tropical butterfly house, rather than replicate the experience we've provided in the past, for the remainder of 2019 we began to transform out education programs to a more mobile mode of operation. This includes bringing our field trips and Bug Ambassadors into schools rather than having them come to us, partnering with other organizations to continue our camps and clubs, doing regular programs at other family friendly destinations and participating in local celebrations and events.Through out 2019, the Missoula Butterfly House and INsectarium's educational programs included:The Insectarium Experience (through 8/17/19) Visitors to the insectarium are exposed to exhibits with live arthropods and hands-on learning opportunities. Each month we adopt a new theme that determines who resides in our Bug of the Month exhibits, and provides a context for special programs such as evening lectures for adults and hands-on, docent-led craft and/or science activities. In total, we welcomed over 8,000 guests to the Missoula Insectarium through 8/17/19.Field trips for schools, homeschool groups, and other organized groups from pre-school through 8th grade. In 2019 we conducted 117 field trips for 129 classes and groups, reaching 2,448 individuals.Schools Out Day Camps are daylong camps for kids in grades K 5 and take place during the Missoula County Public School year when school is not in session due to teacher professional development days. In 2019 we offered 7 day camps.Summer Camps are weeklong camps for kids entering grades K 5. We provided 4 camps in 2019: Pollinator Power, Ecology Experiments, Creative Creatures, and Little Things, Big Jobs.Wild World of Bugs After School Bug Club is a camp for kids ages 5-11. We offered this club in the spring of 2019.Off-site Bug Clubs These off-site clubs meet once a week for 5 weeks at local schools. In 2019 we provided 4 clubs.Bugs & Brews Lecture Series To offer an education experience specifically for adults, we provided 6 evening lectures with an average attendance of 64 participants.Our Accessible Education Project helps make our unique education programs available to all segments of our community. In 2019 we provided field trip scholarships to 33 classes / groups. We held 6 free admission days before closing the Insectarium, attracting nearly 1,454 visitors. We distributed 174 free passes to organizations serving youth and families. We offered 8 summer camp scholarships to children from low-income families. And we provided free admission for 155 visitors through Museums for All, a nationwide program that allows free admission to EBT cardholders.Bugs Around Town Beginning in September we launched our Bugs Around Town program where we bring our Bug Ambassadors and programs to family friendly destinations (Missoula Public Library, spectrUM Discovery Area, Southgate Mall, and more) and local celebrations and events. In the last 4 months of 2019 we provided 27 Bugs Around Town programs and reached over 1,100 people.Additional Outreach & Education: Going beyond the education experiences provided by our field trips, exhibits, and special programs, in 2019 we created and took advantage of opportunities to expand the reach of our education efforts -- providing a more specific focus on species native to Montana. These included:Monthly visits on Montana Public Radios Pea Green Boat a show geared toward children, but having a dedicated adult audience too. Each month we focus on insects that listeners can see in Montana at that particular time of year (whether its wingless crane flies on the snow in January or painted lady butterflies in June).Once insect activity picks up in late winter / early spring, we share our popular Whats Buzzin weekly Facebook and email reports. Compiled of photos of recent insect sightings submitted by our likers and our own personal observation, this report identifies and provides information about some of the insects western Montanans are seeing in their backyards as well as while they are out exploring our waters, grasslands, and forests.In the fall, we began providing a new weekly email report called Notes from the Lab, which takes a deeper look into the amazing lives of some of the live animals we care for.In partnership with Montana Public Radio, starting on January 7, 2019 we began airing our new Bug Bytes podcast every Monday on MTPR. Also available online at https://www.mtpr.org/programs/bug-bytes
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The mission of the non-profit, as stated in the filing, is “To inspire an appreciation and understanding of insects and their relatives through educational programs and innovative science exhibits featuring live invertebrates.”.
When referring to its tasks, they were described as: “To inspire an appreciation and understanding of insects and their relatives through educational programs and innovative science exhibits featuring live invertebrates.”.
- The non-profit is operating legally in the state of MT.
- The non-profit's address for the year 2020 is listed as PO BOX 8885, MISSOULA, MT, 59807 in the filing.
- The form submitted by the non-profit organization for 2020 reports 6 employees.
- Does not operate a hospital.
- Does not operate a school.
- Does not collect art.
- Does not provide credit counseling.
- Does not have foreign activities.
- Is not a donor-advised fund.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are between $250,000 and $500,000.
- Revenue is between $500,000 and $1,000,000+.
- Revenue less expenses is $184,439.
- The CEO's salary plan within the organization is not subject to review and approval from a neutral entity.
- The organization has 7 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 2009.
- The organization has a written policy that addresses conflicts of interest.
- The organization is required to file Schedule B.
- The organization is required to file Schedule O.
- The organization pays $171,339 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $24,409 in fundraising expenses.
- The organization has minutes of its meetings.