Educational Offerings

Educational Offerings

Classes & Seminars

Expedition: Yellowstone! was set up for students in grades 4 to 8. The four- to five-day residential program runs from September through mid-December and again from mid-December through May. Through hikes, talks, and other outdoor activities, "Expedition: Yellowstone!" teaches groups of students about the natural and cultural history of Yellowstone National Park, investigates current issues affecting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and promotes stewardship and preservation in the park and in home communities. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190-0168. 307/344-2256 for information. Sept.-May by advance arrangement. $35 per person per night.

The not-for-profit Yellowstone Institute,based at the Buffalo Ranch in Lamar Valley, offers a wide range of summer and winter courses about the ecology, history, and wildlife of Yellowstone. Search with a historian for the trail the Nez Perce Indians took in their flee from the U.S. Army a century ago, or get tips from professional photographers on how to get the perfect shot of a trumpeter swan. Some programs are specifically designed for young people and families. North Park Rd., between Tower-Roosevelt and Northeast Entrance. 307/344-2294. www.yellowstoneassociation.org/institute. Year-round, programs vary with season.

Ranger Programs

Yellowstone offers a busy schedule of guided hikes, talks, and campfire programs. For dates and times, check the park's Discover Yellowstone newsletter, available at all entrances and visitor centers.

Campfire Programs. Gather around to hear tales about Yellowstone's fascinating history, with hour-long programs on topics ranging from the return of the bison to 19th-century photographers. Events are held at campgrounds in Bridge Bay, Canyon, Madison, and Mammoth Hot Springs. June-Aug., nightly at 9 and 9:30.

Daytime Programs. Ranger-led programs run during both the winter and summer seasons. Summer programs are held at Canyon Village, Grant Village, Madison, West Yellowstone, Norris Geyser, Lake Village, Old Faithful, and Mammoth. Winter programs are held at West Yellowstone, Old Faithful, and Mammoth. Contact visitor centers for schedules.

Junior Ranger Program. The Junior Ranger Program is available in the summer. Pick up an activity booklet at any visitor center.

Tours

Grub Steak Expeditions & Tours. These tours, ranging from a half day to several days in length, focus on photography, geology, history, wildlife, and other topics. They're led by a former Yellowstone park ranger, who is a professional photographer and retired teacher. Box 1013, Cody, WY, 82414. 307/527-6316 or 800/527-6316. www.grubsteaktours.com. From $325.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts,the company that runs most of the concessions in the park, offers bus, boat, horseback, and stagecoach tours of Yellowstone in summer and skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing treks in winter. Box 165, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone, WY, 82190. 307/344-7901. www.travelyellowstone.com.

Yellowstone Alpen Guides Co. In the summer, the company offers tours focusing on the Canyon and Old Faithful, as well as private tours. The company also leads ski trips and winter park tours -- it's a quieter way than snowmobiling to sight buffalo herds, trophy-size bull elk, and moose. 555 Yellowstone Ave., West Yellowstone, MT. 406/646-9374 or 800/858-3502. www.yellowstoneguides.com. $99. Apr.-mid-Oct.