Idaho Falls

East Idaho Summer Fun 2010

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/11137

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 43 of 55

{ OUTDOORS } The Wild World of Learning An overview of summer/fall Yellowstone educational programs The Yellowstone Association Institute is now accepting registrations for its lineup of summer and fall programs featuring field seminars, private tours and lodging & learning packages. The complete lineup of courses is available at yellowsto- neassociation.org. Of special note among new seminars are courses on wildlife watching. These courses are two- or three-day programs focusing on watching animals and learning about the ways Yellowstone wildlife deals with the different seasons. The summer seminar will feature a wide range of animals while the autumn class will place more emphasis on animals preparing for winter. Rates for these seminars start at $300 per person. “We are always adjusting our course schedules and reacting to our guests’ inter- ests,” said Jeff Brown, director of education for the Yellowstone Association. ”That is the reason we cover topics such as wildlife, geology, plant life and history and present them in a variety of ways such as through the lens of a photographer, the word of a writer, the classroom of a teacher or the hiking trail of the outdoor biologist.” The field seminars began this spring with Certified Interpretive Guide Training Workshop and will end Oct. 13–15 with The Wolves of Yellowstone. Field Seminars are taught by college professors, research scientists, park staff and other experts. Most field courses last from one to four days and are limited to 44 | EAST IDAHO SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2010 13 participants. Many courses are held at the Institute’s Lamar Buffalo Ranch field campus, where simple and comfortable log cabins are available for $30 per person per night. Other courses are based at park lodges. The Institute teams up with lodge opera- tor Xanterra Parks & Resorts to offer multi- day Lodging & Learning packages for visi- tors who want to explore the park by day and stay in comfortable hotels at night. The programs have garnered awards from the Association of Partners for Public Lands, “Good Morning America,” Family Fun Magazine and the National Park Service. With the exception of the Roosevelt Rendezvous and Yellowstone for Families programs, all Lodging & Learning packages are designed for a maximum of 12 people and for participants who are a minimum of 12 years old. These programs focus on wildlife watching (Spring Wolf and Bear Discovery, Fall Wolf and Elk Discovery), hiking (Trails Through Yellowstone), his- tory (Old Times on the Grand Tour) or a comprehensive park experience (Essential Yellowstone, Best of Yellowstone). The Roosevelt Rendezvous is a popular September program that includes four nights of lodging at Roosevelt Lodge. The program is available for up to 52 partici- pants who break down into small groups during the day and convene each evening in the main lodge for buffet-style meals and evening programs. “Yellowstone for Families” is designed for families with children between eight and 12. The package includes four nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (Yellowstone For Families at Mammoth) or Grant Village (Yellowstone for Families at Grant) and age-appropriate field activities such as ani- mal tracking, wildlife-watching, painting and hiking; breakfast and box lunches each day, in-park transportation, instruction and optional evening programs. This year’s catalog also features the Institute’s Private Tours. Private Tours are ideal for families and other small groups that want an introduction to Yellowstone wildlife, geology or a guided trip. The eight- hour trips focus on the diverse and abun- dant wildlife of Yellowstone’s Northern Range, natural history and geology in the Canyon and Lake Yellowstone areas or the thermal features in the Old Faithful area. Guides meet participants at their in-park hotels or at the Association’s new Overlook Field Campus. To request a free course catalog or make reservations for the field seminars and pri- vate tours, call 406-848-2400; for Lodging and Learning reservations, call 866-439- 7375. Yellowstone Association members receive a $10 discount on all courses, and family memberships begin at just $35 per year. For more information on any Institute program, go to yellowstoneassociation.org. —J. GOLDING

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Idaho Falls - East Idaho Summer Fun 2010