Summer Ecology of Yellowstone National Park

Important Requirements

Lottery Information

A lottery process is in effect for this program. Lottery entry opens April 30, 2025 and closes May 6, 2025. Selected registrants will be notified via email by May 8, 2025. Any registrants who are not selected will be placed on the waitlist in case of a cancellation. Click or tap here for full details about the lottery process.

Activity Level

This tour is physically demanding. Participants must be able to meet ALL the physical requirements outlined at the bottom of this page.

Description

This immersive course will deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Yellowstone Ecosystem-one of the world's most iconic and ecologically significant landscapes. Join us to explore this dynamic system shaped by volcanic activity, fire, climate shifts, floods and human activity.

Led by a seasoned Yellowstone Forever naturalist, this course will be based at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch (LBR) in the heart of the Lamar Valley. From our scenic, remote location, we will explore Yellowstone's diverse flora and fauna, key habitats, examine the role these habitats play in maintaining the health and diversity of the Yellowstone ecosystem and tease out their interconnections. Evening lectures featuring topical experts will offer in-depth insights into cutting-edge research and conservation efforts.

Bonus! For an additional fee, you can extend your stay at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch for two additional nights (July 18 and 19) to explore Yellowstone on your own. The cost is $85/night. No meals are provided.

This program is limited to 13 participants.

Lodging, Meals, Transportation Details:

Your program tuition includes instruction, lodging, three family-style dinners with appetizers and dessert, morning coffee and tea, and field trip transportation for two days while based at Lamar Buffalo Ranch (LBR) during your program. Participants are responsible for their breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.

We will stay at the historic LBR in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park. Originally a stop for the Cooke City to Gardiner stagecoach in 1882, the LBR played a role in bison reintroduction efforts in the early 1900s. Over ninety years later, Yellowstone Forever manages LBR as a field site for courses, school programs, and research.

During your stay, you will be accommodated in small, modest guest cabins, each equipped with three single beds. For your convenience, the ranch features a modern bathhouse with separate men's and women's bathrooms and private showers. Please note that there are no bathrooms in the individual cabins. When not learning in the field, we will utilize LBR's two classrooms, shared kitchen, and dining area.

Participants are responsible for travel to and from the park, park entrance fee, all personal breakfasts (3), lunches (3), and snacks. After registration confirmation, OLLI will provide additional information about the LBR facilities, meal recommendations, kitchen resources and responsibilities (including one kitchen duty shift), a packing list, and necessary forms.

Highlights and Learning Goals

You will spend three nights at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park, accompanied by the professional staff of Yellowstone Forever and an OLLI at MSU staff member. Participants will:

• Participate in wildlife viewing and examine species habitat dynamics.
• Explore several major plant communities of Yellowstone and understand the role that plants play in the broader Yellowstone ecosystem.
• Learn how fire shaped Yellowstone ecosystems in the past and the future.
• Understand the Yellowstone hotspot and how volcanic and hydrothermal activity impacts ecosystems.
• Examine freshwater habitats of Yellowstone and discuss water's critical ecosystem role.
• Enjoy early morning wildlife watching and night sky gazing in the Lamar Valley.

Sample Schedule

Day 1

Drive your own vehicle. Arrive at LBR at 3:00 p.m. Introductions, orientation, course overview. Group dinner. Evening activity.

Day2

Fire, volcanoes, and Yellowstone's ecosystems. Dunraven Pass, Canyon, Caldera, and key freshwater and thermal features. Group dinner, an evening recap, and an evening presentation from a member of the NPS staff.

Day 3

Predators and prey. Large carnivores, ungulates, and their role within YNP habitats. Morning wildlife watching, habitats of the Northern Range. Group dinner. Evening presentation from a member of the NPS staff.

Day 4

Bringing it all together, group wrap-up and review. 11:00 a.m. departure.

There will be opportunities for early morning and evening wildlife watching and walks from and near LBR.

This schedule is subject to change based on weather, field access, and other factors.

Tuition

Double occupancy cabin $1150 per person for two people.

Private single occupancy cabin $1450 for one person

Physical Requirements

This trip is physically demanding. It involves:

• Hiking on uneven and rocky ground and unestablished trails
• Sitting on the ground
• Walking and standing outdoors, exposed to the elements (sun, wind, rain)
• Walking to and from your cabin to the shared bathhouse
• Extended periods of standing (up to 2 hours)
• Picnic lunch (chairs, no tables)
• Driving in a personal vehicle to and from the program destination
• Group travel in a multi-person van

Portions of this class will take place in remote locations with no emergency response services or medical facilities.

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship before entering the lottery for this program. The application deadline is April 28.

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.