Yellowstone: History, Wildlife and Culture in The World's First National Park

Important Requirements

Lottery Information

A lottery process is in effect for this program. Lottery entry opens January 8, 2026 and closes at the end of the day January 15, 2026. Tuition is due at the time of lottery entry. Selected registrants will be notified via email by January 20, 2026. Any registrants who are not selected will be placed on the waitlist in case of a cancellation and will have their lottery payment refunded. Click or tap here for full details about the lottery process.

Activity Level

This tour requires low to moderate activity. Participants must be able to meet ALL the physical requirements outlined at the bottom of this page.

Description

Using the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch as a base, this course offers a four-day, three-night, hands-on exploration of the history, wildlife and culture of Yellowstone National Park.

Established in 1872 as the world's first national park, Yellowstone has a long and storied history. We'll take a deep dive into the key moments and decisions that shaped the development of the park, with a focus on its wildlife and cultural aspects.

History takes center stage from the start of this course as Yellowstone historian Bruce Gorley joins us aboard the bus to provide a historical interpretation of the route from Bozeman to Yellowstone, making stops along the way. The next three nights will be based out of the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch (LBR). The ranch was established in 1907 to protect Yellowstone's bison after they had been hunted nearly to extinction. A guided historical tour of Fort Yellowstone is planned, along with a visit to the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center, where you will meet with archivists and get a glimpse of over 6 million historical objects stored within this branch of the National Archives. Evening programs focusing on the history of wildlife management will be presented by current and retired NPS employees and Yellowstone Forever staff.

We'll make plenty of time for wildlife viewing as well.

Spring will be emerging, and early mornings and afternoons will be spent exploring the spectacular Northern Range with Yellowstone Forever field staff, seeking out wildlife along the way on foot and by bus. The field educator will provide high-powered spotting scopes and binoculars for group use. However, participants are encouraged to bring personal scopes and binoculars if they have them.

Each evening, participants will return to their comfortable rustic accommodations at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch to enjoy a catered dinner and educational presentations.

Transportation, Meals, and Lodging

The program begins and ends at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2025, and goes through Wednesday, February 25, at approximately 2:00 p.m.

Leave the driving to us! Round-trip bus transportation between Bozeman and the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, and daily field trip transportation is provided via Yellowstone Forever bus.

Tuition

Your tuition also includes instruction, lodging, three dinners with appetizers and morning coffee and tea. You are responsible for providing your own breakfast, lunch and snacks.

The cost of this tour depends on the lodging you select.

Option #1 | Single occupancy cabin $1400 for one person.

Option #2 | Double occupancy cabin $1255 per person for two people.

Lodging

We will be at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch (LBR) in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley. Originally a stop for the Cooke City to Gardiner stagecoach in 1882, the LBR contributed to bison reintroduction efforts in the early 1900s. More than ninety years later, Yellowstone Forever now manages LBR as a field site for courses, school programs and research.

You will stay in small, modest guest cabins that sleep two people each. Each cabin has a twin-sized bed. There is a limited option to upgrade to a single-occupancy cabin. For your convenience, the ranch features a heated bathhouse with separate men's and women's bathrooms and private showers. Please note that there are no bathrooms in the individual cabins. A communal bunkhouse houses two classrooms, our shared kitchen, a dining area and a bathroom. Pets are not allowed on this program.

Meals

After registration confirmation, additional information about the LBR facility, required equipment, meal recommendations, kitchen resources and responsibilities (including one post-meal kitchen duty shift) and necessary forms will be provided.

Physical Requirements

This is an active, field-based course held in early spring, when the weather is often unpredictable. Participants must be able to meet the following requirements:

General Requirements

• Be outside in a variety of conditions, ranging from 30°F to 70°F.
• Participate in hikes on snow-packed trails or possibly muddy spring conditions.
• Hike or snowshoe three (3) miles daily with climbs up to 250 feet.
• Most activities will occur at elevations between 7,200 and 8,000 feet.
• Participate in field learning activities as part of a group. If group members cannot participate in the day's activities, they must notify the educator in advance.
• To participate in this program, each participant must fill out and sign health questionnaires and assumption of risk waivers. These forms must be completed and returned at least 30 days before the program start date.

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship before registering for this program. The application deadline is March 9, 2026.

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