DATES: JANUARY 24 – 28, 2026
PRICE: $998 | TUITION & LODGING
LOCATION: LAMAR BUFFALO RANCH
GROUP SIZE: 13
ACTIVITY LEVEL: 2
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Each morning, participants will venture into the field to search for wolves and other wildlife, focusing on animal behavior, vocal communication, and bioacoustic research. As part of the Yellowstone Wolf Project’s ongoing bioacoustics studies, we will explore how wolves and other species use sound to navigate their world, coordinate as a pack, and interact with their environment.
After a morning of fieldwork, participants will return to Lamar Buffalo Ranch for a late lunch, followed by a lecture with Dr. Jeff Reed, who will provide expert insights into the science of bioacoustics and its role in wildlife conservation.
In the afternoons, students will have the option to:
Join a guided natural history snowshoe trek, looking for wildlife sign while experiencing Yellowstone’s vast and dynamic soundscape.
Participate in an early evening wildlife observation drive, conditions permitting, to listen for and observe animal vocalizations in different settings.
Evenings will feature films, bioacoustic case studies, and group discussions, providing a deeper understanding of how sound recording and analysis contribute to the study and protection of wildlife.
Specific topics to be covered include:
1. Understand how animals use sound (vibrations) and other sensory channels to share information.
2. Identify different wolf vocalizations and their meanings, from howls to growls and beyond.
3. Learn to use affordable recording equipment to capture and interpret the sounds of animals in your own environment.
Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and goes through Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Lodging Check-in & Check-out: Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Meals: This course is catered. Catering starts with dinner on the first evening and ends with breakfast on the morning of check-out. Please note any dietary restrictions during registration.
Optional Airport Shuttle: We provide an optional airport shuttle for those interested. The shuttle service is provided on the first day of the program with a 1:00 p.m. pickup and the last day of the program with a departure from the Lamar Buffalo Ranch at 8:00 a.m.
1st Day of Program | Shuttle Pickup Location: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
1st Day of Program | Shuttle Drop off Location: Lamar Buffalo Ranch
Check-out Day | Shuttle Pickup Location: Lamar Buffalo Ranch
Check-out Day | Shuttle Departure Location: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
If you opt-in to the shuttle service, please ensure that your flight booking will allow for you to be picked up and dropped off during the above timeframes.
Whom to Contact: For any questions, concerns, or additional information please contact the following:
Program itinerary, health forms, payment, and general program questions please contact Yellowstone Forever at [email protected] or 406-848-2400 extension 3
Road updates, park conditions, and general park information please contact Yellowstone National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/yell/contacts.htm
If running late for a program, please contact 406-641-2185.
General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Lamar Buffalo Ranch – Winter General Information document.
DAY 1
WELCOME & ORIENTATION
The program starts with an evening orientation. Participants will get to know one another and be introduced to the program. Throughout the evening, the itinerary and seminar key concepts will be discussed, as well as what to expect to pack for the field each day.
DAYS 2 – 4
Each morning, participants will venture into the field to search for wolves and other wildlife, focusing on animal behavior, vocal communication, and bioacoustic research. As part of the Yellowstone Wolf Project’s ongoing bioacoustics studies, we will explore how wolves and other species use sound to navigate their world, coordinate as a pack, and interact with their environment.
After a morning of fieldwork, participants will return to Lamar Buffalo Ranch for a late lunch, followed by a lecture with Dr. Jeff Reed, who will provide expert insights into the science of bioacoustics and its role in wildlife conservation.
In the afternoons, students will have the option to:
Join a guided natural history snowshoe trek, looking for wildlife sign while experiencing Yellowstone’s vast and dynamic soundscape.
Participate in an early evening wildlife observation drive, conditions permitting, to listen for and observe animal vocalizations in different settings.
Evenings will feature films, bioacoustic case studies, and group discussions, providing a deeper understanding of how sound recording and analysis contribute to the study and protection of wildlife.
DAY 5
CHECKOUT & DEPARTURE
ACTIVITY LEVEL 2
- Be prepared for hikes on snow-packed trails, or snowshoe or ski trips, up to 3 miles per day with climbs up to 250 feet.
- Most activities will take place at elevations between 7,200 to 8,000 feet. Participants residing at lower elevations may want to arrive a day early to adjust to the altitude.
- To learn more about how specific medical conditions can be affected by Yellowstone’s environment and our activities, please visit our site page on health information.
- All field activities will be conducted as a group. If members of the group cannot participate in the day’s activities, they need to let the educator know in advance.
- To participate in this program, each participant must fill out and sign a health questionnaire and assumption of risk waiver. These forms must be completed and returned at least 30 days prior to the program start date.
Whom to Contact: For any questions, concerns, or additional information please contact the following:
Program itinerary, health forms, payment, and general program questions please contact Yellowstone Forever at [email protected] or 406-848-2400 extension 3
Road updates, park conditions, and general park information please contact Yellowstone National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/yell/contacts.htm
If running late for a program, please contact 406-641-2185.
General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Lamar Buffalo Ranch – Winter General Information document.
“Amanda Evans and the entire staff at the Lamar Ranch kept everything running so smoothly and with extraordinary care, grace, kindness, consideration and expertise.
Amanda is a fabulous naturalist and story teller!” – Christine, VA
“Bravo. Well done.” – Keith, NY
BOOK THIS FIELD SEMINAR NOW
Jeff Reed, Ph.D.
Amanda Evans | Lead Field Educator
Jeff Reed, Ph.D. was born and raised in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in southwest Montana and owns Reedfly Farm, practicing regenerative agriculture and conservation. With a PhD in linguistics and history, he has published on the history of language and humans. He spent 30 years in the technology industry, working on linguistics and artificial intelligence, and now builds solutions that are used by wildlife researchers. He focuses much of his free time interacting with wildlife, practicing paleo-living, researching animal communication via computational linguistics, and living as part of nature. He is an executive committee member of the Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group, promoting the co-existence of people and wildlife…though he considers people wildlife too!
Amanda Evans | Lead Field Educator
Amanda Evans is a Yellowstone Forever lead field educator with over 5 years of experience in Yellowstone. Her passion for wildlife and wild places has taken her to working in California, Texas, Wyoming, Alaska, and Montana. Amnanda feels that it is through firsthand experience with the natural world that people build the strongest connections to it. Her goal is to use education to foster the same appreciation she feels and to inspire others to preserve and protect nature in all spaces.
