Are you an outdoor professional seeking to expand your knowledge, experience, and skills? Or are you simply an outdoor enthusiast looking for the tools to respond appropriately in a backcountry emergency?

The Yellowstone Forever Institute offers several professional-level certification programs to help you hone your outdoor and naturalist skills—with spectacular Yellowstone National Park as your classroom.

“Yellowstone has cultivated professional guides and interpreters for generations,” says Yellowstone Forever program manager Stephen Abatiell. “We’re excited to continue this tradition by supporting our staff and the public with these programs.”

Programs are based in Gardiner, Montana, at our Overlook Field Campus overlooking Yellowstone’s Northern Range, or at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch in the park’s remote northeast corner.

The following programs have space available this autumn and winter:

Become a Certified Interpretive Guide
October 2 – October 6
In this certification course presented in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), you’ll learn from professional interpreters as they work in the world’s first national park. Sessions will be held on the trail focusing on informal interpretation, as well as indoors emphasizing formal interpretation techniques.

Wilderness First Responder
November 11 – November 20
Required by many outdoor employers and recommended for all outdoor enthusiasts, this course teaches you through classroom sessions and field exercises to prevent and respond to incidents in the backcountry. Upon successful completion of this 80-hour course, you will receive certifications in Wilderness First Responder and CPR.

Wilderness First Aid
January 6 – January 7
This 16-hour certification course is ideal for hikers, skiers, and outdoor professionals who want to learn the basics of emergency care in remote settings. You’ll learn patient assessment, shock, wilderness wounds, fractures and dislocations, hypothermia, and more. May be used to recertify WMI Wilderness First Responder.

Naturalist Guide Certificate Program
April 8 – April 27
In this certification course, you will gain the skills of a naturalist and the experience for sharing that knowledge. Acquire the skills for effective interpretation, including interpretive principles and how to facilitate and manage a group during a program or tour. Perfect for college graduates looking to set themselves apart in the job market or retirees seeking a fun and fulfilling second career.

Click the links above to learn more and register for each program, or call 406.848.2400.