DATES: JANUARY 7 – 11, 2026
PRICE: $987 | TUITION & LODGING
LOCATION: LAMAR BUFFALO RANCH
GROUP SIZE: 13
ACTIVITY LEVEL: 2
PROGRAM INFORMATION
In this course, students will be able to experience the wonders of Yellowstone through the lens of storytelling. Over the course of three full days in the wild and in the classroom, participants will have the chance to learn the history of Yellowstone’s written word, including how the national park has been expressed in the media, in literature, and in personal journals. Students will have the chance to create their own stories using techniques in each of these areas. On the first day, participants will use observation skills to write prose that could be used in a media story that relies on nonfiction techniques and scientific background information. Then, a day will be devoted to finding inspiration in nature and using that inspiration to create short-form literature, such as short stories and poetry. The final full day will focus on personal journals and how visitors of the past effectively captured the wonders of the park in their written updates as they journeyed through Yellowstone.
Classroom time will offer students the chance to learn these storytelling techniques, and then nature and wildlife observation will take place daily to find that literary inspiration. The course will mostly focus on the area in the Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs.
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.
DAY 2
Yellowstone in the News
This day will center on how Yellowstone has been captured in news articles and journalism pieces. The morning will be spent in the field, observing wildlife and the terrain of the park. An afternoon classroom session will explore nonfiction writing techniques for capturing the inspiration of the morning in words. The day finishes with an optional snowshoe hike.
DAY 3
Yellowstone in Literature
This day will center on how preserved lands have been used as settings for novels and short stories. The morning will be spent in the field, observing wildlife and the terrain of the park. An afternoon classroom session will explore fiction writing techniques and appreciating nature-based literature. The day finishes with an optional snowshoe hike.
DAY 4
Journaling Yellowstone
This day will center on the historic journals that have captured Yellowstone’s wonders for generations. The morning will be spent in the field, observing wildlife and the terrain of the park. An afternoon classroom session will explore the journals of many visitors to the park, from the past to the modern day. The day finishes with an optional snowshoe hike.
DAY 5
CHECKOUT & DEPARTURE
Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and goes through Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Lodging Check-in & Check-out: Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Meals: This course is not catered. Participants will need to bring their own food; lunch should be able to travel in the field.
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.
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.
RECOMMENDED READINGS
- Schullery, P. (2004). Searching for yellowstone: Ecology and wonder in the last wilderness. Montana Historical Society Press ; Distributed by the Globe Pequot Press.
- Notebook for journaling
BOOK THIS FIELD SEMINAR NOW
John Soltes, M.S.
John Soltes is a full-time associate professor at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey. He is also a trained journalist who has been teaching students about storytelling techniques for more than a decade. He has won state-level journalism awards and has frequently focused his long-form journalism on wildlife stories, including on Yellowstone and endangered species around the country.