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

NATURAL HISTORY

THANKGIVING IN LAMAR

Early-morning wildlife watching, then return to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch for relaxation and Thanksgiving festivity preparations. If time allows, the class may go back out into the field for some evening wildlife watching or hike (or snowshoe). The class will cook together and enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving spread!

DAY 3

WILDLIFE WATCHING & LEARNING IN THE FIELD

With a focus on wildlife, particularly wolves, the day will consist of a mixture of early morning roadside wildlife watching and an early afternoon lecture back at the ranch. Depending on conditions lunch will be either in the field or at the ranch. After a post-lunchtime wildlife discussion and a bit of downtime, the group will go for a hike (or snowshoe depending on snowpack) in the late afternoon. The class will return late-afternoon for free time and dinner, to be followed with an evening presentation.

DAY 4

NATURAL HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE

With a focus on the natural and cultural history of Yellowstone, today will consist of a mixture of early morning roadside wildlife watching and early afternoon history discussions. Depending upon conditions the group will either have lunch in the field or back at the ranch and have a mid-afternoon lecture on animals and humans in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In the late-afternoon participants will head out for a hike (or snowshoe depending on snowpack) and return late-afternoon for dinner and an evening presentation.

DAY 5

CHECKOUT & DEPARTURE

Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and goes through Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Lodging Check-in & Check-out: Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

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.

TESTIMONIALS

“An extraordinary, memorable week. Sam, Amanda, and Joanna Lambert were wonderful hosts and made sure we saw a diverse collection of wildlife and understood their natural history and roles in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Highlight was seeing Junction Butte Pack standoff with grizzly over a dead elk in Slough Creek.” – Eric, CO

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.