YELLOWSTONE FOR FAMILIES

DATES: Summer 2025, see below

PRICING: See below

LOCATION: Canyon

GROUP SIZE: 14

ACTIVITY LEVEL: 2

PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Yellowstone for Families Lodging & Learning package is designed for families with children (ages 7+) who want to have a truly memorable experience in Yellowstone. Families will be led by a Yellowstone Forever field educator who handles all the logistics while ensuring everyone gets to see Yellowstone’s most popular features. This family learning adventure connects both children and adults to the Yellowstone experience through activities that integrate scientific observation, art, and more.

Each day the group will venture out with a Yellowstone Forever educator to learn about and explore a region of the park, while incorporating short, scenic hikes throughout the program. During the program, parents will help their children complete the requirements of the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Program, and the week will end with the ceremonial presentation of Junior Ranger patches by a National Park Service ranger.

Most sightings of wildlife occur at a distance; the field educator will provide high-powered spotting scopes and binoculars for group use. However, participants are encouraged to bring additional scopes and binoculars if they have them.

Session Start Dates:

2025

May – 5/26

June – 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30

July – 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28

August – 8/4, 8/11

September – 9/15, 9/22

DAY 1

WELCOME & ORIENTATION

Participants are welcome to check into the Canyon Lodge beginning at 4:00 p.m. After checking in, guests will meet a Yellowstone Forever field educator for an orientation. Education staff will go over the program itinerary, discuss clothing and equipment needed for daily outings, and answer any questions participants may have. Participants will be spending this evening at the Canyon Lodge.

7:00 p.m. Meet at Dunraven Lodge Lobby for orientation

Confirm specific meeting location with front desk staff during registration.

DAY 2 

WILDLIFE WATCHING IN LAMAR VALLEY

We will head out early for wildlife watching in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and over Dunraven Pass. We will travel along Yellowstone’s northern range in search of charismatic megafauna. Stops will vary based on where the most likely wildlife sightings are to be found. If time allows, we will hike in search of tracks and sign while discussing ecology and wildlife behavior.

6:30 a.m. Breakfast at Canyon Eatery

7:15 a.m. Depart Canyon Lodge

  • Wildlife watching in Lamar Valley
  • Deli lunch in the field
  • Afternoon hike & exploration

3:15 p.m. Return to Canyon Lodge

DAY 3

OLD FAITHFUL & YELLOWSTONE’S FAMOUS THERMAL FEATURES

We will explore a myriad of captivating thermal features in the Old Faithful area and beyond. The field educator will introduce you to the exciting geology of the Yellowstone volcano and underground magma chamber, and we will learn how geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles are formed. We will delve into the science behind the vivid colors surrounding the hot springs and the microscopic life found in them.

6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast at Canyon Eatery

8:00 a.m. Depart Canyon Lodge

  • Exploration of Old Faithful area geyser basins and geologic activities
  • Deli lunch in the field

4:30 p.m. Return to Canyon Lodge

DAY 4

GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE, YELLOWSTONE LAKE, & JUNIOR RANGER CEREMONY

On the final day, we will explore and sightsee along the rims of the iconic Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The field educator will lead hikers to locations where they can enjoy breathtaking views of the colorful canyon and its magnificent waterfall, then look for some of Yellowstone’s charismatic megafauna through Hayden Valley. We will then enjoy breathtaking mountain and lakeshore scenery along Yellowstone Lake. In the afternoon, children will be sworn in as Yellowstone Junior Rangers at a ceremony with a National Park Service Ranger.

6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast at Canyon Eatery

8:00 a.m. Depart Canyon Lodge

  • Hike and other activities
  • Deli lunch in the field
  • Junior Ranger ceremony

4:00 p.m. Return to Canyon Lodge

DAY 5

CHECK OUT & DEPARTURE

Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday and goes through 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Lodging:

  • 4 nights lodging at Canyon Lodge – Deluxe Rooms
  • Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Day 1
  • Lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Day 5

Most meals, to include:

  • 3 breakfasts (3 dine-in breakfasts at Canyon Eatery)
  • 3 lunches to-go

Transportation: In-park transportation via a 14-passenger minibus or transit van

Exceptional educational programming with a Yellowstone Forever field educator

A Nalgene water bottle (gift item) 

Junior Ranger booklet per child

High-powered scopes and binoculars

Field equipment (as needed)

ACTIVITY LEVEL 2

  • Be prepared to hike up to 3 miles per day comfortably with elevation gains of up to 600 feet. Some off-trail hiking is possible.
  • For more information about our activity levels, please visit our Activity Level webpage here.
  • 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:

  • Reservations, lodging, food, and payment questions, please contact Yellowstone National Park Lodges at [email protected] or 307-344-7311
  • Program itinerary, health forms, and activity 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
  • To review the cancellation policy for this program, please visit our webpage which outlines cancellation policies by program type here.

TESTIMONIALS

“Everything was excellent!” – Jaime, MI

“Brittany was amazing! I don’t think there is a better guide out there. She planned an amazing and diverse trip for us, is extremely knowledgeable and every day there was a special activity that she introduced as well. We all said we missed her on Friday when we left and considered ourselves very fortunate to have met her.” – Peterson Family, RI

“The quality of the teaching was beyond stellar. We loved it, and my kids have not stopped talking about Sam and his wolf stories! Wildlife watching was definitely a highlight of our time. We loved learning about the animals of Yellowstone, the history of the wolves, and stories of the wolves’ lives in the packs as well as older rangers and some groundbreaking work they had done, including how they measured the depth of the Grand Prismatic!” – Julie, MD

“Amanda’s activities and stories were amazing. The sites obviously are breathtaking. But, her knowledge made the experience so much better for both myself and my children. Wonderful family tour.” – Anne, FL

“We will truly be recommending this program to everyone who asks about our trip.” – Kristin, WI

“Abby is the best. Quoting our 9 year old “You cannot improve Abby.” She named her new stuffie after her.” – Kelly, IN

“Mark was a wonderful guide. He truly got to know each participant in the group and offered something for everyone. The games we played as a group were fun for all the ages. I loved the way he connected with our grandson. Our grandson got a stuffed grey wolf as a souvenir of the trip and named it “Mark Wolf” after our terrific guide!” – Marcy, MN

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YF Institute | Field Educator

Yellowstone Forever field educators are among the best experts in Yellowstone. Educational staff are passionate professionals with significant training who are dedicating their careers to this vital work. They live in the Yellowstone ecosystem, they work and train alongside park researchers and educators, and thus can provide accurate and exciting behind-the-scenes perspectives on the park’s natural and cultural history. They know where to go and when, and they handle all the details to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.