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

Stewardship + Self-Discovery

Students can look forward to joining the Volunteers in Parks team for a stewardship project to help develop a reciprocal relationship with the land and give back to the park. After the stewardship project, we will return to camp for our evening workshop and dinner.

DAY 3

Wander & Wonder Along the Lamar River (7 mi/715 ft gain)

After the morning workshop, students will slowly explore their inner wilderness as they meander along the Lamar River through prime wildlife habitat, up and over the shoulder of Mt. Norris, then drop down to the cool waters of Cache Creek. Back at camp, the afternoon is free to enjoy however you wish before dinner and our evening workshop.

DAY 4

Hike Garnet Hill (8 mi, 1200 ft gain)

Garnet Hill Loop has it all! The trail begins in open sage habitat before following a small creek through dense wildlife habitat then along a deep canyon cut by the Yellowstone River, returning through rolling open sage country. Following the hike, students will participate in one final activity before packing up and checking out.

DAY 5

CHECK OUT & DEPARTURE

Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, August 29, 2025, and goes through 5:00 PM on Monday, September 1, 2025.

Lodging Check-in & Check-out: Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2025, and lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Meals: This course is not catered. Participants will need to bring their own food; lunch should be able to travel in the field.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 4

• Be prepared to hike up to 8 miles per day, at a brisk pace, comfortably, with climbs up to 1,500 feet on dirt trails. Loose rocks, uneven footing, and off-trail hiking are possible. Good coordination is recommended.
• 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.

EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC TO THIS COURSE:

Suggested Packing List located in General Information document under the ‘Whom to Contact’ tab.

• Optional – Journal

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 406-848-9128.

General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Lamar-Based Field Seminars – General Information document.

To review the cancellation policy for this program, please visit our webpage which outlines cancellation policies by program type here.