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

Field excursion of road-based wildlife watching in the morning followed by an off-road outing at mid-day. Additional road-based viewing will be done in the evening until sunset.

DAY 3

Field excursion of road-based wildlife watching in the morning followed by an off-road outing at mid-day. Additional road-based viewing will be done in the evening until sunset.

DAY 4

CHECKOUT & DEPARTURE

Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024, and goes through Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Lodging Check-in & Check-out: Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024, and lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 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.

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 leisurely hikes up to 1 mile per day through relatively flat terrain on maintained or snow-packed trails.
• 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.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

• Craighead, F. (2001) For Everything There Is a Season: The Sequence of Natural Events in the Grand Teton-Yellowstone Area. Falcon Press.
• Halfpenny, J.C. and Ozanne, R.D. (1989). Winter: An Ecological Handbook.
  Johnson Books, Boulder, CO.
• Halfpenny, J.C. (1987). A Field Guide to Mammal Tracking in North America. Second Edition. Johnson Books, Boulder, CO.
• Heinrich, B. (2007). Mind of the Raven. Harper Perennial.
• Heinrich, B. (2003). Winter World: The ingenuity of animal survival.
  Harper Collins Publishers Inc., New York, NY.
• Smith, D.W. and Ferguson, G. (2012). Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone. Revised and updated. The Lyons Press.
• Young, J. (2013). What the Robin Knows. Mariner Books.

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.

TESTIMONIALS

“The Ranch is in an unbelievable location. Just being there is amazing. Learning how to watch wildlife was new to me.” – Renee, WA