Its role is to provide in-depth educational experiences for Yellowstone National Park visitors. Most courses last from two to five days, and all are taught by expert instructors. The Institute has offered courses at Yellowstone since 1976. Among the current offerings are courses on grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk, birds, insects, amphibians, wildflowers, geology, astronomy, photography, wilderness first aid, nature writing, art and history. The Institute also offers horsepacking, backpacking, and kayaking courses in the Yellowstone backcountry and family courses at campgrounds throughout the park.
Class size is purposely limited to ensure high quality instruction.
Students experience the park in small groups, with instructors who join us year after year because they love Yellowstone and want to share it with others. Students at this facility stay in cozy log cabins overlooking the Lamar Valley, a haven for bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Additional courses are based at the Old Faithful Inn and other historic hotels throughout the park. Park staff has received reports of bear activity in several areas within Glacier, indicating that bears are beginning to emerge from their winter dens. Soon after bears emerge from their dens, they search for winter-killed wildlife and succulent vegetation, the primary sources of much needed food during spring for both grizzlies and black bears.