One of the best ways to turn a park vacation into an unforgettable experience is to join an educational program. There are no finals in these courses; they're just a relaxed, informative way to spend time outdoors.
The Yellowstone Association Institute, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 (tel. 307/344-2294; www.yellowstoneassociation.org/institute), operates at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch in the northeast region of the park, and other locations in the vicinity. It offers more than 400 courses a year, covering everything from wildlife tracking in the snow, to wilderness medicine, to the history of fur trappers on the plateau. The courses, some of which are offered for college credit, run from 1 to 7 days, with forays into the field, and lectures and demonstrations at the Institute's cozy quarters. The classes are a study in camaraderie as well as natural history, with participants sharing meals and stories in the common kitchen. Prices are reasonable (starting around $80 a day for tuition), and some classes are specifically oriented to families and youngsters. To make the most of a class, you'll want to stay at the ranch itself, where simple, comfortable cabins are available for $25 a night per student. Customizable 1-day hiking and wildlife-watching expeditions with an experienced naturalist, dubbed Yellowstone Ed-Ventures, run about $500 per day for groups of up to five people -- a rate that includes transportation and use of high-powered spotting scopes, but does not include lunch.
The Institute has teamed with Xanterra Parks & Resorts to offer the best of two worlds: days spent exploring little-seen trails with knowledgeable and witty guides, and nights at the comfortable lodgings throughout the park. These 3- to 5-night packages, called Lodging and Learning, are excellent options for those who want to delve into the park without too much of the traditional "roughing it." Rates (starting at about $600 per person) include box lunches, breakfast, and in-park transportation. Contact Xanterra Parks and Resorts (tel. 307/344-7901; www.travelyellowstone.com), P.O. Box 165, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, for reservations.
The Teton Science Schools, 700 Coyote Canyon Dr., Jackson, WY 83011 (tel. 307/733-1313; www.tetonscience.org), is a 30-year-old institution, with a cabin campus in the park near the little town of Kelly, that offers summer and winter programs for students and adults. Classes cater to different ages, and the emphasis is on experiential, hands-on learning. College credit is available. Long and short classes review the ecology, geology, and wildlife of the park, with workshops in photography and tracking as well.
The school's Wildlife Expeditions (tel. 888/945-3567 or 307/773-2623; www.wildlifeexpeditions.org) offers and arranges trips on open-roof vans, rafts, and sleighs, and by foot. These tours bring visitors closer to wildlife than they're likely to get on their own. The institute offers trips from a half-day sunset safari ($115) to weeklong trips through the park, usually lodging in park hotels. Adult seminars usually run about $150 to $300 per day, but more inclusive ones cost upwards of $400 per day.
