Afternoon: Check-in between 4 and 5 PM.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at local restaurant

Evening: Orientation and introductions. Throughout the week, you'll appreciate interpretation during walkabouts, while traveling throughout the park to various trailheads and other destinations and during wildlife viewing interludes. Important background and natural history information pertaining to Yellowstone will be provided during presentation sessions.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Dinner

Morning presentations: "Welcome to the Wild Side," acclimation walk, Optics and Ethics of Wildlife Viewing"

Note: Acclimation walk, up to 3 1/2 miles, on moderate terrain.

Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant

Morning: The adventure begins! Throughout the week, presentations will highlight the natural history of Yellowstone - wildlife, habitats, management issues, geology and more. Later, your interpreted field days and walking exploration offer moments of delight, discovery and the opportunity to investigate geyser basin, waterfall, riparian, canyon and mountain environments. Spring in Yellowstone offers the optimum time of year for wildlife viewing. A variety of wildlife and their young and birds may be seen during this time of year when movement between winter and summer ranges occurs, nesting season is underway and many species are born.

Lunch: Lunch at nearby restaurant

Afternoon: Vigorous walks throughout the week, with interpretation, offer the opportunity to explore various life zones and habitats in Yellowstone National Park. Be aware that spring in the mountains may result in wet or muddy stretches along certain trails. This afternoon, enjoy a 3 1/2 mile acclimation walk on maintained trail or roadway - some uneven terrain - along the Yellowstone River, old Yellowstone Trail or historic railroad bed near lodgings. In addition, the walk provides a valuable opportunity to continue to acclimate to Gardiner's elevation (5,260'). At high altitudes you are more susceptible to dehydration and altitude sickness. Taking the time to acclimate, exercising moderately, carrying a water bottle with you and drinking plenty of water is of utmost importance to avoid these sometimes dangerous problems. Later afternoon is free time to familiarize yourself with Yellowstone's northwest gateway community of Gardiner, MT.

Dinner: Dinner at nearby restaurant

Evening: "Optics and Ethics of Wildlife Observation". Discover the correct way to use binoculars and scopes (both provided; however, bring your own if you have them) or brush up your own skills using tips provided by instructor. Learn how to view wildlife unobtrusively and how to behave in their environment.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Walk up to 3 1/2 miles on established trails, boardwalks and stairs.

Breakfast: Breakfast at nearby restaurant

Morning: Natural history of Yellowstone continues with an in depth look at predator/prey dynamics; wolves, mountain lions, coyotes and more.

Lunch: Lunch at nearby restaurant.

Afternoon: Afternoon/evening field trip into Yellowstone National Park's northern range, the Lamar Valley, and possibly the Tower area, for afternoon and evening walks for habitat exploration and wildlife viewing; walk up to 3 1/2 miles. The Lamar Valley offers prime wolf habitat and the Tower area offers prime black bear habitat. The possibility of seeing wolves and bears exists. Sightings are not uncommon; however, sightings cannot be guaranteed. The wide open, astonishingly beautiful and wildlife-filled Lamar Valley will astound with its rich habitat and wealth of wildlife including elk, bison, pronghorn, coyotes, waterfowl, eagles and songbirds. Spring-green, nutritious vegetation, clumps of cottonwood trees along the wild Lamar River, quaken aspens hugging timbered ridges, sagebrush covered hills and meadowlarks will awaken you to paradise. Those not wishing to walk may wait at the trailhead.

Dinner: Picnic dinners in Yellowstone

Evening: Field trip continues with a late return to lodgings; remember, evenings offer optimum opportunity for spotting wildlife and gorgeous light for taking photographs.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walking on the Wildside in Yellowstone National Park includes exploration in the Canyon area.

Note: Walk up to 3 1/2 miles on established trails, boardwalks and stairs.

Breakfast: Breakfast at nearby restaurant

Morning: Interpreted walking expeditions for the day - walk up to 3 1/2 - are planned in the Mt. Washburn and Canyon areas. Please note: Field trip and walking destinations could change due to weather and road conditions or wildlife considerations; sometimes trails or regions are temporarily closed due to grizzly, wolf, bison or other wildlife moving in and using the area. Weather and trail conditions permitting, you'll walk several miles along an old wagon road that snakes up the side of Mt. Washburn, an ancient volcano. The road which was constructed in 1905 was eventually used by Model Ts then later closed to motor vehicles and has since evolved into a wide trail - perfect for hikers who like to get out and enjoy expansive views. Fill your eyes and senses with lush, grassy slopes that have begun to fill up with wildflowers as spring in the high country evolves into summer. Enjoy the sight and scent of mountain breezes and high elevation coniferous trees including whitebark pine, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce.

Lunch: Sack lunches in the Park

Afternoon: Walking exploration in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone area to experience beautiful, pastel tinted canyon walls and roaring water. A riverside walk offers a grand perspective of the river, canyon and both 109' Upper and 309' Lower Falls. Walking reveals the experience of rushing water, yawning depths, riverside habitat, wildflowers, birds, evidence of geologic forces, forest, waterfall mist and rainbows.

Dinner: Dinner at nearby restaurant

Evening: An introduction to Yellowstone's Geothermal Phenomena provides an overview of the caldera's violent, geologic past and a great preview for tomorrow's exploration in the Upper Geyser Basin.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walking on the Wildside in Yellowstone National Park includes exploration in the Old Faithful Area.

Note: Walk up to 3 1/2 miles on established trails, boardwalks and stairs.

Breakfast: Breakfast at nearby restaurant

Morning: Walking investigation in the Old Faithful area offers hissing fumaroles, steaming geysers, sulfurous mudpots and bubbling hot springs; after all, over 1/4 of the world's geysers are found here. Check out the Visitor Center and appreciate historic Old Faithful Inn. Consider the thermal basin environment and the great Caldera's volcanic past, as you walk trails with your interpreter at Old Faithful, along the Firehole River and among thermal features with names like Giantess, Beehive, Grand, Giant, Beauty, Chromatic and Castle.

Lunch: Sack lunches in the Park

Afternoon: Walking exploration continues among a wealth of wildlife habitat. Remember to bring your binoculars; scopes provided. Walk up to 3 1/2 miles.

Dinner: Dinner at nearby restaurant

Evening: Presentation discusses 'Bears of Yellowstone,' and may include Yellowstone resource issues.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Walk two to three miles round trip from lodgings.

Breakfast: Breakfast at nearby restaurant

Morning: Final morning walkabout wraps up the adventure and loose ends, answers questions and brings the adventure to a satisfying conclusion. Group photo; bring your own camera. Check-out.

Brunch: 11 a.m. grab and go brunch. Airport shuttle departs at 11:30 a.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Brunch