Afternoon: Check-in between 4 and 5 PM.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at nearby restaurant.

Evening: Orientation, introductions then a short walk to Roosevelt Arch. Welcome to Yellowstone.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Dinner

Field day in the heart of Yellowstone National Park: The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Old Faithful; Wildlife Spotting

Breakfast: Breakfast at nearby restaurant; walk up to two blocks.

Morning: Grand perspectives from Lookout and Artist’s Points reveal roaring water; beautiful, pastel tinted canyon walls and a sense of the great canyon’s immensity. Generations explore a world of thundering noise, churning waters, cool mist and unique life zones. Back to the canyon rim and upriver to magnificent Upper Falls; watch for waterfowl, osprey and water ouzel. Here is rushing water, yawning depths, riverside habitat, wildflowers, birds, evidence of geologic forces, forest, waterfall mist and rainbows.

Lunch: Sack lunches in the Park.

Afternoon: Walking investigation in the Old Faithful area offers all four thermal features - hissing fumaroles, steaming geysers, sulfurous mudpots and bubbling hot springs. Over one fourth of the world's geysers are found here. See them, feel clouds of steam, smell sulfur, hear growling fumaroles and bubbling, plopping mudpots. Enjoy a wonderland of unique features, beautiful colors and spouting geysers. Find out about life forms in boiling water. Hike a moderately steep and rocky trail to Observation Point for an overlook of the Old Faithful area. Explore Geyser Hill and along the Firehole River among thermal features with names like Beehive, Grand, Giant, Lion and Plume. Appreciate Old Faithful Inn's historic ambiance. Become acquainted with or renew your acquaintance with beloved Old Faithful Geyser.

Dinner: Dinner at Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria offers a variety of entrees.

Evening: Evening return to Gardiner offers optimum opportunity for spotting critters in prime wildlife habitat .

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Discover the Mammoth area/Fort Yellowstone; then saddle up, enjoy a Cowboy Cookout and an evening around the campfire.

Breakfast: Walk two blocks.

Morning: Travel into Yellowstone National Park to the Mammoth area and up through the Hoo Doos and Golden Gate to Swan Flats. From here, take a 3 1/2 mile naturalist-led hike, mostly downhill over moderate terrain, trekking through ancient limestone formations to Mammoth's beautiful travertine terraces. About two tons of travertine are deposited daily as hot, mineral-laden water wells up from beneath the earth’s crust to add to terraces that began building thousands of years ago. Experience the unique geology and the flora that occurs here and area wildlife.

Lunch: Sack lunch along the trail.

Afternoon: Check out the Albright Visitor Center. Optional, short walking tour of Fort Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 and immediately came under threat of exploitation by poachers, souvenir hunters and developers. Civilian superintendents suffered from inexperience, lack of funds and manpower. After fourteen years, the US Army was called on for help and the Cavalry was sent in to protect Yellowstone's resources and visitors. The year was 1886. The National Park Service was established in 1916 and the Cavalry gave control of Yellowstone back to the civilians; their duty concluded completely in 1918. Fort Yellowstone became the administrative center for the Park. Travel back to lodgings to don riding duds then to nearby trailhead to meet your horse. Outfitter shares riding etiquette. Mount up for a two hour ride on moderate terrain among the Gallatin National Forest's scenic landscape. Appreciate your dependable mountain horse, the creak of saddle leather, scented mountain breeze of sage and forest and expansive views of the Absaroka and Gallatin Mountain Ranges. Ah, the West! Note: horseback riding weight limit is 220 pounds.

Dinner: Delicious cowboy cookout near old Jardine.

Evening: Evening around the campfire (actual fire depends on local fire conditions; safety measures dictated by US Forest Service) includes s'mores, singing and reflection.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast:

Morning: Experiencial learning at its best with special presentation from a National Park biologist, naturalist and former back country ranger. Pack day packs; short walk to meet outfitter and rafting guides at rafting headquarters for safety meeting and adventure overview. All aboard.

Lunch: Riverside lunches.

Afternoon: Practice paddling skills on this area of the Yellowstone River's class II and III rapids. Float encompasses Class I, II, III and IV rapids. Guides and naturalist discuss riparian habitat; identify birds including waterfowl, ospreys and shore birds; hear human history of the area. Raft seven miles to camp. Revel in the joy and excitement and freedom of being on the water. Special pre-dinner presentation.

Dinner: Delicious dinner prepared out of doors. Fresh air and being on the water make for ravenous appetites. Enjoy!

Evening: Help prepare camp. Enjoy evening's beautiful light, bird calls and natural history presentation. Sleep well under Montana's star-filled sky.

Lodging: Flying Pig Outfitters

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Yellowstone expedition continues. Return to town for some down time. Evening presentation.

Breakfast: Delicious riverside breakfast.

Morning: Help pack gear and board rafts as adventure continues another eight miles down the Yellowstone. Guides and interpreter discuss geology, native fish and wildlife that inhabit the riparian area including beaver and otters. Watch for mule deer, bighorn sheep and pronghorn.

Lunch: Riverside lunch.

Afternoon: Rafting adventure winds to a close as intrepid adventurers say goodbye and thank you to the mighty Yellowstone River and all it offers to those who take the time to listen. Transportation back to lodging for some down time.

Dinner:

Evening: Living history presentation describes individual who contributed to the area's colorful past.

Lodging: Yellowstone River Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Naturalist-led morning hike along the Yellowstone River east of lodgings; discover yet another life zone within the Greater Yellowstone area, the Northern Desert Community, which receives up to 15 inches of moisture per year. While exploring this unique habitat, watch for bighorn sheep, osprey, pronghorn, elk and mule deer. Return to lodgings for closing and bring your camera for a group photo.

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

Meals Included: Breakfast, Brunch