By Christine Gianas Weinheimer EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Millions of
visitors come to Yellowstone each year—most of them during the summer.
Relatively few people experience the magic of the park’s winter wilderness. But
the quietly beautiful winter season offers many different ways to connect with
Yellowstone on a deeper level.
Winter is a
perfect time for visitors to expand their knowledge and appreciation of Yellowstone
by participating in an immersive, educational program with the Yellowstone
Forever Institute. In-depth Field Seminars, led by experts in their field, let
you explore a specific skill or topic of interest, from snowshoeing and
wildlife watching to photography.
Yellowstone
Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, hosts
these multi-day programs to help visitors enjoy, understand and appreciate the
park. Though there’s still snow lingering on some mountain peaks from last
winter, now is the ideal time to start planning for next winter in Yellowstone.
Registration for winter 2019-2020 Field Seminars opens soon, and popular
programs will fill up fast.
“In many
ways, winter is the defining season for Yellowstone,” said Robert Petty, senior
director of education for Yellowstone Forever. “The plants and animals are as
they are here in Yellowstone in large measure because of the long cold winters.
It is hard to fully appreciate the harsh and beautiful majesty of this
landscape without spending time here during the winter season. Participating in
one of our winter Field Seminars is an excellent way to experience this spectacular
season.”
Wildlife-focused
courses led by naturalists and wildlife biologists are among the most popular, and
there are several to choose from this coming winter. Two writing workshops and
three photography courses will help attendees tap into their creative sides. Participants
can even choose to spend a holiday in Yellowstone with special programs to
celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year.
A brand new Field
Seminar for the upcoming winter season—”Yellowstone and Yoga: A Winter
Yoga Ski Retreat”—is designed for those who would like a more active experience.
Another new offering, “Yellowstone’s Dark Skies,” will help participants learn
about and observe the park’s dazzling night skies.
Registration
for 2019-2020 winter Field Seminars opens on July 31 at 8 a.m. for Yellowstone
Forever supporters, and on Aug. 7 at 8 a.m. for the general public. Those who
aren’t yet supporters can join when registering for a program online and
receive a discount on tuition. Participants stay in cabins at the historic
Lamar Buffalo Ranch in the park’s spectacular Lamar Valley and can be booked at
the time of registration.
Registration
is open year-round for other types of Yellowstone Forever Institute programs
such as Lodging and Learning, Private Tours, Youth and College, or Teacher
programs.
Learn more or register at yellowstone.org/experience.
Christine
Gianas Weinheimer lives in Bozeman and has been writing about Yellowstone for
17 years.
