Participate in a Ranger Program

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Ranger programs are a great way to learn more about the park and are scheduled Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

NPS / Neal Herbert

 

One of the best ways to experience a national park is participating in a ranger program. Yellowstone National Park offers a variety of ranger programs throughout the park, and throughout the year. Check the calendar for specific program details.

 

Yellowstone's Interactive Calendar

 

Printable Schedules

Yellowstone's in-park ranger programs vary each season.

Spring

The spring season is a transitional period for the park, so no ranger programs are scheduled during this time.

Summer

Programs are available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The 2018 program schedule gives an idea of the types of programs likely to be offered.

• 2019 Complete Summer Programs (669 KB PDF)
• 2019 Yellowstone Wildlife Olympics and Stars Over Yellowstone (302 KB PDF)
• 2019 Old Faithful Programs (69 KB PDF)
• 2019 Canyon Village Programs (71 KB PDF)
• 2019 Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Area, and Indian Creek Campground Programs (60 KB PDF)
• 2019 Norris and Madison Programs (62 KB PDF)
• 2019 West Yellowstone Programs (430 KB PDF)
• 2019 Fishing Bridge and Lake Village Programs (168 KB PDF)
• 2019 Bridge Bay, Grant Village, and West Thumb Programs (66 KB PDF)

Fall

Programs are available Labor Day through the end of September.

• 2018 Complete Fall Programs (444 KB PDF)

Winter

Programs are available mid-December to early- to mid-March at Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, and West Yellowstone.

• 2018-2019 Winter Programs (305 Kb pdf)

 

Program Types

Talks

Experience a National Park Service tradition and join a ranger for a presentation exploring one of the many fascinating stories of Yellowstone National Park. Examples of ranger presentations include:

• Experience Wildlife in Yellowstone: Learn where to find wildlife in the park and experience them safely.
• Evening Program: Explore Yellowstone's natural and cultural history while enjoying a campfire outside.
• Gazing into the Abyss: Discover the secrets of Abyss Hot Spring, West Thumb Geyser Basin.
• Canyon Talks at Artist Point: Discover why artists continue to be drawn to this special place, Artist Point on South Rim Drive, Canyon area.

Tours

Explore a bit of Yellowstone with a ranger via a hike, walk, boat cruise, or citizen science program and gain a greater appreciation for this amazing place. Examples of ranger tours include:

• Mud Volcano Ramble: Find out what mudpots and hot springs reveal about Yellowstone's past and future, Mud Volcano.
• Lake SceniCruise: Join a ranger of a boat tour of Yellowstone Lake (fee program, reservations required), Bridge Bay.
• Hot Springs Terraces Walk: Meander around Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces, Mammoth Hot Springs.
• Geyser Hill Walk: Learn about relationships between Yellowstone's volcanic history and hydrothermal features, Old Faithful Visitor Education Center.

Junior Ranger Activities

These programs are designed for kids and are a great way to immerse yourself in Yellowstone's stories. Examples of these activities include:

• Wildlife Olympics: Test your skills and compare your abilities to animals in Yellowstone.
• Junior Ranger Discovery Program: Investigate the many curiosities of Yellowstone, Grant Visitor Center.
• Junior Ranger Activity Site: Learn about Yellowstone's wonderful wildlife, geysers, history, and much more, Old Faithful Junioir Ranger Activity Site (near the Old Faithful yurts, east of the Visitor Education Center).

Arts in the Park

The National Park Service and Yellowstone Forever offer a variety of art and photography activities. These hands-on programs are designed to inspire new and creative ways of enjoying the beauty and wonder of Yellowstone.

• Pop-up Art Studio: Create your own art inspired by your surroundings, with Yellowstone Forever artists-in-residence, a local writer, and park staff ready to assist you.
  • Framed by Nature Writing Workshop with Jennifer Armstrong: June 26, 9 am – 11 am, Albright Visitor Center front porch and lawn
  • Try it Yourself Watercolor Alchemy with Anastasia Kierst: July 3, 10 am – 12 am, Madison Information Station back porch
  • Cyanotype (sun print) Workshop with Kathryn Mann: July 17, 9 am – 11 am, Fishing Bridge Visitor Center back porch and beach
  • Memory Mapping & Drawing with Nayda Collazo-Llorens and Patricia Villalobos Echiverria: July 31, 9 am – 11 am, Old Faithful Yellowstone Art & Photography Center
  • Creating Mini Art Books in Pastel with Renee Marz Mullis: August 14, 9 am – 11 am, Madison Information Station back porch
  • Yellowstone Forever Plein Air Painting Event: September 26—28, 10 am – 2 pm, Locations TBA at Yellowstone Forever.
• Photo Skills Workshop: Join Yellowstone's park photographer, Jim Peaco, to enhance your photography skills.
  • Waterfalls & Wide Angles: June 19, 8:30 am – 9:30 am, Artist Point parking lot on South Rim Drive
  • Wildflowers & White Balance: July 10, 10 am – 11 am, Mount Washburn Trailhead, Chittenden parking area
  • Architecture & Aperture: July 24, 9 am – 10 am, Lake Hotel Porte Cochere
  • Extremophiles & Exposure: August 7, 9 am – 10 am, Artists' Paintpots parking area
  • Arches & Angles: August 21, 7 pm – 8 pm, Arch Park Pavilion, Gardiner, MT
  • Paparazzi & Prime Lenses: September 18, 10 am – 11 am, Albright Visitor Center (Mammoth) south side lawn