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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – As the elk begin to bugle and other signs of fall emerge, students in two Yellowstone Association Institute field courses will use Mammoth Hot Springs as their base to venture out on daily wildlife explorations.

While trekking through the park’s less-traveled areas on Institute-led hikes, course attendees commonly view wildlife such as elk, pronghorn, bison and bighorn sheep, and occasionally wolves, bear and moose. The two upcoming courses are structured the same, but offer interested students two different sets of dates to choose from.

“Autumn Day Hiking in Yellowstone” will run Sept. 25-27 and again Sept. 29-31. Course tuition is $300. The courses will be led by instructors Melissa Pangraze, an environment educator and backcountry specialist, and Edward Schauster, M.S., a wildlife ecology specialist. Students should be prepared to hike up to 12 miles a day with elevation gains of up to 1,500 feet.

These are two of the remaining backcountry courses the Institute is offering this summer and in early fall, at a variety of physical difficulty levels and covering a wide array of topics. Each wildlife backcountry course is led by two instructors: one recognized Yellowstone wildlife biologist and one expert backpacking instructor. Participants supply their own food and personal gear. Courses include full orientations of routes, equipment, and safety procedures. 

“Witnessing fall in Yellowstone is a special experience,” says Sarah Richey, Program Manager for the Yellowstone Association Institute. “These courses use the comfortable setting of Mammoth as a daily base camp to explore the wilderness areas of the Park.”

Course registration numbers are limited to ensure instructor-to-student ratios provide an intimate experience. To enroll in “Autumn Day Hiking in Yellowstone,” or to request a catalog that includes a full description of all summer, fall and winter courses through March 2007, please contact the Yellowstone Association Institute at 307-344-2294 or write to P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.  Complete information is also available at YellowstoneAssociation.org

The Institute is a nonprofit field school operated by the National Park’s official educational partner, the Yellowstone Association.  The Institute offers a variety of courses in ecology, wilderness skills, and natural history year-round in Yellowstone National Park. 

To enroll in this or another field seminar, or to request a catalog that includes a full description of all summer and fall courses, please contact the Yellowstone Association Institute at PO Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190  307-344-2294.  Complete information is also available at www.YellowstoneAssociation.org.