General Summer Information

Safety, Responsibility, and Risk
Your safety is important to the Institute. We have established procedures to reduce medical emergencies and to provide treatment of those that occur. All members of the Institute staff are trained to follow these procedures. They also receive additional training in driver safety, wilderness medicine, and the use of portable radios to contact National Park Service emergency services. The Institute needs and expects you to take an active role in protecting yourself. You should be careful to choose a program that is appropriate to your medical and physical condition. Before arriving for a program, you need to fully and accurately inform Institute staff of relevant medical conditions, consult with your personal physician about any relevant medical conditions, and obtain all recommended clothing and equipment. Once you arrive, you need to continually monitor your condition and any external hazards, make prudent decisions, stay hydrated and well fed, and keep Institute staff informed of how you are doing. Despite our combined efforts, Institute programs entail some inherent risks, many of which are associated with moderate to vigorous physical activity in high altitude mountainous or wilderness terrain. Even programs that include little activity and do not stray far from developed areas may take place in areas where advanced medical care may be significantly delayed.

Release From Legal Liability and Collection of Health Information
On receipt of your completed registration form we will send you an Assumption of Risks/Release of Liability form that must be signed by all participants, minors and adults. We will also send you a form to assist us in identifying medical issues that may arise during your course or activity. All information on this form will remain confidential and will be reviewed only by Institute staff or a licensed physician.

Lodging and Meals
For field seminars based at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus, lodging is available for an additional fee of $30 per person per night. A portion of this fee is contributed to the National Park Service for maintenance of the field campus. For field seminars in park lodging, lodging and food are not included in the tuition fee but rooms are set aside for course participants to reserve on their own at least 30 days in advance and the selected lodges all have restaurant facilities nearby. For Private Tours based at the Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus, lodging is available for an additional fee.

Food and Preparation at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus
Participants are expected to bring and cook their own food. A community kitchen allows you the flexibility of preparing your own meals while enjoying the company of other course participants. We suggest simple meals that can be prepared quickly and easily. The kitchen includes two gas stoves, a microwave, a toaster, and all of the pots and pans, dishes, cooking and eating utensils you will need. We also have three refrigerators and plenty of storage space for non-perishables. The Institute provides spices and hot beverages at each meal, and there is always a pot of hot coffee available for early risers! 

Camping, Lodging, and Groceries Near the Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus
Camping is available in the National Park Service campgrounds at Slough Creek (7 miles west) and Pebble Creek (9 miles east). Sites at these campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are generally open late May to October.

Lodging within the park is available at Mammoth Hot Springs (29 miles west),  Roosevelt (11 miles west), Canyon (30 miles southwest), and other locations. Space is limited and reservations should be made as soon as possible through Xanterra Parks & Resorts at 307-344-7311.

A limited supply of groceries is available within the park at the General Stores in Mammoth Hot Springs (29 miles west),  Roosevelt (11 miles west), Canyon (30 miles southwest), and other locations.

Additional services are available in the gateway communities of Gardiner, Montana, (34 miles west) and Silver Gate/Cooke City, Montana, (23 miles east). Gardiner is a larger town, with year-round motels, restaurants, gas stations, a laundromat, and a grocery store. Silver Gate and Cooke City are somewhat smaller and more seasonal, with motels, restaurants, gas stations, and convenience stores.

Transportation to and from Yellowstone
For all Institute programs, students must arrange their own transportation to and from the location where the program begins. For those arriving by air, we recommend renting a car or contacting the registrar for information on public transportation.

Transportation during Institute Programs
The Institute's 14-passenger vehicles will be used for group transportation once a program begins.

Letter of Certification
For field seminar participants, the Institute will gladly provide a letter of course completion, which includes the course title, description, and hours of instruction.

Location
All Lodging and Learning programs are held at park hotels. Field seminars may be based at either the Institute's Lamar Buffalo Ranch field campus or at a park hotel. Backcountry courses take place in the wilderness in and around Yellowstone National Park. Course locations are included in each program description.

Altitude
Most of Yellowstone Park is above 6,000 feet. If you are coming from a much lower elevation, it is wise to allow yourself at least one "easy" day to adjust to this altitude before beginning strenuous activity. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. 

Children
Children who meet stated minimum age requirements are very welcome in family programs. All other courses are designed for adults only. However, children 16 years and older may participate if accompanied by a participating adult.

Pets, RV's, and Camping
To avoid disturbing other students and resident wildlife, pets are not allowed at the Buffalo Ranch field campus or on any Institute courses. Park Service regulations prohibit camping and recreational vehicle use at the field campus.

Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace (LNT) is a national education program designed to encourage minimum impact skills and ethics among outdoor users. The Institute endorses this program and includes the LNT curriculum in our classes.


General Winter Information

Getting to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus in Winter
In winter, the ONLY route to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch is via the north entrance to the park at Gardiner, Montana. From the north entrance, proceed south to Mammoth and then east via the all-season road connecting Mammoth and Cooke City. All other routes are closed to automobile traffic from November to April.

Camping, Lodging, and Groceries Near the Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus in the Winter Within the park, the only services accessible to the Buffalo Ranch are in Mammoth, 29 miles to the west. There, a National Park Service campground is open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis, the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is open mid-December to early March (call Xanterra Parks & Resorts at 307-344-7311 for reservations), and a limited supply of groceries is available year-round at the General Store in Mammoth Hot Springs.

Additional services are available in the gateway communities of Gardiner, Montana, (34 miles west) and Silver Gate/Cooke City, Montana, (23 miles east). Gardiner is a larger town, with year-round motels, restaurants, gas stations, a laundromat, and a grocery store. Silver Gate and Cooke City are somewhat smaller and more seasonal, with motels, restaurants, gas stations, and convenience stores.