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A School That's One Big Field Trip

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The Yellowstone Association Institute (307/344-2293; www.yellowstoneassociation.org) is a nonprofit affiliate that organizes hundreds of educational courses for park visitors, including a new series especially for families. Most programs are held at Lamar Buffalo Ranch, in the park's northeast corner, where students stay in comfy log cabins or nearby hotels. The setup is ideal—engaging instructors, intimate classes, and affordable rates (as a nonprofit, the Institute is only required to break even). Jeff Brown's picks:

Yellowstone for Families A four-day naturalist-guided program geared to 8- to 12-year-olds and their adult companions. On the schedule: animal tracking; wildlife watching; painting; photography; hiking; and exploring canyons, geyser basins, and waterfalls. Kids get Yellowstone Junior Ranger badges at the conclusion of the course. From $595 per adult, $365 per child, including four nights' lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Grant Village, with breakfast and lunch; offered June 9–August 28. For reservations, call 307/344-5566.

Personal Ed-Ventures These private wildlife-watching tours of the park's Northern Range are great for families with a free day at Yellowstone. Each outing lasts approximately eight hours and is led by an Institute naturalist, who provides high-powered spotting scopes. The fee is $395 for up to seven people, $50 for each additional person up to a maximum of 14; offered year-round. For reservations, call 307/344-2294.

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