Join a small group of other like-minded Yellowstone enthusiasts
Per Person
Gardiner, MT
You’ll learn about Yellowstone’s incredible wildlife, geology, and ecology through the lens of careful attention and mindful sensory experience.
With three yoga classes included, your guide will facilitate meditation, nature journaling, and more to build an emotional, spiritual, and intellectual connection to this incredible ecosystem.
Curiosity is the foundation of both mindfulness and naturalist learning, and this program will explore ways to cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and the natural world, providing a meaningful experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
You’ll learn about Yellowstone’s incredible wildlife, geology, and ecology through the lens of careful attention and mindful sensory experience.
With three yoga classes included, your guide will facilitate meditation, nature journaling, and more to build an emotional, spiritual, and intellectual connection to this incredible ecosystem.
Curiosity is the foundation of both mindfulness and naturalist learning, and this program will explore ways to cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and the natural world, providing a meaningful experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
July 18-21, 2025
August 18-21, 2025
September 8-11, 2025
This itinerary is carefully designed to give you the best possible wildlife-watching experience in Yellowstone; it is subject to change based upon current wildlife activity, weather conditions, and the expertise of your naturalist guide.
Day 1: Orientation
– 5 p.m.: Welcome! Introductions & Orientation
– 60-minute yoga class
– Catered Dinner
Day 2: Exploring Yellowstone
– Full field day with hiking excursion: Our hike will be approximately 5-7 miles round-trip with up to 800 feet of elevation gain/loss.
– Nature journaling lesson and practice
– Meditation and mindfulness practices incorporated throughout
Day 3: Mindful Wildlife Observation
Start time will vary by season. Expect to start around sunrise for the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
– Full field day with an early-morning start for the best wildlife viewing opportunities
– Mindfulness activities incorporated throughout
– 1-2 p.m.: Return from the field
– Afternoon break on your own
– 6 p.m.: 60-minute yoga class
– Evening: Dinner on your own
Day 4: Reflections
– Half field day: An early-morning start for the best wildlife viewing opportunities OR a second short, guided hike, depending upon group interests
– Afternoon: 60-minute yoga class
– Guided meditation and facilitated group reflection
– Program concludes by 3:00 or 4:00 pm
$895 / person
Evening welcome dinner (catered) & orientation
3 full field days in Yellowstone with mindfulness & meditation practices incorporated throughout
– 3 yoga sessions with your experienced yoga instructor & naturalist guide
– Nature journaling materials
Transportation for each field day in our comfortable touring vehicle
High-powered, high-quality binoculars and spotting scopes for wildlife viewing
Hot beverages for each field day
Light snacks for each field day
An engaging, educational experience with a small group of other Yellowstone enthusiasts
Lodging is not included in your program price. Discounted lodging at the family-owned Yellowstone River Motel may be reserved at the time of program registration if desired.
Jaclyn McIlwain is a naturalist, educator, and facilitator who finds endless inspiration in Yellowstone’s landscapes and loves sharing that passion with others. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Delaware and spent nearly a decade as a water quality specialist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Over the years, Jaclyn has worked as a science educator in museums, classrooms, and on our public lands. She returned to school in Colorado to study outdoor education, specializing in wilderness therapy. With organizations including Outward Bound and Women’s Wilderness, Jaclyn has enjoyed leading kids and adults on backpacking, canoeing, and rock-climbing adventures.
Once Jaclyn came to Yellowstone in 2019, she fell in love with this diverse and wild ecosystem and spent the past 5+ years working as a park ranger and research coordinator with the National Park Service.
In addition to her nearly 20 years as an outdoor and environmental educator, Jaclyn is a dedicated yoga and meditation teacher, integrating mindfulness practices into her approach to learning. Jaclyn is committed to inspiring others to explore, appreciate, and protect the wild places that sustain us.
Your park pass, if you have one. Park entry is not included in your program registration fee.
Layered clothing. Your confirmation email will include a detailed, seasonally-appropriate clothing and equipment list. If you have questions about clothing prior to booking, please just contact us!
Food. We provide hot beverages and light snacks for each field day. Please bring your field-friendly lunches.
Reusable water bottle. Your guide will have a large cooler of water from which you can refill your bottle.
Nature journaling materials, if you already have materials that you like (additional materials will be provided).
Comfortable yoga clothing and supplies.
Camera (if desired).
Small backpack to carry water and snacks while away from the vehicle.
Lots of questions, enthusiasm, and curiosity! This is a participatory program, and discussions will evolve from your and your fellow participants’ questions and interests.
In order to reserve your spot, a $200 deposit is due at the time of booking, with the remainder charged to the card on file 30 days in advance of the program start date.
Should you need to cancel your reservation with us more than 30 days prior to your program start date, your payment is fully refundable. At 30 days prior to your program start date, the balance due will be charged to your card on file, and your program registration fee becomes non-refundable.
For programs that offer the option to reserve lodging with the program, lodging fees are fully refundable until 72 hours in advance of the program start date.
Should we need to cancel your program due to low enrollment, we will notify you 30 days in advance of the program start date, and we will provide a full refund. We are not responsible for reimbursing you for airline reservations, lodging that is not associated with the program, or other travel costs.
As a small business, we regret that we are rarely able to make exceptions to our cancellation policy. We strongly recommend that you purchase third-party travel insurance that will protect you in case of unforeseen cancellations or changes to your travel plans.
We believe in a strict code of ethics. The animals of Yellowstone face enormous pressure from the sheer number of visitors coming every day to observe them. The park has set forth certain rules that we will adhere to. Mainly, we must not disturb wildlife and we should maintain a good distance to ensure that the animals can carry on with their day-to-day lives and that we stay safe. The current rules include 100 yards from bears, wolves, and cougars (mountain lions) and at least 25 yards from everything else. We appreciate your understanding and so will the animals.
yellowstonewildlifeprofiles@gmail.com