JavaScript must be enabled

Page will not work without JavaScript enabled

Wyoming

Choose Your Pace: Hiking in Grand Teton and Yellowstone

Program No. 4937RJ

Hike past hot springs and geysers at your pace, learn about thermal features and wildlife and ride a tram up Rendezvous Mountain for a new view of Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

Wishlist

Start

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

7 days

6 nights

17 meals

6B 6L 5D

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Jackson, WY

Visitor Center, Teton Hike, Wildlife Lecture

Jackson, WY

Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful, Afternoon Hikes

Canyon Village

Terrace Mountain Hike, Mammoth Terraces

Canyon Village

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Visitor Center

Jackson, WY

Rendezvous Mountain Aerial Tram, Alpine Hike, Teton Village

Jackson, WY

Closing, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Departure

Jackson, WY

View Full Itinerary

At a Glance

Explore the magnificent trails of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks during an active, adventurous week. Split into small groups based on your desired level of challenge each day and hike amongst geysers, hot springs and fumaroles as you investigate the geologic forces that shaped the region. Ride the aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 4,139 vertical feet to the top of Rendezvous Mountain for an alpine experience you will never forget.

Activity Level

Outdoor: Choose Your Pace

Each day, choose from multiple hiking options based on your desired level of challenge and pace, ranging from 3-7 miles, moderate to difficult, on varied terrain. Elevations range from 6,000 to 10,450 feet above sea level. Elevation gains and losses for each hike range from 400 feet to 1500 feet.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

Experience the Old Faithful Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park and its many geysers and other thermal features.
Discover the diversity of animals in this ecosystem that contains one of the highest concentrations of large mammals in the country.
Evening programs will highlight wildlife biology, issues and controversies taking place in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

General Notes

In keeping with the communal nature of the school, guests are asked to perform light chores during their stay.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Ruby Jenco

Ruby Jenco, originally from St. Joseph, Missouri, has been a part of TSS since June 2023. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming in the spring of 2023 with a double major in environment and natural resources and wildlife biology and management. In years past, Ruby has worked at Custer State Park, creating educational programs for park visitors as well as the Haub School of Environment & Natural Resources, developing the curriculum for first-year learners.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Ruby Jenco View biography

Liz LaScala View biography

Liz LaScala joined the TSS team in January of 2023 as a field instructor. She grew up in Illinois climbing trees, exploring creeks, and building fairy houses out of sticks. She realized at a young age that she wanted to spend as much time outside as possible. Later in life, Liz attended Central Michigan University and earned a bachelor’s degree in conservation biology with a minor in outdoor education. She especially loves rock climbing, backpacking, and jumping into natural bodies of water.

Sophie Lisle View biography

Sophie Lisle graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in biology. She developed a passion for science education when she taught marine biology on an island off the coast of Maine, and she fell in love with the Wyoming mountains working as a horse wrangler on a ranch in Cody. Sophie joined TSS as an AmeriCorps member in 2023 before becoming a field instructor in January 2024. Sophie loves to trail run, ski, climb mountains, bake cookies, and bask in the sun.

Abby Sand View biography

Abby Sand was born and raised in Minnesota and moved out west in 2019 to attend Colorado State University where she studied ecosystem science and sustainability. Abby has been a field instructor with Teton Science Schools since January 2024. Her goal is to create a positive learning atmosphere to inspire curious, excited, and optimistic environmental stewards. Beyond education, Abby is passionate about traveling and has had the privilege to travel to parts of Central America, South America, and Asia. She is also an enthusiastic birder.

Charles DiMagno View biography

Charles DiMagno graduated from Kalamazoo College with a degree in wildlife ecology and neuroscience. In the past, he has conducted research in Isle Royale National Park, worked in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and led expeditions through New York’s Adirondack Mountains. In 2024, he joined Teton Science Schools, driven by his passion for teaching science and the outdoors as a way to inspire others to see the world through a lens of interconnection and interdependence. Charles enjoys canoeing, camping, and playing music in beautiful places.

Izzy Handel View biography

Izzy Handel graduated from the University of St Andrews with a bachelor's degree in environmental science and geology. She learned to love nature through camping with her mom and skiing with her sister, and continued to pursue outdoor hobbies as she grew up. She found her love of teaching when she started teaching swim lessons and was an AmeriCorps member at Teton Science Schools. She has been a substitute high school biology teacher and helped to organize beach cleanups with the students she taught.

Naomi Gregory-Orchard View biography

Naomi Gregory-Orchard, a field education instructor at Teton Science Schools, grew up in the Sonoran Desert. Naomi has lived, worked, and studied in New Zealand, Serbia, Bosnia, and Nepal. As she completed her bachelor’s degree in management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems at Utah State University, Naomi spent her summers as a whitewater river guide on the Colorado, Green, and Snake Rivers. In her free time, Naomi enjoys rafting, skiing, a good book, and exploring the outdoors.

Pippa Barratt View biography

Pippa Barratt's love for the outdoors began with frequent explorations of the national historical parks near her hometown outside Philadelphia. She joined Teton Science Schools as an AmeriCorps member in 2023, where she quickly developed a deep appreciation for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. After some time away, her enthusiasm for this unique environment and her passion for outdoor education brought her back to TSS. Pippa holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a geology focus from Temple University and previously led sustainability and conservation programs for the School District of Philadelphia. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring new places with friends, and is learning to rock climb, knit, and snowboard.

Sydney Vander Waerdt View biography

Sydney Vander Waerdt is a lead field instructor at Teton Science Schools. She is a passionate explorer, naturalist, and educator. She grew up in Colorado's Front Range. Sydney earned her B.A. in cultural anthropology and environmental sustainability from Colorado State University, where she developed a strong foundation in understanding both human and environmental systems that sparked her curiosity about melding modern culture with ecology for a better world. She loves to read, craft, and participate in various outdoor activities.