What a beautiful day. The sun is up and the trees stand strong, ready for the unpredictable wildness of Yellowstone. We couldn’t feel more alive and glad to be here.

Hello Grand Teton National Park! What a beautiful landscape you are! This incredible mountain range is formed by fault uplift and glacial erosion. These majestic mountains are still growing. Grand Tetons are known for their dramatic mountain scenery and diverse wildlife like pikas, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, pronghorns, beavers, moose and many more creatures.

There is moment in life that everybody needs to stop, breath, and contemplate life, reflecting about past, present and future, knowing that who we are right now is in permanent construction, and we can be remolded, deconstructed, and rebuilt  in any moment. It is our prerogative and decision to do it.

Here at Grand Teton time seems to stop. A place where there is no a beginning or end, where the sky, land and water interplays, and the magic of our surroundings overflows our expectations.

At Laurence Rockefeller Nature Preserve, there is an incredible hidden gem – their visitor center. This center tries to draw on all your senses and immerse yourself fully in nature. A quote recorded on the wall there is: “The scales of nature will always seek equilibrium. A feather can tip the balance” -Terry Tempest Williams. 

“One thing I have come to conclude is that the more one travels and actually interacts with the locals, the more open minded and  empathetic one becomes. Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” – Mark Twain

The day began with breakfast and a view — a towering peak framed by the morning light. Several of us gathered near the windows, drawn to the quiet majesty beyond the glass. There was something sacred in that moment, something unspoken in the way the mountain stood still. We laughed, we talked, and slowly, layers peeled away. Where once we were strangers, we now sat as friends — woven together by shared stories, experiences and the wonder of where we are. Who would have known this experience would shape us in such a way.

After breakfast we took some moments of solitude and reflection by Yellowstone Lake. As white pelicans paraded across the water and waves splashed onshore, we sketched, journaled, mapped sounds, and took in the majestic setting. We also had the chance to observe Yellowstone sand verbena, a rare endemic flower clinging to existence on the black sands of the lakeshore. We must give thanks to the parks botanist working to restore its presence while protecting it because it has a will to thrive.

As we grew a fondness and appreciation for the beauty of Yellowstone Lake we met Mike, an aquatic biologist who alone overseas the aquatic ecosystem in Yellowstone. He explained the importance of the ecosystem as headwaters to several large river systems, the Missouri and the Snake River. Aquatic Invasive Species have interrupted this fragile ecosystem. Lake trout have decimated the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population, a species that is important for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems at the park. Mike also spends his summers preventing AIS such as zebra mussels from entering Yellowstone’s waters, a Herculean task as Wyoming is only one of five states without them. Afterwards we continued to enjoy this great ecosystem as we travelled to West Thumb, a geyser basin located on the Lake. 

The hot springs stretched before us, quiet and majestic — a living canvas painted by the earth. As we descended the boardwalk, the waters near us swirled with muddy tones, but closer to their heart, they bloomed in brilliant shades of blue, as if holding the sky within. The air shimmered with heat, the springs pulsing with life between 120 and 173 degrees. Along their steaming runoff channels, we glimpsed tiny, resilient forms — microorganisms dancing in the flow, thriving where life seems impossible.

We went to the Black Sand Pool, also known as Thumper — a place where we all trusted the process. We lay down on the ground, thinking we might fall asleep, lulled by the stillness. But then, we felt a sudden burst of pressure, followed by a deep rumble beneath us. As soon as we heard Greg yell, “Get up!”, we saw it — the release of natural gas burst from the spring. Such a cool experience that everyone is grateful to participate in to be able to use all your senses.

To see the Grand Prismatic in the sunlight is astonishing. We can officially say that is better in person. But to see the bison carcass floating in the middle that had an unfortunate death let us know that even in nature accidents do occur. Each incline that we have encountered has been worth it. 

We ended the day with special reflection which tells a story of trials in tribulation. Melissa asked, “What has been the hardest part of the trip?” When each person spoke, we acknowledged that we could see some of ourselves within them. This trip isn’t just about wildlife, animals and science. It’s about how we can grow as inviduals. We are reminded it is important to step outside of your comfort zone.  Always remember this may be hard; but remember it’s worth it. 

Fog hugged the trees as we started our drive,
a quiet, gray hush like the world just woke up.

Then snow—huge flakes, drifting slow,
softening the road and silencing the sky.

An elk’s skeleton rested not far from the trail,
a gentle reminder: that time leaves behind both beauty and pain.

Steam rose from a mud pot, ancient and wise,
Earth’s breath exhaled toward crystalline skies.
It bubbled its secrets in sulfur and sound,
where fire and water still battle underground. 

By the time we arrived, the sky cleared its face,
and sunlight spilled golden across sacred space.
The canyon yawned wide, immense and serene,
a cathedral of stone in burnt orange and green. 

We thought of Thomas Moran,
how he must’ve seen it—
that same impossible light
stretching over stone and story.

We followed the sound of falling water,
a hidden waterfall singing in stone.

And somewhere between the snow, the steam, the bones, and the view—
we learned.

Not just about rocks or rivers, but about wonder.

The snow is falling
The windshield crack keeps growing
Cold safari time? 

Will the roads be open?
But will we see anything?
What do we do now?!

Serotinous cones 
Source of life after fire 
The mighty lodgepole

Bighorn sheep we want
Driving to the Grand Canyon 
Curvy roads winding

What is a hoodoo? 
spires standing, cliffs above 
The peregrine watches.

Baby big horn sheep
Snuggling next to his mama
Hiding in the cliff

Peregrine falcon
Hidden away from most eyes
Thanks Fred for the find! 

Feel All four seasons
Seeing different landscapes
Scenic four mile hike

Picturesque in blue
Geothermal waters
Snowshoe hare ears up

Bubbling mud pot
Gurgle. Gurgle. Gurgle. Pop! 
Stay far, far away

Smells like rotten eggs
Coming up from down below
Steaming in the snow

A lake of lilies
A mother mallard swimming
Her ducklings in tow

Teachers know a lot
Working to help everyone 
A Jack of all trades 

Hiking through snow
The majestic falls emerge
Hidden in the mist

Thundering water 
Crashing down for centuries
Carving the canyon

One van looked at birds 
While a wolf came running by
Missed a good picture 

White pelicans dance
14 inch bill, gulping fish 
Synchronous feeding

Baby grizzly cubs
Follow behind their mama
Traipsing through the snow

No time for naps now
It’s Yellowstone after all
Sleep when you are dead

We apologize for the late post and lack of pictures, but cell service has been very limited! We’ll add more later.

It’s tough when you live in a place with so much, you don’t realize how much you’re losing. —Dan Hartman

Ever take your surroundings for granted?

Do you ever stop to think about all that you take for granted in your life?

Today pushed us to think about these questions. Yes, this is a new environment for us, but it’s also a place where people live day to day.

Our mentor today was Dan Hartman, a wizened professional photographer / videographer with a wide array of experiences. Through his passionate enthusiasm he drew us right into his world of aspen trees and hairy woodpeckers. His world is one of nature, of animals, of interconnections, and of bountiful wonder.

This world is typically looked at through obscured eyes until you take the time to zoom into the world that is in front of you — to stop and smell the proverbial roses. In today’s adventure we describe this as “stop to see the woodpeckers, dusky and ruffed grouse, recent evidence of grizzly bears, and mountain goats.”

Who would have thought that we would be on the snow-covered “top of the world” above the tree line after watching wolves, bison, and pronghorn run in Lamar Valley? Here on Beartooth Pass we further elevated — literally and figuratively — our observation skills. With binoculars in hand we spotted baby mountain goats lazing in 22 mph wind, gregarious marmots, and Beartooth Mountain in the distance. Even bald eagles and black rosy finches made the list thanks to the experienced eyes of our teammates.

Today’s top takeaways:

1. Give yourself time to observe at least one thing more closely today.

2. Be grateful out loud for at least one thing you normally take for granted.

3. Share something you’re passionate about with at least one other person today.

Learn to be a part of your environment, not apart from it. After all, when we realize just how interconnected we are with our world, we understand just how much there is to lose.

Today we had an early start, but it definitely paid off. Another day, another opportunity for fulfillment. Here we are, a brand new day in search for wildlife and adventure. Not thirty minutes into our day, we were able to watch an unbelievable sunrise over the mountains and a picturesque scene with a black bear eating sticky geraniums.  The cherry on top of the cake of the wildlife viewing of the morning was a magnificent lonely black wolf out in a valley.

We were able to watch some bison calves running and playing with each other while the mamas grazed nonchalantly. More pronghorns and elk were seen and this was all before 7am. 

Kira Cassidy, wolf biologist in Yellowstone, was a guest of honor for us today. Talking to us about tracking wolves and giving a depth of knowledge about wolves to our group – the size of litters, mating habits, relationships with other animals in the same ecosystem. 

We did a pit toilet race as the group split in two and lined up for the restroom – team Melissa against team Danielle. It was more fun than you may think, especially when trying to beat out a rain storm, too. 

 A moment to breathe, think and be one with the valley, here we are all gathered together having a million dollar picnic lunch, with the most beautiful and out of this world landscape, a moment to reflect, connect and disconnect.

We witnessed a bison stampede around 1pm, with multiple hundred or more running down the valley. We never could tell what spooked the bison, but they were running at a fast clip even crossing the river deep with their calves.

1:25 – Ten minutes late (due to yet another bison jam), we met up with rangers Avery and Nicole who work with the park service. Avery led us through a survey process for Pika at Hellroaring trailhead. This was super cool and we saw many pika run and dodge from rock to rock in a talus slope full of eroded igneous rock from an old lava flow. These little guys make the cutest “eeep” sound and make themselves an edible bed called a haystack under the rock. 

Woohoo! What a way to finish our third day of adventure by spotting a coyote and its five pulps by their den. Finally, for the last sight of the day – a big, round, and wild grizzly bear, near to the river, and that beauty decided to amaze all of us running through the river, crossing the road through the valley directly to the mountains. A total Queen B!

When we say Yellowstone, what we really mean is breathtaking views. A location that unexpectedly feels like home. We were unaware of what our souls needed. How stillness permitted us to be one with ourselves. When we say Yellowstone, what really mean is we are here not just to witness an ecosystem, but to discover more about ourselves.

Each one of us made an agreement to put aside our worries, our stress, our disappointments; to take off the titles of teacher, mom, father, daughter, son, brother and sister. We agreed to become one with nature.

Binoculars? Huh, what’s that? A few people in our group knew how to use them, the rest needed a lesson. I, for one, was looking through them backwards. This has definitely been a learning experience. But Fred has turned the entire group into binocular pros and birdwatchers. We all will be taking this newfound hobby home.

As part of our birdwatching discovery, we were fortunate to see a golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, and an American kestrel. We watched the golden eagle add to its nest, with a baby eaglet sitting inside. Talk about a once and a lifetime experience!

It’s so amazing the different animals you are able to see while driving! Melissa is such a wonderful animal spotter! We have been able to see black bears, foxes, bison and a lot of other animals.

We experienced our first full day in Yellowstone. The elevation did not come to play with us (and most of us huffed and puffed on our uphill hike). However, our bodies are adjusting. We were blessed to see a rainbow 🌈  as we drove out of Lamar Valley at sunset. Oh, how we remember the promises.

Until the next post, we will leave you with this thought: “The energy I give is equal to the energy I provide which is equal to the legacy I leave.” ~T.S Jones

From the Piedmont of North Carolina to the Rocky Mountains in Montana and Wyoming—today was a journey of miles, but also mindset. We traded high humidity for high altitude. After a long day of travel, we arrived in Yellowstone with full hearts, open eyes, and a shared commitment to learn, explore, and be transformed by this place. After our orientation it was nice to reunite with familiar faces despite the early hour.

Today was about flight in many ways – someone’s first time on a plane, flying across the United States, and observing new bird species in their natural habitats. We identified birds soaring above the pines and in the ponds.

We observed dramatic mountain slopes and unique rock formations – jagged lines, geological wonders, and weathered slopes. We set personal and professional goals: to listen deeply, engage fully, and leave changed.

As educators, we want to take everything in and learn from both our environment and each other. We want to be intentional about our surroundings – being in this ancient, raw, untouched land – and temporarily being grounded in this place together. 

The land is already speaking. We’re here to listen to its ancient stories.

Hi, I’m Diana, a Dual Language Teacher in second grade at North Harnett Primary School in Harnett County. I’m incredibly excited to participate in the upcoming Yellowstone Institute: Educators of Excellence! As the trip draws near, I’ve been diligently preparing both physically and mentally for what I anticipate will be a life-changing experience. My luggage is nearly packed, with about 90% of the essentials organized, ensuring I’ll have everything I need. This preparation included carefully considering the varied weather conditions and packing appropriate garments and elements.

Beyond the logistical aspects of packing, a significant part of my preparation has focused on physical readiness. This involved not only dedicated strength and endurance training at the gym but also rigorous hiking challenges. One of the most demanding trails in North Carolina, The Grandfather Trail, served as my ultimate test. While it was undeniably challenging, I never found it impossible, and it was 100% fun! This experience has solidified my confidence. Am I ready for Yellowstone? Absolutely. I’m eager to embark on this adventure and bring back invaluable insights to my students.

Members of our Yellowstone Team have been sharing updates with the group about how they’ve been getting ready for our upcoming adventure in Yellowstone. Whether it’s hitting the trail or learning more about our first national park, we’re all getting excited for the upcoming adventure! Here’s how a few more folks have been preparing…

Fred: I’ve been getting ready by learning as much as I can about Yellowstone through books and podcasts, in particular the geology of the area. As my school year winds down, I’m excited to disconnect from many of life’s current stressors and immerse myself in the landscape with other passionate NC educators.

Misty: I have been reading about Yellowstone and watching documentaries, all of which is increasing my excitement for the adventure! I’m so ready to learn, experience new things, and get out of my comfort zone. Here is a picture of my hiking training along with the best motivation coaches around… hahah.

Paige: I’ve been getting some hikes in, listening to podcasts, and figuring out my gear. I am lucky to be friends with a teacher who went last year, Jessica Pichan, and she and I have had dinner dates to chat about her experience and how I can prepare. She said: “Follow the packing list, don’t forget your rain gear, and don’t get excited about the food.”

Michelle: I have been preparing for Yellowstone by trying to wean myself off of caffeine and Sun Drop. The thing I am most anxious about is the flying, so I have been talking to lots of different people about their experiences. The only thing they all agree on is to take chewing gum. I have also been hiking Raven Rock frequently (the stairs are good cardio exercise).

Jen: I have been hitting the gym and chatting with educators who have been on the trip!

Wendi: I made it to western NC for a little mountain air, and keep thinking about how the “wide open expanses as far as the eye can see” (as we were told) will compare to our NC views and climbs! I’m also reading about wolves, coyotes, and more about the trophic cascade.

Heather: I am really looking forward to our adventure in just over two weeks. Since our group met for orientation in March, I have visited the NC Mountains for some R&R and exploring the wonders of nature. One of my favorite pictures I captured was the sunrise before heading out to explore, I am looking forward to seeing the sunrise at Yellowstone and the other spectacular things it has to offer. I thought I knew a lot about the white pelican, but have enjoyed researching more and look forward to sharing my “expert topic.”

Ashley: I’ve been getting ready for the Yellowstone adventure by doing some backpacking with my child(ren) on local trails with inclines to help build stamina for the terrain we’ll encounter. It’s been a great way to prepare physically for the trip! I’ve also been watching a few Yellowstone documentaries to learn more about the park’s unique ecosystems and wildlife—every geyser and wildlife sighting in the footage just makes me more eager to experience it all in person.

Our trip begins on June 18. Follow our blog to as we post daily (as cell service allows) about our adventures in Yellowstone!