GUIDES: Joe Hetzer
ACTIVITIES: In order to preserve the uniqueness of this experience, to minimize impacts to habitat and wildlife—to “keep Yellowstone wild”—specific locations of hikes and activities will only be given to the finalized roster and will not be listed here. Students and participants will be expected to avoid tagging locations of activities on social media as well.
With Jackson Hole as our home base for the first three nights, this includes: a late-night campfire in a remote, magnificently picturesque location. It also includes self-exploration hikes and group hikes above tree-line to a summit. Upon that summit, students will have a view of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that belies words.
Throughout this expedition, students will be on wildlife drives everyday where encounters and sightings of grizzly and black bear, moose, elk, big horn sheep, bison, mule deer are less-than-a moment’s notice of possibility.
Two days in Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park, to see geysers, mud volcanoes, majestic lakes, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and the famous wildlife havens of Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley.
Three days in Cody, Wyoming to experience the World Famous Cody Nightly Rodeo and to hike in the wildest country of the contiguous United States, including the Northwest corner of Yellowstone NP, Beartooth Pass, and the North Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness.
Spanning Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, this is an intimate experience of wildness that transcends the tourist experience. It is here that students can see the night sky like never before while warming themselves by campfire and sharing in stories.
The expedition concludes with a return to Jackson Hole for three nights to include an additional late-night campfire and opportunities to ride trails on horseback or swim in glacial lakes. The expedition concludes with a whitewater rafting experience down the Snake River Canyon.
FACULTY: Marcus Mescher; Esmerala Nastase, PhD, Rita Rozzi
COURSES: 6 Total CORE Credits (9 Credits Possible, Students must choose 2 of 3 courses, but can enroll in all 3 courses).
THEO 388 (Mescher), 3 Credits, CORE THEO 200 Perspectives, ERS, Enviro Sci/Studies, Humanities Elective, Peace Studies, Free Elective
MATH 125 (Nastase), 3 Credits, CORE Math Perspectives, Free Elective, a unique way to receive credit in math principles in understanding geology, wolf pack behavior, and a host of other options.
ENGL 205 (Rozzi), 3 Credits, CORE ENGL 205, ERS, Humanities Elective, Free Elective
PROGRAM FEE: $2,590 includes roundtrip airfare, all lodging, ground transportation, wildlife drives, campfire experiences, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park permits, whitewater rafting, meals, snacks, beverages.
TUITION: $535/Credit Hour, 6 Total Credits (separate from Program Fee)
DEPOSIT: $400 Nonrefundable deposit secures student’s spot. Deposit deducted from Program Fee.
LIMIT: Maximum 14 Students
VALUE: Attempting this program on one’s own would cost ~$7,540/person. For THIS expedition, a student’s total cost is $2,590 (Program Fee) + $3,210 (6 Credits Tuition) = $5,800 total. For questions on payment plans, contact Xavier University’s Office of the Bursar. For questions on grants and scholarships, contact Xavier University’s Office of Financial Aid.
