Nature, culture and heritage join forces to paint a beautiful array of colorful fun across the Old West state. Yellowstone National Park has more geysers than any other geyser field in the world. Devils Tower was designated as the first National Monument in 1906. Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote in 1869. In 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected governor of Wyoming, becoming the nation’s first woman governor. With this much history and outdoor adventure, Wyoming sets the stage for an unforgettable student group trip.
Historic and Cultural Experiences Await
A great place to start your students’ Wyoming trip is located just south of the Rocky Mountains in Pinedale. Your students will witness history in the making at the Green River Rendezvous Site event. A National Historic Landmark, no town celebrates its unique blending of mountain men, Native American and cowboy culture better than Pinedale.
Green River Rendezvous Indian vamp scene. Credit: Jim Bridger
While you’re visiting Pinedale, stop by the Museum of the Mountain Man and take your students on an epic journey back into the 1800s during the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade era. The museum is filled with historic artifacts, rifles, tools and cultural displays that promise to strike the interest of any history buff.
Living History Days at the Museum of the Mountain Man. Credit: Museum of the Mountain Man
Don’t forget to experience the Wild West’s culture with your students by attending one of the Jackson Hole Rodeo shows, located in Jackson. The rodeo is a way of life in Wyoming, so make sure that your students experience its heritage.
Also be sure to visit the Grand Teton Music Festival in Teton Village for year-round musical fun and entertainment. The festival hosts a number of events, along with many world-renowned performances throughout the year. The festival is a great way for you to unwind after a long day of exploration.
Backcountry Adventures for Student Travelers in the Rocky Mountains
Tour the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve, located in Jackson, and watch the wilderness come alive. Students will learn about the natural ecosystem while they hike the scenic trails around the mountainside. But, that’s just how some of the Rocky Mountain fun begins.
Just north of Jackson is the Grand Teton National Park, which is beautifully decorated with miles of hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife that roams free throughout its valleys and peaks.
Teton overlook. Credit: Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.
For the adrenaline junkies in your group, Teton Village’s Grand Adventure Park is sure to get their blood pumping. Your students will enjoy a day filled with plenty of action packed activities like obstacle courses, wall climbing, bungee jumping and more.
Join your students on a breathtaking tour of the magnificent Rocky Mountains. Jackson Hole has plenty of outdoor excursions to offer its visitors, but one of the local favorites is the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram. The tram will take your students from the bottom of the Teton Village to the top of Rendezvous Mountain in a climb measuring over four thousand feet.
Get in touch the Jackson Hole Paragliding team to reserve your epic aerial tour of Jackson Hole. Strap in and ride tandem with an experienced flight professional. Your students will fearlessly think that nothing is better than capturing the alpine view from above.
After breaking a sweat, cool off with your students by venturing deep within the Snake River Canyon. The canyon river runs through Jackson Hole straight into the town of Alpine. Leisurely enjoy the beauty of the backcountry by floating down the upper part of the river on a raft, or challenge your students to an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip deep within the canyon.
Delve into Yellowstone National Park
Nature has truly blessed Wyoming with an amazing landscape. But, your students haven’t discovered the very best until you’ve paid a visit to Yellowstone National Park. The park is home to the largest population of bison in the world, along with many other species of wild animals. Take a hike with your students through the colorful mountainside, and discover all of the beauty that nature has to offer.
Yellowstone bison. Credit: Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.
Your students are sure to discover many waterfalls and cascades that flow freely throughout many trailheads. Many of the falls range from 15 to 308 feet high. But, for an easy hike, explore the beautiful Fairy Falls, which is located within the central part of Yellowstone National Park. Learn with your students about geothermal and hydrothermal heat within the park. Watch how nature controls the explosive geysers, rainbow pools and the bubbling mudpots throughout the park.
Start your adventure by visiting the Fountain Paint Pots, located in the Lower Geyser Basin area of the park. Your students will see how geothermic heat causes the clay and mud to bubble up from ground in rich white, brown and gray colors.
However, we all know that what bubbles in nature often explodes too, just like the famous Old Faithful geyser, located within Yellowstone National Park. Watch your students’ faces as they witness its beautiful eruption for themselves, because it is always camera ready.
Old Faithful erupts at Yellowstone National Park. Credit: Wikipedia
Finally, end your amazing trip with a group picture near the stunning rainbow colored Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone National Park. It is the largest hot spring in the United States, and it is sure to make a perfect backdrop for your group photo.
“Big Wyoming,” otherwise known as the “Cowboy State” is filled with a marathon of outdoor activities and educational opportunities for students. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience nature in action.
If you’ve visited Wyoming, leave a comment about your trip and what you think is best for students.
