Connecting people with nature is the mission of this unique center. Located at the former National Smokejumpers Center, nature and history combine in a one-acre town spot. The Yellowstone Nature Connection has outstanding programs for families and children with a focus on fire ecology because of the profound impact the 1988 Fires had on the Greater Yellowstone area. These fires led us to understanding its role in the ecosystem and how we can live in harmony with the land.
In the Junior Smokejumper program, families can learn together about fire ecology, dress as a smokejumper, and even jump out of a mock plane.
In the Naturalist program, families discover how naturalists explore and observe, understand fire’s role as a natural process, and learn about identifying animals via scat, tracks, and more.