February 20-23, 2025

Indulge your passion for the park at the ultimate online event for Yellowstone lovers.

Presented by A Yellowstone Life in partnership with Yellowstone Forever

Calling all Yellowstone lovers!

Yellowstone immerses us in a world larger than ourselves, a place where humans are not at the top of the food chain. A place where the agenda is set by the weather instead of the smartphone. Where the steam of bubbling mud pots and towering geysers catch our breath, and wild animals seem to glance into our soul.

Here in this sanctuary for wildness, we feel most connected to nature and ourselves. The park becomes woven into the fabric of our lives, its majesty a siren song beckoning us to go deeper.

That's why we created the Yellowstone Summit

So you can...

...Feel like you're in Yellowstone even when you're far away and hitting refresh on the Old Faithful webcam.

...Connect with people who light up when you tell them your stories about Yellowstone. 

...Satisfy your desire to soak up everything Yellowstone by learning from inspiring experts and insiders who will bring you even closer to the park.

...Get excited for your next visit with new ideas for how to experience Yellowstone’s true magic.

If you love Yellowstone, you don't want to miss this!

Over four days of immersive presentations and vibrant conversations,  more than 30 inspiring speakers—from National Park staff, researchers,  and historians to photographers, filmmakers, authors, and artists—will help you learn, connect,  and celebrate a shared love of Yellowstone.

Take a deep dive into the park

Enjoy compelling discussions and updates on Yellowstone science, history, wildlife, geology, and cultural connections.

Be inspired by Yellowstone

See the park through the eyes of artists, photographers, filmmakers, and writers.

Discover the park's hidden secrets

Glean insider tips for how to find even more magic on your next visit.

Bond with fellow Yellowstone lovers

Hang out in the Facebook group or chat with attendees and speakers in VIP "Let's Talk Yellowstone" sessions.

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I was just blown away...it's like being in Yellowstone. Thank you.

Susan J.

2024 Speakers:

2025 Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!

Take a DEEP DIVE into compelling discussions and updates on Yellowstone science, history, wildlife, geology, and cultural connections.

Bob Landis

Ravens of Yellowstone

Cam Sholly

Yellowstone: State of the Park Update and Q&A

(VIP Pass)

Cathy Whitlock

Cold and Hot: Yellowstone's Past, Yellowstone's Future

Chris Geremia

Yellowstone Bison Update and Q&A

(VIP Pass)


Dan Stahler

Yellowstone Wolves, Cougars, and their Prey


David Haines

Grand Wings: Yellowstone’s Bird Program & Golden Eagle Research 

Denyse Ute

Connections to the Land: Restoring Ancestral Foods Gathering

Emil McCain

What's Up With Yellowstone Wildlife? Live Q&A Session (VIP Pass)


Evan Stout

Preventing Bear Conflicts on Yellowstone's Doorstep


Gregory Nickerson

Wild Migrations of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Jack Horner

Dinosaurs in Yellowstone?

James Halfpenny

The Last Cold: Yellowstone Story


Explore 2 Apps About Yellowstone National Park

Jeff Henry

John Colter in Yellowstone

Jeff Reed

Wild Migrations of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem


Jeremy SunderRaj

Yellowstone Wolf Update

Lisa Morgan

Tracking the Yellowstone Hotspot and the Floor of Yellowstone Lake


Michelle Toshack

Getting to Know Pollinators, the Flying Jewels of Yellowstone

Michial Garvin

Connections to the Land: Restoring Ancestral Foods Gathering


Taylor Rabe

Yellowstone Wolf Update

T. Scott Bryan

What's New Among Yellowstone's Geysers?


Todd Wilkinson

Wild Migrations of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem


Be INSPIRED BY YELLOWSTONE through the eyes of artists writers, photographers, and filmmakers

Braeden Meyer

Film: Chasing Otters

Chris La Tray

Thoughts on Yellowstone from Little Shell Tribal member and Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray (VIP Pass)

Dan Hartman

Film: Harvest—The Whitebark Pine Story

George Bumann

Sculpting in Yellowstone: From Inspiration to Bronze

Kathryn Mapes Turner

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Raised this Artist - How a Landscape Inspires Expression

Matt C. Jackson

Yellowstone After Dark: Astrophotography in America’s First National Park

Night Sky Photography Q&A   (VIP Pass)

Melba Coleman

The Beauty of Yellowstone Through A Spotting Scope

Thomas D. Mangelsen

A Nature Photographer's Journey and Insights into the Fascinating Life of Grizzly Matriarch 399 and Other Grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Get insider tips and inspiration to FIND MORE MAGIC on your next Yellowstone visit

Angela Tempo

Enjoying the Night Sky in Yellowstone National Park

Night Sky Photography Q&A   (VIP Pass)

Carol Scopinich & Carl Leadaman

Explore 2 Apps About Yellowstone National Park

David Jennys

When Water Falls: Waterfalls of Yellowstone National Park

Jenny Golding

Hiking Home: A 200 Mile Journey Through Greater Yellowstone

Shauna Baron

Plan Your Yellowstone Trip: Hot Seat Session with Shauna Baron (VIP Pass)

Taylor Phillips

Don't Forget About Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone's Smaller Cousin

Test your Yellowstone knowledge at the LIVE TRIVIA CONTEST for VIP Pass holders!

Nicole Harkness

Yellowstone Trivia Contest Host (VIP)

Virginia Shoup

Yellowstone Trivia Contest Host (VIP)

Hang out with speakers & fellow Yellowstone lovers in live LET'S TALK YELLOWSTONE sessions! (VIP Pass)

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There is so much variety. Whatever your interest - animals, birds, geology, hiking, camping, family activities - you will hear about it at the Summit. I was so impressed by the number and variety of knowledgeable speakers who gave their time to share with us this very special place that is Yellowstone. Robin C.

Summit Details

WHEN

The Yellowstone Summit will run from February 22-25, 2024 with a variety of presentations and activities to choose from each day.



WHERE

The summit is happening online; you can tune into the summit from anywhere with internet access. If you purchase the VIP Pass, you’ll also be able to listen to presentations in podcast format. 

PRESENTATIONS

Presentations will be 20-45 minutes in length. New pre-recorded presentations are released each day and will be available for 48 hours to encourage you to take advantage of the incredible information shared by presenters. With a VIP Pass, you can take your time or watch them again; you’ll have extended access. VIP Passholders can also participate in live Q&A sessions.



COMMUNITY

This is where a lot of the fun happens! You’ll have access to a private Facebook group where summit participants and many of the speakers will be hanging out sharing stories, asking and answering questions, sharing insights from presentations, and connecting with fellow Yellowstone lovers. With a VIP Pass, you'll be able to ask questions during live Q&A discussions and interact with other attendees during fun live group sessions.

PRIZES & CONTESTS

Attendees will have the chance to participate in the Yellowstone inspired photo contest, and vote on submissions.  VIP Pass holders can test their knowledge at park trivia, and win prizes based on engagement in the Summit Facebook group.

VIP PASS

After registering, you can also upgrade to gain access to the VIP Pass. That means  you'll get lifetime access to presentations (including the ability to listen to the presentations in podcast format), access to live Q&A sessions with park experts, exclusive giveaways, and more.  

Who's hosting this event?

Hey there! We are Jenny Golding and George Bumann of A Yellowstone Life. 

In the 20 years we’ve been educating visitors in Yellowstone, we’ve had the extraordinary privilege to see the park through the eyes of some pretty incredible people. Leading researchers, poets, ranchers, park officials, authors, artists, tribal members, concessions employees, journalists, local residents, park volunteers and thousands of our students have inspired our own deep connection to Yellowstone; an experience we felt should be shared with a broader audience.

Our vision is to bring this unparalleled level of world-class Yellowstone knowledge and connection to a virtual format that is affordable, and available to anyone, anywhere. Most importantly, we wanted to create a community where people can not only deepen their understanding of the park but engage in meaningful conversations with speakers and with each other about the past, present, and future of Yellowstone. 

Essential Yellowstone directly from the source...

Imagine learning from the people who live, work, guide, and research here on a daily basis!

Enjoy the chance to meet and connect with people who love Yellowstone as much as you do, many of them who have visited dozens of times, or more!

Take advantage of the opportunity to learn new things that will make your in-park experiences even better. 

You'll walk away with new knowledge and skills, a stronger sense of community, and new ways to deepen your connection.

Think of the Yellowstone Summit as a virtual Yellowstone lollapalooza for the mind and heart offering multiple windows into how you can express your love for America's first national park. Todd Wilkinson, Yellowstonian

Access the 2024 Summit Recordings

The 2024 summit was a transformative 4 days of expert speakers and deep Yellowstone connection. The good news is you don't have to miss out! You can still access the summit recordings and community. 

  • Lifetime access to video presentations by over 30 Yellowstone experts.
  • Ability to listen to presentations as a podcast feed
  • Access to private Facebook Summit Community
  • Free guides How To Do Yellowstone Better, How to Find Wildlife in Yellowstone, and Five Wildlife Signs Most People Miss
  • New insights that will help you see Yellowstone in a whole new way (whether it's your first visit or your 20th)!


The presenters are world-class, personable, and they obviously love their topic. You can’t go wrong attending the next Yellowstone Summit. Cheryl K

Here’s what people are saying about the Summit

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"I was blown away..."

 Susan Jennys explains what she loves about the Yellowstone Summit. 

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"Our favorite part of the Yellowstone Summit was the variety of presentations that were available for us to attend. All of the speakers were so knowledgeable and passionate about the topics which they presented, and we learned so much during each session."

 Mike H.

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"The gift of being able to attend six or more presentations for four consecutive days was just remarkable, like four days of Christmas!"

Paola L.

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"The ability to tap into so much expertise was such a privilege."

Bea A. 

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"This was an outstanding summit with excellent presenters and very interesting material - I learned so much! THANK YOU to all who worked so hard to bring this into the world. The varied subjects and content was well beyond what I had anticipated, and absolutely worth the price of admission and viewer's time!" PJ K.

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"Whatever your interest - animals, birds, geology, hiking, camping, family activities - you will hear about it at the Summit. I was so impressed by the number and variety of knowledgeable speakers who gave their time to share with us this very special place that is Yellowstone." Robin C.

Frequently asked questions

Is this only for people who have been to Yellowstone? 

This event is for all Yellowstone lovers, from first timers to those who have visited more times than they can count! There will be new insights and experiences to discover for everyone.

 

When is this whole thing happening?

The main portion of the summit runs from February 22-25, 2024.  We'll kick off on February 22 and the Facebook community will be available right when you get your ticket!

 

What if I'm busy during the summit dates?

While attending the summit live is a fun experience, all sessions are recorded so that you can watch them later if you're busy during the actual event dates. Presentations are available for 48 hours with the General Pass, and forever with the VIP Pass.

 

Are the presentations live?

As you can imagine, internet can be spotty in the wilds of Yellowstone! To avoid tech glitches and save our sanity,  most presentations are pre-recorded and will be released at the scheduled time. We will have several live Q&A sessions that will happen in real time, available to folks with a VIP Pass. You'll be able to ask questions in the live sessions, as well as in the Facebook group. 

How long will the videos be available? 

Each video will be available for 48 hours to everyone with a General Admission Pass.  However, you can grab the VIP Pass for lifetime access to all of the videos, a podcast stream, and exclusive bonuses. 

 

Will the videos be captioned? Or will there be transcripts? 

Each pre-recorded video will  have closed captions and a transcript. VIP Pass holders will also be able to listen to the sessions in a podcast format, if you prefer. Additionally, you can adjust the speed at which you watch the videos and make them play slower, or faster.

Will the speakers get my email address? 

We value your privacy! The only way sponsors or speakers will get your email address is if you opt in to their freebie, donate to their funding project, or take part in their products and services.

Are you still accepting speakers, affiliates, or sponsors? 

All of our speakers slots have been filled for this year. While our sponsors and affiliates are hand-picked and our slots are likely to fill, we are still willing to review proposals. Email us at hello[at]yellowstonesummit.com to inquire.

Do you offer refunds? 

Due to the digital nature of the summit and the fact that presentations are available to attendees immediately after the summit begins, we generally do not offer refunds.

I still have questions! 

No worries, we're happy to help. Contact us at hello[at]yellowstonesummit.com or drop a note in the chatbox on the bottom right.

 

Join Us For the Yellowstone Summit

If you love Yellowstone, you don't want to miss this!💕