Back at the turn of the 20th century, many well-heeled Easterners would head West to spend a month or more touring the new "national parks" with their gorgeous scenery. These lengthy trips provided ample opportunities for these travelers to linger in parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Mount Rainier to get the lay of the land.

Fast-forward to the late 20th century and windshield tours seemed to take over as society tried to pack as much as possible into as short an amount of time as could be managed. Ticking off stops in parks, and numbers of parks in one trip, was key, not necessarily savoring what those parks had to offer.

To help park visitors slow down and get to know the landscapes, the culture, the history, and even the wildlife contained in the parks, more than a few non-profit educational associations sprang up with hopes of pulling these travelers aside for at least a day, or preferrably longer, to show them the nuances and subtleties of the parks.

The Yellowstone Association Institute is one such non-profit that operates with hopes of greatly enhancing visitors' experiences in Yellowstone National Park. (Editor's disclaimer: The Yellowstone Association is a sponsor of the Traveler.)

In Yellowstone, the Institute offers a wide array of trips, year-round, ranging in length from a day to a week. In the lineup is a brand of "Private Tours" that take visitors out into the park to focus on one aspect of Yellowstone for a day.

“Our 'Private Tours' round out a comprehensive lineup of offerings and serve the needs of small groups who seek get as much out of their time in the park as they possibly can,” said Jeff Brown, director of education for the Yellowstone Association.

Yellowstone Associaton naturalist—guides pick up groups at one of various locations throughout the park or at the association's Yellowstone Overlook group lodging facility. The goal of the tours is to enhance the visitor experience and foster a greater appreciation of the park.

Tours last approximately eight hours and start in the morning at various locations throughout the park. During these trips, an Institute naturalist—guide shows participants where, when, and how to look for animals. Some outings are enhanced through the use of high-powered spotting scopes and binoculars, while hiking trips enable visitors to explore backcountry trails with an experienced guide.

Private Tours cater especially to families and other small groups that want an introduction to Yellowstone wildlife, geology, or hiking or an advanced look into aspects of the park they have not been able to explore before.

Specific Yellowstone Association Private Tours are:

Wildlife Watching on the Northern Range. The group spends the day observing the diverse and abundant wildlife of Yellowstone’s Northern Range, the hotbed of wildlife in Yellowstone. Naturalist—guides demonstrate techniques for searching for wildlife using binoculars and spotting scopes while sharing insights about biology and ecology.

Natural History and Geology: Yellowstone Lake and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Groups explore the natural and geologic history of the Yellowstone Lake Area, and the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Activities include searching for wildlife in the rich Hayden Valley and learning about the Yellowstone volcano while taking strolls among geological features.

Geysers, Mudpots, and Hot Springs: Old Faithful Area is the name of the tour that lets participants learn about how the various hydrothermal features form and act as they view the world’s greatest concentration of them.

Day Hiking in Yellowstone. This active tour includes carefully chosen hikes that allow participants to explore Yellowstone’s diverse landscape and learn the basics of safe, low-impact backcountry travel. Working with an Institute naturalist—guide skilled in backcountry travel, the group determines which hikes match its ability level and interests.

Custom Backpacking. For the traveler seeking a more strenuous adventure, YAI will provide a backpacking expert to lead an expedition to the park’s backcountry where only two percent of the park’s 3 million annual visitors get to see the park’s hidden gems.

Standard daily rates are $495 for one to five participants, $650 for six to 13 participants and $1,300 for 14 to 26 participants. Custom trips are available as well. Participants should call for rates. Yellowstone Association members receive a $10 discount on all courses, and family memberships begin at just $35 per year. Instruction, spotting scopes, binoculars, snacks and in-park transportation, are provided. Participants bring their own meals and water.

The Yellowstone Association also offers Field Seminars and Lodging & Learning programs. Field seminars are multi-day courses taught by experts focusing on topics such as wildlife, geology, history and more. Lodging & Learning programs combine field experiences with an association naturalist/guide during the day and comfortable lodging in park hotels at night.

To make reservations for a Field Seminar or Private Tour, call 406-848-2400; for Lodging & Learning program reservations, call 866-439-7375. For more information on any Institute program, go to www.YellowstoneAssociation.org.