Discover untold stories, find inspiration, and journey deeper into America’s national parks by joining an institute course or a field school.

National Park institutes and field schools share one key characteristic: they all provide in-depth education for small groups in natural and historic settings. Instructors draw upon their expertise as professional scientists, authors, historians, artists, and adventurers to unravel the intricacies of our national parks. Courses range from one-day field seminars to multi-day backcountry experiences.

The following nonprofit organizations work in cooperation with the National Park Service to provide high-quality educational experiences.

Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands Field Institute
Programs: Family Programs, Field Seminars, Graduate Residency or Certificate Program, K-12 School Programs, Teacher Training, Youth Camps, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 1-5 days
Accreditation: Utah State University
Contact: (435) 259-7750 or www.canyonlandsfieldinst.org

Cedar Breaks National Monument
Zion Canyon Field Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts Program, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Youth
Length: 3 hours to 3 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (435) 772-3264 or www.zionpark.org

Denali National Park and Preserve
Alaska Natural History Institutes
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts Program, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Teacher Training
Audience: Adults, Families, College/University Students, Senior Citizens, Teachers
Length: 1-7 days
Accreditation: University of Alaska Anchorage
Contact: (907) 274-8440 or www.alaskainstitutes.org

Glacier National Park
The Glacier Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts, Custom Programs, Elderhostel, Family Programs, Field Seminars, K-12 School Program, Teacher Training, Wilderness Medicine, Youth Camps
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth, Youth-at-Risk
Length: 4 hours to 14 days
Accreditation: University of Montana, Montana State University, Flathead Valley Community College
Contact: (406) 755-1211 or www.glacierinstitute.org

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Grand Circle Field School
Programs: Adventure Programs, Field Seminars, K-12 School Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 3-6 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (505) 797-8540 or www.grandcirclefieldschool.org

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Headlands Institute, a campus of Yosemite National Institutes
Programs: Adventure Programs, Field Seminars, K-12 School Programs, Teacher Training, Youth Camps
Audience: Adults, Professional Groups, Teachers, Youth
Length: 1-14 days
Accreditation: University of California, Berkeley Extension
Contact: (415) 332-5771 or www.headlandsinstitute.org

Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon Field Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Wilderness Medicine, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 1-18 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (866) 471-4435 or www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts Program, Family Programs, Field Seminars, K-12 School Programs, Teacher Training, University/College Field Semesters, Wilderness Medicine, Youth Camps, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 3-10 days
Accreditation: Bethel College
Contact: (865) 448-6709 or www.gsmit.org

Joshua Tree National Park
Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park
Programs: Creative Arts, Field Seminars, University/College Field Semesters, Lecture Series, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers
Length: 1 hour to 3 days
Accreditation: University of California Riverside
Contact: (760) 367-5535 or www.joshuatree.org

North Cascades National Park
North Cascades Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts, Elderhostel, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Graduate Residency or Certificate Program, K-12 School Program, Wilderness Medicine, Youth Camps, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 1-30 days
Accreditation: Western Washington University
Contact: (360) 856-5700, ext. 209 or www.ncascades.org

Olympic National Park
Olympic Park Institute, a campus of Yosemite National Institutes
Programs: Elderhostel, Family Programs, K-12 School Program, Teacher Training, Wilderness Medicine, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 4 hours to 10 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (800) 775-3720 or www.olympicparkinstitute.org

Pipe Spring National Monument
Zion Canyon Field Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts Program, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Youth
Length: 3 hours to 3 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (435) 772-3264 or www.zionpark.org

Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes Field Seminars
Programs: Creative Arts Program, Family Programs, Field Seminars, K-12 School Program
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers
Length: 4 hours to 4 days
Accreditation: Dominican University
Contact: (415) 663-1200 or www.ptreyes.org

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia Field Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts Program, Family Programs, Field Seminars, K-12 School Program, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 1-7 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (559) 565-4251 or www.sequoiahistory.org

USS Arizona National Memorial
Arizona Memorial Museum Association
Programs: Teacher Training
Audience: Teachers
Length: 6 days
Accreditation: Flinders University
Contact: (808) 484-5675 or www.arizonamemorial.org

Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Association Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Teacher Training, University/College Field Semesters, Wilderness Medicine, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 8 hours to 14 days
Accreditation: Colorado State University
Contact: (307) 344-2294 or www.yellowstoneassociation.org

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Association
Programs: Adventure Programs, Birding Festival, Creative Arts, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens
Length: 4 hours to 11 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (209) 379-2321 or www.yosemite.org/seminars

Yosemite Institute, a campus of Yosemite National Institutes
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts, Family Field Seminars, Field Seminars, K-12 School Program, Teacher Training, University/College Field Semesters, Wilderness Medicine, Youth Camps, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Youth
Length: 1-14 days
Accreditation: Columbia College in Sonora, CA
Contact: (209) 379-9511 or www.yosemiteinstitute.org

Zion National Park
Zion Canyon Field Institute
Programs: Adventure Programs, Creative Arts Program, Family Programs, Field Seminars, Custom Programs
Audience: Adults, College/University Students, Families, Professional Groups, Senior Citizens, Youth
Length: 3 hours to 3 days
Accreditation: n/a
Contact: (435) 772-3264 or www.zionpark.org