Guided Interpretive Workshops
2024 season

Explore Glacier's back country with a knowledgeable, experienced, and personable guide while staying at Sperry Chalet.

Each Workshop includes:

• Introductory evening overview session.
• All day interpretive workshop with an experienced guide.
• Wrap up evening session to be enjoyed by all.
• Complimentary beverages and snacks provided.

Costs:

$120.00 per person in addition to the required two night chalet reservation.

Space is limited and reservations are required.

All workshops take place rain or shine.

Cancellations

• Full payment for any interpretive hike is required within two weeks of booking and in advance of the chalet stay.
• Deposits for canceled interpretive hikes will be refunded if the reservation is filled by another guest.
• The charge for a canceled workshop is non-refundable if we are unable to re fill the vacancy.

Reserve your space by selecting the workshop option on your chalet reservation request.

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Sperry Glacier Workshop

This all day workshop will take you to a high mountain valley carved by ice age glaciers. View glacial land forms, features of present day Sperry Glacier and the ecosystem inhabited by plants and animals that have successfully adapted to the alpine.

Your guide will be Janet Paul Bones, a former ranger naturalist in Glacier National Park, a teacher and presenter for the Smithsonian Institute and the Glacier Institute. She has been teaching field classes in Glacier National Park since 1984. Her longtime commitment to education and her extensive experience with Glacier National Park make this an extraordinary opportunity.

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Science in the Wild

Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park and other National Parks serve as outdoor science labs. Curiosity inspires researchers to design investigations that help answer important questions: Is the population of grizzly bears increasing? What is happening to the fire regime as our climate warms? As glaciers melt, which species will thrive? Which species will struggle? 

Observations made through field studies help us better understand the world around us. The data that is collected provides essential information to park managers who must determine how to best protect our national treasures for current and future enjoyment.

This workshop will explore several research topics including: wolverine population monitoring, fire ecology, & the changing alpine tree line. Participants should plan for a strenuous full day hike to Comeau Pass.

Your guide, Megan Chaisson, was an interpretive Park Ranger with Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest for 10 years. Currently Megan is a Science Teacher who focuses her classroom instruction around data analysis & scientific writing skills to help shape engaged citizens. She continues to volunteer in the field counting migrating eagles, collecting hair samples for wildlife studies, and measuring snow survey data for ongoing climate research projects. Megan looks forward to sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with each of you!

Hiking level: Strenuous.

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A Hundred Years at Sperry Chalet and Beyond.

A natural history exploration for families.

Families and people of all ages are invited to come have some fun with veteran naturalist and educator Ashley Mason. This workshop will be truly "hands-on" as we explore the geology, fire ecology, mammals, birds, and human history of the spectacular Sperry Chalet area. Activities will be geared toward multi-age audience and will include demonstrations, games, and costumes. All are welcome as long as you are a kid at heart!

Participants will use cookies, slime and other interesting props to learn about Glacier's amazing geological history. The spectacular but sometimes harsh subalpine environment provides a fascinating backdrop to discuss survival strategies, behavior and adaptations of those plants and animals that live there. Finally, a walk around the Chalet area will reveal some of the more interesting human history of the area. Special attention will be given to recent wildfire activity in the area and how it changed both the natural and human environment at Sperry.

Depending on the weather and the group's interest the Lincoln Pass Trail, or the Sperry Glacier Trail as well as the Sperry Trail will be used for hikes and activities. These trails are moderate in difficulty and the pace will be moderate to slow. The Sperry Glacier Trail is more difficult.

Evening programs will include a fun interactive program on Pikas, Glacier's high country rabbit species (with costumes!) and Glacier's amazing geology.

Ashley Mason is a former Glacier National Park ranger naturalist, as well as Audubon educator. She is currently an instructor for Road Scholar and The Glacier Institute and Flathead Valley Community College. In addition, she was the 2012 Audubon Educator of the Year. She has been teaching field classes in and around Glacier National Park since 1992. She has a passion for taking the amazing and often complex stories of the landscape and distilling them into compelling stories for her students. She is especially interested in making conservation education fun and accessible for families and people of all backgrounds.

Hiking Level: Moderate to difficult.

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High Alpine Ecology

A natural history exploration for families.

Families and people of all ages are invited to explore the ecology of Glacier's high alpine with veteran naturalist Ashley Mason. Activities will be hands-on and geared toward a multi-age audience. All are welcome as long as you are young at heart!

A visit to Glacier's high country provides a truly unique opportunity to step back into the past…the ancient past. As recent at 10,000 years ago Glacier's mountain-tops rose from a sea of Glacial Ice. These high mountain environments still exist as natural-history museums preserving the fascinating story of the Park's ice-age past. The instructor will use a hands-on approach to explain local geology and how the glaciers scoured the landscape, making way for the unique plant and animal communities that live there today. The spectacular but sometimes harsh subalpine environment provides a fascinating backdrop to discuss survival strategies and behavioral adaptations of those plants and animals that are relics of the ice-age past such as the American Pika, hoary marmot and Columbian ground squirrel. We will also discuss how climate change is affecting those populations as well as Park research programs on climate change.

Depending on the interest and ability of the participants the course will utilize the spectacular Sperry Glacier Trail (a strenuous hike) or the Lake Ellen Wilson Overlook Trail (which is more moderate). The sweeping and dramatic views of the peaks and valleys around Sperry Chalet will be used as a backdrop for discussing Glacier's geologic history and identifying glacially carved features of the Park's landscape. These trails provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and are moderate to strenuous in difficulty. The pace will be moderate.

Evening programs will include a fun interactive program on Pikas, Glacier's high country rabbit species (with costumes!), as well as a talk celebrating the Centennial of the National Park Service and it's legacy of conservation.

Ashley Mason is a former Glacier National Park ranger naturalist, as well as Audubon educator. She is currently an instructor for Road Scholar and The Glacier Institute and Flathead Valley Community College. In addition, she was the 2012 Audubon Educator of the Year. She has been teaching field classes in and around Glacier National Park since 1992. She has a passion for taking the amazing and often complex stories of the landscape and distilling them into compelling stories for her students. She is especially interested in making conservation education fun and accessible for families and people of all backgrounds.

Hiking Level: Easy to Moderate.