Education Archives

Glacier Institute Core Values

By Anthony Nelson | April 27, 2026

April 27th, 2026 – Columbia Falls, MT When I started as the executive director back in 2020, one of my first goals was to get our leadership team together and…

Cinco de Mayo Star Party with Big Sky Astronomy

By Braden Dwyer | April 24, 2026

Join The Glacier Institute and the Big Sky Astronomy Club for an evening full of fun and education. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned stargazer, there’s something here…

Transition to May with a Garter Snake

By Zowie Caouette | June 3, 2025

Nature Journal at the Middle Fork Flathead River, next to the Glacier Institute's Field Camp in Glacier National Park

May 5, 2025 at 3:45pmGlacier National Park – Oxbow Trail55 degrees and sunny Field Camp is slowly opening and will host its first course on Saturday, May 17: the lovely…

Restoration Big Creek Complete!

By Madyson Rigg | April 10, 2025

Flathead National Forest and Glacier Institute's Big Creek Outdoor Education Center next to Glacier National Park

The Glacier Institute has successfully completed its first-ever capital campaign, Restoration Big Creek, raising over $1.5 million to preserve and enhance its flagship youth education site. The project ensures that…

Todd Eichmann

September 4, 2026

We had the pleasure of going on the Avalanche Lake hike with Miguel and Caden (hopefully I got the spellings correct) and it was one of the highlights of our trip to Montana. Between the two of them, they handled our group perfectly. They set a pace well suited for everyone, pointed out a variety of interesting elements of the forest, and answered all the questions we had with enthusiasm. All of this made for a five-star hike and we heartily recommend Glacier Institute for your hiking needs.

Ellen Glista

August 30, 2026

I booked the Hidden Lake hike, which also meant we did parts of the Going to the Sun Road as well and it was worth every single penny! Jenae was my guide and she was beyond fantastic - knowledgeable, kind, and well prepared for our hike. She was also very flexible and adjusted our hike based on experience and timing. I loved every moment!

Thomas Skrabala

August 23, 2026

Mo , our guide and driver was outstanding! She made the tour extra special. One that I will never forget! Many thanks.

Tammy Greco

August 22, 2026

I just did a search for a tour and I booked a Glacier Institute Tour through Tourbase. No problems or complaints, but just wanted to say how much we loved our Glacier Institute Tour and Guide on the Going to the Sun Tour. Claire, our guide, reached out to me 2 weeks in advance to ask what we were most interested in. I loved this. I had her number, I could help her know what we were interested in. I'm a planner, so this was so helpful. The day was miserable - rainy, dreary. At some points it was so foggy, we all crossed ourselves and said we were glad we weren't driving. Claire found bear, told stories, got us great pictures and introduced us to the park. She offered suggestions for hike for the rest of our trip and gave us some restaurant suggestions. She was perfect for us. She has a biology background, she's great story teller, she's nimble - as we had to work with the weather and tight parking. I would definitely recommend and would love to have her on a guided hike. She added so much to our adventure.

Will Piepszak

August 21, 2026

Anna was epic. Went with my parents (55+) and two younger brothers (20’s), all in good shape but she found a gorgeous hike that we could all do together. She challenged my parents but was encouraging and motivating but understanding in an expert balance. She got the most of them by setting an excellent pace and showcasing her knowledge of the park and the outdoors, we all felt like kids in a classroom. Do the Highline, she suggested it after hearing my family did Avalanche Lake the day before. She perfectly understood our limit. Jaws on the floor on the Highline the entire time, she spotted a grizzly sheep’s and goats. This park is so epic and Anna made sure we got the most out of it. Thank you !

Sana Alamsohail

August 18, 2026

Noah!!! He was a great guide for our Hike to Hidden Lake. We were staying at Under Canvas nearby and didnt have a car but they didnt hesitate to pick us up.

David Barksdale

August 14, 2026

Avalanche Lake hike was 4.8 miles, which was 3 HOURS 38 MINUTES of “hiking.” That translates to 45 minutes for each mile of walking. Lunch was an additional hour at a beautiful lake. The guide, Mo, stopped every few feet to excitedly share facts and info about the park. If this is the pace and style of hike that thrills you, I highly recommend it! Siyeh with Anna was 9.75 miles, with 2,635 ft of elevation gain. The pace was 33 minutes per mile, including all potty, snack, and lunch breaks. It rained and was foggy, so no sweeping views, but the hike was beautiful nonetheless with wildflowers, beautiful forest and a lake. Anna was very knowledgeable and talked while we walked, sharing information about the geology, plants, and animals of glacier. Highly recommend.

Tim Gross

August 10, 2026

If you are looking to hike I highly recommend. Jenae was amazing instructor and provide additional insights to the area and moved at a pace the whole group could go. Highly recommend.

Stephanie Krouse

August 3, 2026

We did the hike to Siyeh Pass. Annaliese (and the interns) were AMAZING! They shared so much information about the area, wildlife, and plants. It was very informative and educational, and FUN. They checked in with us frequently, set a perfect pace for the group, and made it an awesome trip.

Will

The day trip to Avalanche lake was great. Our guide Mo was fantastic. She was very knowledgable and passionate about her job, she is an asset to the company.

Julie HWeidenborner

August 2, 2026

Very expensive and a Poor value. The guide was seasonal who was not from the area was not very knowledgeable. We all wanted to stay a little longer to watch the active wild life but only had 20 minutes at Logan pass. He then offered to extend the trip by 1hr to visit a bakery after that. This was disappointing. The other stops were beautiful. It was nice not to do any of the driving. Obtaining a park pass was a hassle. No link provided. The online chat seemed like it was AI generated and added to the confusion. The van was clean, comfortable and safe but the high cost of this tour didn't make up for the cons.

Maria Wardoku

July 29, 2026

I did the 5-day Montana Master Naturalist course, and it was a fantastic experience! The staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable. The cabin was comfortable, and the food at field camp was delicious! The hiking excursions were well-planned, with a good variety of locations that allowed me to experience a wide range of flora and fauna within Glacier. I would highly recommend the course and the Glacier Institute to anyone who is interested in the natural world. It was well worth the registration cost, especially as a first-time visitor to Glacier.

Jennifer G

Great your of GNP! Harper was an outstanding guide and made our visit to Glacier National Park especially memorable. It was wonderful to travel Going-to-the-Sun Road with someone who knew the road so well and could share so much educational information about the park’s geology, trees, plants and wildlife. Thanks to Harper’s sharp eye, we spotted mountain goats, deer, chipmunks, a marmot, and even a young bear on our drive out! I especially appreciated Harper’s passion and enthusiasm for their work, as well as the thoughtful touches throughout the day—from choosing the perfect lunch spot to finding just the right hike for us to see an amazing waterfall. I would highly recommend Harper!

Maria W

July 28, 2026

Montana Master Naturalist Course I did the 5-day Montana Master Naturalist course, and it was a fantastic experience! The staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable. The cabin was comfortable, and the food at field camp was delicious! The hiking excursions were well-planned, with a good variety of locations that allowed me to experience a wide range of flora and fauna within Glacier. I would highly recommend the course and the Glacier Institute to anyone who is interested in the natural world. It was well worth the registration cost, especially as a first-time visitor to Glacier.

Renee Rains

July 27, 2026

This tour was an absolutely amazing way to experience Glacier National Park. Our guide was so knowledgeable and passionate about plants and animals located within the park. I can't wait to go back!