Defenders' Awards
Contact the President's Council
For additional information, please call
(877) 747-5629
or send us an email.
To join by mail:
Download a form and send to:
Defenders of Wildlife
President's Council
1130 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Annual President's Council Wildlife Conservation Workshop in Yellowstone National Park
President's Council members are invited to join us each August on this exclusive trip inside Yellowstone National Park. Members get a first-hand look at Defenders' conservation work, most notably, the return of wolves to the park. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual throughout the trip, and the beautiful setting could not be more appropriate for learning about Defenders' programs, with a special focus on our work in the Northern Rockies.
2011 Wildlife Workshop
Plans for the 2011 trip, which is scheduled for August 4-8, are underway. Take a look at the 2011 itinerary. If you are interested in participating or getting more information, please contact Lisa French at presidentscouncil@defenders.org or (877) 747-5629.
August 2011 Conservation Workshop BrochureBrochure outlining 20th Annual President's Council Wildlife Conservation Workshop in Yellowstone National Park, August 4-8, 2011
Who may participate?
All participants or one member of the family must be a current Defenders of Wildlife President's Council member as of August 1, 2011. The cost of the trip is $1,500 per participant. Click here to register for the trip.
What to Expect?
The workshop is designed to be educational and hands-on, with an excellent mixture of briefings by scientists and conservation experts and Defenders staff, wildlife-viewing, and hiking to give you a truly unique experience. The trip is led by wildlife experts who offer a wealth of knowledge on Yellowstone ecology. While each day has a similar structure, the focus shifts to give participants a complete overview of wildlife in Yellowstone. Take a look at the 2010 itinerary.
Lodging and Meals
Up to three participants share Buffalo Ranch's comfortable cabins and families of up to four can be accommodated. Bathroom facilities and showers are in the restroom building steps away from your cabin. Meals are served in the Institute's heated ranch house or on the back porch overlooking the Lamar Valley. Meals are hearty and healthy, and we can adapt to all dietary restrictions.
Participants should be able to walk at least two miles over uneven terrain. Altitudes within the park range from 5,200 to 11,300 feet.
What to Bring
Participants will receive a list of clothing and equipment recommended for the trip. Since mountain weather prevails in the high country, be prepared for everything including hot sun, cold, wind, rain and snow. Temperatures range from the low 40s in the early morning to the mid 70s in the afternoon. Participants will also need to bring a pillow, sleeping bag (or sheets and blankets) and towels.
Report from the 2010 Wildlife Workshop
Yellowstone’s wildlife and awe-inspiring landscapes were on full display for the President’s Council members who gathered for Defenders’ 19th Annual Wildlife Conservation Workshop in August. The trip got off to an auspicious start, as Judge Molloy’s ruling to return northern Rockies wolves to the Endangered Species list was announced just as we entered the park for a first-hand look at one of Defenders’ proudest accomplishments—the return of wolves to Yellowstone.
Our first early morning outing from the Buffalo Ranch in Lamar Valley brought equally good fortune as we watched four spirited pups from the new Lamar Canyon wolf pack waiting by their den for their mother to return with breakfast. With help from our expert guides and local staff, the wildlife sightings kept coming. The list of species we kept on the ranch’s blackboard grew and grew, with highlights including: bison, grizzly bear, black bear, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, golden eagle, coyote, mountain bluebird, spotted frog, short-tailed weasel, and a particularly photogenic badger living on the ranch, among many others sightings. And, of course, more observation of the Lamar Canyon wolf pack, including the Alpha female and the two sleek black brothers who round out the pack.
Our hikes showcased the park’s big skies, waterfalls, and wildflowers, and more than a few participants paused to take advantage of “photo ops,” with instruction from professional wildlife photographer Jim Clark and his son, Carson. Points of interest included the cliffs and valleys of Specimen Ridge alongside the Yellowstone River, an abandoned wolf den, and the Rose Creek acclimation pen, the original base for the wolf reintroduction project.
The workshop was led by Defenders Executive Vice President, Jamie Rappaport Clark.
