Montana: Nature Immersion

Exploring the Swan Valley

July 18 – 24, 2027

Join NRF and Swan Valley Connections (SVC) for a custom naturalist experience in one of the last remaining wild and intact landscapes in North America! Through a mix of engaging presentations and immersive fieldwork, participants will build foundational naturalist skills while studying bird ecology, wetlands, insects, forest and fire ecology, botany, and wildlife tracks and signs. Hands-on activities such as guided hikes, citizen science projects, nature journaling, and wildlife monitoring encourage close observation and deeper ecological understanding. This tour is designed for learners of all backgrounds!

This trip is in partnership with Swan Valley Connections.

Mountain landscape by Swan Valley Connections

Moose by Michael Levine Clark

Activity Level: 3 out of 5

Participants should be prepared to spend up to 7 hours per day outdoors, traveling on a mix of established trails and off-trail terrain. Daily activities may include hiking up to 5 miles over sometimes steep, uneven, slippery, or rocky ground. Participants must be able to carry their own day pack, including food, water, and personal gear. Field days require comfort with physical activity, variable weather conditions, and environmental factors such as potential wildfire smoke. July temperatures typically range from the low 50s to high 80s. 

The historic barn by Swan Valley Connections

Accommodations

Lodging is rustic and communal. Classroom and dorm rooms are housed in a renovated dairy barn with electricity, Wi-Fi, and in-floor heat supplied by a wood-fired boiler. Each dorm room contains 2-4 bunk beds shared with roommates. In lieu of closet space, upper bunks are used for personal storage. Sheet, pillow, and pillowcases provided; participants bring their own blankets and sleeping bag. A separate washhouse provides bathrooms, showers, washer and dryer. View more photos of lodging here.

Off-site lodging options are limited, and participants who stay off-site will need to arrange their own daily transportation to the SVC facility. We strongly recommend staying on-site, as it reduces logistical challenges and enhances the shared community experience that is central to this program.

Meals

Participants will share cooking responsibilities. Each participant cooks 1-2 group dinners alongside a partner in the cookhouse building. Swan Valley Connections staff will develop a meal plan and provide recipes and ingredients. SVC will also host an end-of-course grilled dinner featuring ingredients sourced from a local ranch.

Each participant prepares their own breakfasts and field lunches using available groceries. While SVC will try to accommodate dietary needs, specialty products can be limited in nearby towns. Participants with specific needs are encouraged to bring a personal supply of specialty snacks or foods.

Wolf by Jacob W Frank/NPS

Pricing and cancellation

The base cost is $1,550 per person. The price includes dorm accommodations, meals, transportation to and from Missoula and within the Swan Valley, instruction, course materials, and part of your trip cost goes to support the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.

A non-refundable deposit of $155/person is required to reserve a space on the program.

Cancellation Policy: A full refund can only be issued if your spot can be filled, minus a $25/person processing fee. If your spot cannot be filled, 60 or more days before departure: 90% refund, minus deposit. 21-59 days before departure: 50% refund, minus deposit. 0-21 days before departure: no refund.  

Registration deadline is June 30, 2027

Bear print by Swan Valley Connections

Banner photo by Troy Smith