Grand Teton National Park Half-Day Excursion
This exciting trip into one of the country’s most beautiful and biologically diverse National Parks will be led by local experts in comfortable touring vans. Park fees will be included with registration, so this is a great value and a special outing. 

There will be several stops to allow plenty of chances to see a diversity of birds and other wildlife, including moose, pronghorn, and possibly bears. 

Curlew Cruise: Behind the Gates at the National Elk Refuge
Meet park ranger and avid birder Kari Cieszkiewicz, Education & Outreach Coordinator, at the spectacular 24,700-acre National Elk Refuge for this special “behind the scenes” outing that focuses on a really cool bird: the Long-billed Curlew. 

This outing is FREE to registered festival participants, but attendance is limited, as we’ll board vans for the tour. 

Trumpeter Swan Breeding Program
Once nearly extinct, Trumpeter Swans are making a comeback in the Greater Yellowstone. Register for a tour of ponds critical to the Wyoming Wetland Society's captive breeding program. Or join them in their office for intimate views of their nesting facilities and the egg incubation process. These events are FREE to registered Festival participants but spots are limited.

Jackson Birding Tour 
Visit several birding hot spots around the town of Jackson with a knowledgeable local. Locations may include the National Elk Refuge, Karns Meadow Park, Cache Creek Canyon, and Russ Garaman Park.

West of Jackson Birding Tour
Visit several birding hot spots west of Jackson with a local guide and maybe a surprise guest. Locations may include Rendezvous Park, Emily Stevens Park, Skyline Pond, and more. Wherever the birds are!

South of Jackson Birding Tour
Meet Jackson local Mike Cavaroc for this tour of birding hot spots south of town, which may include South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area, the Snake River Bridge, and more!

Mindful Birding by Gondola at Snow King Mountain Resort

Ride the gondola up Snow King Mountain, spotting birds and getting fantastic views of the Teton Range and the National Elk Refuge along the way. On a clear day, you can see Yellowstone!

After ascending nearly 1,600 feet, explore the trails at the top with Holly Thomas of the Mindful Birding Network as you look for MacGillivray’s Warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Mountain Chickadees.

Holly loves exploring and sharing her greatest passions: birding and mindfulness practices. She believes that directing attention to the present moment with kindness and without judgment can lead to well-being. 

Mindful birding merges mindfulness practices with bird observation, fostering nature-based wellness and joy. It brings an intention to explore our relationship with birds and nature. 

This is a unique and special outing with a fantastic guide. The price of the gondola lift ticket is included in the registration price.

ZEISS Nighttime Adventures
Explore the wild at night with our partners ZEISS Optics. Registrants will use thermal imaging gear to spot waterfowl, mammals — and probably a few surprises!

More tours will be announced soon!

Diego Calderón-Franco presents “Birding with FARC: How Birds Connect People”
We are all facing new times, and Colombia, fortunately, is not the exception. After years of internal conflict, Colombians are enjoying a peaceful window of time, when everyone, from all corners and social backgrounds, has the chance to come closer together to be part of building a new country. 

Biologists and naturalists are exploring areas that were forbidden because of the conflict, finding new species and filling gaps in natural history knowledge from Colombia’s amazingly rich fauna and flora. More and more species of birds and habitats are now accessible, and with the advent of birdwatching tourism, more and more knowledge is produced. There is nothing cooler, more participative, and healing for everyone than exploring these areas with the people who were responsible for labeling them as dangerous non-go sites — and kept Diego captive for 88 days in the mountains almost 20 years ago.

Diego, a Colombian biologist, has been birding for over 25 years across Colombia. He founded COLOMBIA Birding in 2007, guiding trips nationwide and in Latin America. Passionate about natural history, Diego studies bird behaviors, distributions, and nesting, while exploring remote regions like the Darién, the Chocó mountains, and the white-sand forests of eastern Colombia, discovering new country records. He's also participated in the description of a few new species for science.

Featured in THE BIRDERS and NatGeo’s BIRDWATCHING WITH FARC, he co-hosts The Birders Show on YouTube and shares his talk, “Birding with FARC: How Birds Connect People,” promoting reconciliation in Colombia.

Denver Holt presents “The Hidden Hunters: Exploring Evolutionary Owl Adaptations”
Discover the secretive world of owls in an exciting presentation by Denver Holt, founder of the Owl Research Institute. Spanning nearly every continent with approximately 270 species, these remarkable birds have evolved unique adaptations to thrive in diverse habitats, from dense tropical forests to isolated islands.

Their intricate history is etched in ancient art, myth, and literature, while modern science continues to uncover their secrets, from their unparalleled vision and hearing to their incredible camouflage techniques. Despite their global recognition, much remains to be discovered about these elusive creatures.

Learn how owls have evolved to become masters of camouflage and stealth. From cryptic plumage and stillness to their remarkable ability to fly silently, owls are perfectly equipped for their lives as nighttime hunters.

Denver will explore their exceptional senses, explaining how they see in near darkness and hear with pinpoint accuracy. You'll also gain insights into locating these mysterious birds by understanding their breeding seasons, vocalizations, and habitats.

From their cultural significance to their biology and behavior, this lecture promises a deep dive into the world of one of nature’s most admired and intriguing birds and their unique role in nature.

Tiffany Kersten presents “Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders”

Tiffany Kersten didn't set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As a sexual assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the Lower 48 States, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal was to see 700 species and raise awareness of women's safety outdoors. She surpassed her goal and set a new record of 726 species. In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure.

A Wisconsin native, Tiffany holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Northland College. She has spent over a decade as an environmental educator, teaching about bird migration with the Cape May Bird Observatory, monitoring shorebirds on Cape Cod, banding Honeycreepers in Hawaii, and finally landing in South Texas where she worked at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and then managed the McAllen Nature Center. After completing her Lower 48 States Big Year in 2021, she founded her own company, Nature Ninja Birding Tours. She guides primarily in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and offers international tours.

Lynette St. Clair presents “Beauty, Power, and Wisdom: The Symbolic Significance of Our Winged Relatives.”


Bird Photography: In the Field with Jackson Local Mike Cavaroc
Join Mike Cavaroc of Free Roaming Photography at the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management  Area for a bird photography workshop. All experience levels are welcome! This birding hot spot is bound to produce interesting subjects for your photographs and, with Mike to guide you, you’re sure to come away with images you love.

Teton Raptor Center Tour and “Free as a Bird” Art Workshop with Lori Franklin
This special outing starts with a tour of the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming. The Raptor Center is a state-of-the-art facility whose staff works to advance raptor conservation through research, conservation, and rehabilitation. They admit 174 birds annually. Get up close and personal with eagles, owls, and more.

Then, join artist Lori Franklin for tips, techniques, and tools for how to express your creativity through “no rules” nature and art journaling. Suitable for all skill levels, this class will feature time with a Raptor Center bird who will inspire your creativity. All supplies are included!

More speakers will be announced soon!

Opening Night Snacks and Fun
Join us for a casual get-together with complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the lobby of the beautiful Center for the Arts. Say hi to old friends and meet some new ones! Preview the Art Show. Meet some special raptors!

Art Show
Between Earth and Sky brings together local and regional artists to explore the breathtaking diversity of birds in the Teton range and surrounding ecosystem.

A wide variety of art will be on display, celebrating the talents of local and regional artists through painting, photography, and sculpture. This exhibit is a tribute to the wonder of birds.

Bear Spray Interactive
Jackson Hole is bear country. Do you know how to use bear spray? Test your reflexes at this fun interactive grizzly bear exhibit, and learn how to keep yourself — and the bears — safe.

Mural Walking Tour with Lynette St. Clair

Take a seven-minute walk with Shoshone language preservationist Lynette St. Clair to visit the “Never Forget Our Language” mural by Nanibah Chacon, completed in 2024.

According to Eastern Shoshone leaders and Ms. St. Clair, the mural serves as a conceptual billboard, reclaiming space for the Shoshone people, whose ancestors called this region home. By incorporating Shoshone language, the mural connects the land, culture, and people, emphasizing their deep-rooted relationship. This public display is a powerful act of language preservation for the Eastern Shoshone community.

You may also drive to the mural and meet the group there.

Magpie Marketplace
Talk with expert optics vendors, local nonprofits, and more in the lobby of the Center for the Arts, our home base.

All of these experiences are FREE for registered attendees.