YBRA

YELLOWSTONE-BIGHORN

RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

opportunities to engage

Upcoming Events

The YBRA supports annual on and off site workshops and programs each summer. Stay connected to find out what’s scheduled for the 2025 season!

YBRA Teacher's Workshop

Summer 2025

Calling all teachers! Stay tuned for updates on 2025’s course offering. Meanwhile, here is the intel on the July-2024 event!

This course offering is a free 3 day teacher’s workshop that qualifies for earning OPI renewal credits for professional development. Industry professionals and university professors with expertise in the fields of geoscience, climate and local resiliency, will offer both in-classroom and field instruction. Participants will leave with project materials and resources that can be taken back for classroom use. Course dates are July 17th-19th, 2024. As of April 1 the course is full with a waiting list. Check out the course flier and workshop schedule.

Tippet Rise Geo-Paleo Tours

2025 TBA

Located near Fishtail, Montana on a 10,260-acre working sheep and cattle ranch, Tippet Rise is known for its summer concert series as well as its large-scale outdoor sculpture installations. The unique geological features of the region have given rise to a limited series of summer Geo-Paleo tours. Guided by a YBRA geologist in partnership with Tippet Rise employees, this three hour tour offers an amazing opportunity to explore a majestic landscape. The Billings Gazette ran a feature article on the tours in 2023. Yellowstone Public Radio ran an article on the 2024 tours. All tours are coordinated through the Tippet Rise Art Center. 2024’s tours happened on for July 11th, 18th and August 1st.

Poole Paleoart Display

mid-June to early August, 2025

Look for works by paleontological artist Jason C. Poole on display in the YBRA’s Fanshawe Lodge lobby this summer! Poole has been an artist in residence at the YBRA for over 15 years, spending his summers on Mount Maurice working in coordination with the Elevation Science InstituteHe is an adjunct professor at Drexel University. Professor Poole has taught the art of dinosaur reconstruction in Mongolia, as well as several places in Philadelphia, including The Academy of Natural Science of Drexel University and Fleischer Art Memorial. His field work has taken him to Argentinian Patagonia, Egypt, and the American West. He has published in National Geographic and his artwork appears in many museum and private collections, as well as on his blog, Dino Scribbles, and the 2017 ENnie nominated tabletop roleplaying game, Epyllion by Magpie Games. Jason’s experiences have also produced several popular publications, including The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt and the award-winning A Dynasty of Dinosaurs coloring book.

YBRA Open House

August 16, 2025

Save the date! Each August near the end of the field season, the YBRA hosts an Open House for YBRA alumni, supporters and members of our extended Red Lodge community. The Open House is an opportunity to see camp buildings that in 2023 were recognized for their significance when they were placed on the National Register of Historic Places, meet members of the camp’s leadership body, and enjoy a featured keynote speaker. Typically accompanied by light snacks, this is a terrific opportunity to reconnect with the YBRA!

Red Lodge Annual Fun Run

August 30, 2025

Mark your calendars! Become a sponsor for, or participate in the Red Lodge 22nd Annual Fun Run for Charities, a yearly fundraising event for charitable organizations like the YBRA in Carbon County. All funds donated to the YBRA Fun Run campaign go to the YBRA and can be eligible for a 10-13% match from the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation. The Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association directs Fun Run charitable donations to support the YBRA’s Teacher Workshop, providing science educators with the opportunity to enhance their understanding of Earth Science, implement science standards, and receive renewal units or recertification credits. Our goal is $2000 but we hope to overachieve!

YBRA is at GSA!

October 19-22, 2025

Connect with the YBRA at GSA! Plan to visit our booth October 19-22 at GSA Connects 2025 in San Antonio, Texas!

YBRA Annual Meeting!

December 2025

The YBRA holds an annual (virtual) Membership Meeting in December of each year that spotlights camp updates and planning. Membership includes participation in voting (by proxy). Voting includes selection of YBRA Board candidates, the ratification and approval of acts of the YBRA Board during the preceding year, and voting on other business as may come before the membership body. 

Join us!

CHECK OUT OUR CAMP EXPERIENCES ON FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN AND INSTAGRAM

Important Milestones

LEARN FROM OUR WEBLOG

Beartooth Artist-in-Residence Program (BAiR)

The Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery has partnered with the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association (YBRA) to offer artists a chance to have uninterrupted time to work on their art in a natural setting. This is opportunity is the Beartooth Artist-in-Residence Program (BAiR). Applications are being accepted now through April 30, 2025. Photo by

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2025 YBRA Uplift Award

The YBRA is pleased to recognize Joan Brownell and Denece Lord as the 2025 YBRA Uplift Award for Outstanding Support recipients. 

Brownell and Lord have both individually, and in partnership, contributed to aspects of the preservation and recognition of the YBRA in the historic archives of Montana history.

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2024 Dutcher Award

INTRODUCING the 2024 YBRA Dutcher Award recipient, Prof. John Weber! The Dutcher Award, established in 2002 for exceptional service to the organization, is the highest award bestowed on a YBRA member. Weber, a Professor of Geology at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, Michigan) has served on the YBRA Board for over two decades, working as

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CCHR Grant for the Fanshawe!

The Fanshawe Lodge was one of several projects selected for 2025 funding under the Carbon County Historic Rehabilitation Grant Program (CCHR)! This initiative, supported by a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service, Department of Interior, provides funds to help revitalize and restore historic buildings in Carbon County. Work on the Fanshawe

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Sisson is Recipient of the 2024 University of Houston Faculty Award for Excellence in Service!

The YBRA’s own Jinny Sisson is the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) 2024 recipient of the Faculty Award for Excellence in Service! This award recognizes faculty members who have made significant contributions to the university, college, or department. This includes service in areas such as editorial roles, grant review panels,

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Tippet Rise Geo-Paleo Tours

Located near Fishtail, Montana on a 10,260-acre working sheep and cattle ranch, Tippet Rise is known for its summer concert series as well as its large-scale outdoor sculpture installations. The unique geological features of the region have given rise to a limited series of annual summer Geo-Paleo tours. Guided by a YBRA geologist in partnership

Read More »

The YBRA is a non-profit organization that was established in 1936 to "further fundamental geological science and the training of students under exceptionally favorable conditions."

YBRA conducts geology and other applied field science in the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming.

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