Local Students Set For Trip To Yellowstone

Youth to Yellowstone was started 10 years ago.

Shutterstock photo.

(Ripley County, Ind.) - “The United States is getting back to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic, and Youth for Yellowstone plans to resume its trips taking local students to Yellowstone National Park and surrounding sites,” according to Bill Riley, board president of the organization. This year 19 students are heading west from Ripley, Decatur, and Ohio counties.

Fundraising was a challenge in 2020, but enough donations were secured in Ripley County to take six local students, Riley stated. It costs about $2,000 per student for the all-expenses paid trip. Leaders and chaperones on the trip cover their own expenses.

The organization was started over 10 years ago by Jim Waldo of Versailles and Russell Wilson of Westport. They shared the dream of taking local young people, who may never otherwise have the opportunity, to explore and learn about Yellowstone National Park and other western sites.

Students and volunteers spend 12 days together, traveling to and from the west, and camping in Yellowstone for eight days during the summer. Different students travel for three consecutive trips, starting in June this year. The last trip will come home in mid-July.

Each student chosen must write an essay describing why they would like to go and what it would mean to them. Although the focus is not an “educational” trip, students learn to use cameras and take photographs, interview park employees and other park visitors. They learn a tremendous amount about the park’s geological history as well as about the animals that dwell there.

“The students’ trips are entirely covered financially, through donations, fundraisers, and grants.” Riley noted, Costs for the trip include renting passenger and cargo vans for the drive out, hotel rooms, campsites, food, snacks, souvenirs (each student receives a Yellowstone sweatshirt and t-shirts), cots, sleeping bags, and any other essentials the students might need – like hiking boots.

Those interested in getting involved can call Jim Waldo at 937-239-3937, Bill Riley at 812-621-1965, or email the organization at Y2Y@YouthToYellowstone.ORG .

Donations for the Youth to Yellowstone of Ripley County trips can be made securely online at www.YouthToYellowstone.org or by sending a check to Youth to Yellowstone of Ripley County, P.O. Box 42, Milan, Indiana 47031. Riley added, “Members of the board are also available to present Youth to Yellowstone of Ripley County to organizations throughout the county.”