Naturalist on Skis
Explore Winter Forests on Cross-Country Skis
A winter adventure for curious skiers and lifelong learners. Come explore the forests at Crosscut and deepen your connection to place through our guided Naturalist on Skis sessions this winter! These sessions aim to connect our community with nature as participants learn to navigate the winter woods as a naturalist, reading the landscape and identifying the life that makes these lands so special.
Naturalist on Skis 2026
We can accommodate intermediate to advanced skiers, some experience on cross-country skis is required. No prior naturalist knowledge is necessary or expected! These classes will all be at a slow pace, but participants should be comfortable skiing over variable terrain (groomed trails and off trail in the powder). Classic skis are required for these sessions because the group may travel on the Narrow Gauge trails and off trail through powder. Ski rental packages are available.
Where: Crosscut Mountain Sports Center
Who: Participants 16 years of age and older. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Dates: Saturday, February 21st and Saturday, March 14th
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Cost: $20 for participants with their own skis; $30 for participants who need a rental package (includes skis, boots, & poles)
What’s included: Crosscut day pass, light ski instruction, and naturalist education from experienced instructors in the Bozeman community.
Questions? Contact education@outdoorscience.org with any questions about the program.
Winter 2026 Dates & Descriptions
Each session is different — join us for one or all of them!
February 21 – Reading the Stories of the Landscape with Isaac Newell
Explore the trails at Crosscut by learning how to read the landscape through observation. In this session, we’ll slow down and practice the art of noticing subtle details in our environment. Participants will learn how patterns, disturbances, and signs of life connect to reveal the broader story of the landscape.
Instructor Bio: Isaac is a naturalist and field instructor with experience teaching university-level ecological field studies courses in New Zealand and Hawaiʻi. His work has included research and field monitoring across a range of ecosystems, including shorebird migration, sagebrush steppe resilience to fire, winter raptor migration, native plant distribution on regenerative agricultural lands, and coral reef biodiversity surveys. Isaac holds a master’s degree in Land Resources from Montana State University and focuses on building naturalist skills that help people engage more intentionally with the ecosystems they move through.
March 14 – Winter Plants of the Bridgers with Dr. Matt Lavin
In this session, participants will have an opportunity to get acquainted with the plant species that surround Crosscut’s trails in the wintertime. In addition to basic plant identification, participants will learn more about the plant diversity and ecology of the common tree, shrub, and other plant species that are visible during the winter at Crosscut.
Instructor Bio: Matt is a retired professor from the Plant Sciences Department at Montana State University, where he researched and taught many facets of plant diversity and ecology for over 35 years. Matt's research emphasis has been on the sagebrush steppe in western North America and other highly seasonal environments such as seasonally dry neotropical woodlands and forests. Matt continues his education efforts through the Montana Native Plant Society and by posting plant photos to Flickr and as iNaturalist occurrence records.
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Refunds are not available for this program. If you are not able to make it, please let us know via email at education@outdoorscience.org.
