Towering waterfalls, rich wildlife, and the ever-recognizable Old Faithful geyser.

Every day, thousands of visitors arrive at Yellowstone National Park hoping to witness those sights. This summer, two Chambers College students are helping make those experiences happen.

As Hospitality and Tourism Management students, Makena Vass and Elsie Rector are getting a firsthand look at what it takes to serve guests at one of the country's busiest tourist destinations.

Yellowstone is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S., routinely seeing more than 4 million visitors each year, with the summer months being the peak season. For many, visiting the park can be a unique and memorable experience, but also an expensive and stressful one.

One goal of hospitality professionals is to minimize the stress of travel and create memorable guest experiences.

Preparing students to face the challenges that go into creating those memorable experiences is a central goal of the Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Chambers.

Makena Vass, a senior graduating in December, is interning at Xanterra Travel Collection, a concessioner that manages in-park lodging, dining, camping, and tour activities in the national park.

With an interest in outdoor recreation and adventures, Vass was originally in WVU’s Adventure Media program, where students learn about content creation. However, Vass wanted to find something that would let her work more directly with people, and that led her to the Chambers College’s hospitality program.

When it came time to find an internship to learn more about the industry, Vass knew she wanted to focus on keeping that outdoor adventure aspect.

“I love hiking and outdoor recreation of all sorts, so when I was looking for an internship, I wanted something that would still let me have that,” Vass said.

Vass’ internship gives her a taste of everything that comes with helping guests at a resort in a national park. She works the front desk, advises guests on outdoor activities, and will cycle between other jobs like being a line cook or a housekeeper. The internship also teaches Vass about the history of the company and the park.

“Learning more about the history of the park is important, because guests will have questions about that all the time. It’s very relevant to working in Yellowstone, gaining that wealth of knowledge that I think benefits everyone.”

After work is over, Vass takes time to explore the park. Being from Maryland, the landscape is a loud contrast to what she’s normally used to.

While Vass is thrilled either way to intern in the area of such a renowned national park, having an internship is actually a critical requirement for the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program. The requirement reflects the program's emphasis on experiential learning, where students often learn best by doing.

Hospitality and Tourism Management program director Frank DeMarco said the program works diligently to connect students with possible internships to fulfill that requirement.

“We have a lot of guest speakers, we have a lot of networking opportunities,” DeMarco said. “So we give our students the opportunities to meet people in the industry and make those connections. The other thing is that our college has the best Center for Career Development in the University.”

At the Chambers Center for Career Development, students get access to various resources, including career exploration and coaching, the Career Closet, access to internship support funds, and knowledge of career fairs and networking events.

The resources at Chambers can help prepare students for internships all over the country. In Elsie Rector’s case, she’s interning just beyond Yellowstone’s borders.

Rector, who will be a senior this Fall, is interning at Under Canvas, a leader in upscale, outdoor hospitality located just outside Yellowstone. The company has a strong focus on “glamping,” or, glamorous camping, and offers guests safari-inspired accommodations with large tents and scenic views.

Rector’s role at her internship is to guide guests with knowledge about the park and the various outdoor activities they can try.

According to Rector, the internship has shown her what to expect when helping guests, and some of those experiences were mirrored in her coursework.

“When I first got here I was like ‘Oh my gosh, we did this exact thing in the classroom,’” Rector said.

Rector said she also gets opportunities to shadow staff members at the resort, getting to see how different job duties help the guest experience.

As the president of the Hospitality Club at Chambers, Rector is passionate about the industry, especially when it comes to tourism and the “unplugged” experience. Under Canvas specializes in giving guests an experience that helps them disconnect from the outside world.

When she has time, Rector likes to have that “unplugged” experience as well, taking several opportunities to explore Yellowstone and the surrounding area.

“This summer I have spent a lot of time hiking,” Rector said. “I also went to Grand Teton National Park not long ago. There have been a lot of mini road trips in between the work weeks.”

While Vass and Rector are spending the summer in Yellowstone, faculty believe the experience they gain can have an impact much closer to home.

Dr. Meridith Balas, the Director of the Nemacolin Hospitality Lab at Chambers, said when students learn about hospitality and tourism at renowned places, like a major national park, it helps strengthen their communities back home as well.

“Experiences like these allow students to learn from some of the most iconic destinations and tourism operators in the country, then bring those ideas, best practices, and fresh perspectives back home,” Balas said. Whether they’re studying visitor experiences in Yellowstone or working in luxury outdoor hospitality, they’re developing skills that can ultimately strengthen tourism, recreation, and economic development right here in West Virginia.”

Tourism is a major part of West Virginia’s economy. In 2024, the state saw a record 77.2 million visitors, and the tourism industry accounted for roughly 1 in every 15 jobs across West Virginia.

“West Virginia’s tourism and outdoor recreation industries are growing rapidly, and preparing the next generation of leaders for those fields is an important part of our mission,” Balas said.