Learn Pickleball: Born in the Pacific Northwest!

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Orientation: After you have your room assignment, head to the conference room at 5:00 p.m. to meet with program staff and get any updated information. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. On the courts, we will learn from a dedicated pickleball instructor. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the Conference Room, we’ll enjoy a Northwest-style dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 80 miles to Mount Vernon, WA, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Two segments of pickleball court time – approximately 1.5 hours in the morning and 1.5 hours in the afternoon. Getting in/out of passenger vans.

Breakfast: We’ll each receive a voucher for breakfast in the lobby restaurant.

Morning: We’ll travel by motorcoach to the Skagit Valley College Campus in Mount Vernon, WA. We will begin at the new Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion on the Skagit Valley campus. Our instructor will acquaint us with the courts and cover the fundamentals of the game and proper warm-up techniques.

Lunch: We’ll have our box lunches at the Skagit Valley College campus.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’re back at the pickleball courts. Our afternoon instruction will focus on court positioning, strokes, and serving techniques. Next, we’ll board our vans and travel westward to La Conner. Settled in 1867, La Conner is filled with art, history, and scenic beauty. Many of the buildings in the town’s historic downtown corridor are listed on the National Historic Register. Upon arrival to the hotel, we’ll receive a hotel orientation and check in. Later in the afternoon, we’ll join the Group Leader for a walking orientation in the town of La Conner.

Dinner: We’ll take a short walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Evening: In the hotel conference room, our Group Leader will offer an insider’s look at contemporary life in the Skagit Valley and highlight what makes this fertile valley so special.

Activity note: Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 12 miles each way to/from Mount Vernon, over 1/2 hour total riding time. Two segments of pickleball instruction / play on the court – approximately 2 hours in the morning and 1.5 hours in the afternoon. Walking explorations to La Conner museums approximately 1/2 mile on paved sidewalks/paths. Walk to dinner is approximately 2 blocks on flat, paved paths.

Breakfast: In the hotel conference room.

Morning: We’ll travel by passenger vans to the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion on the Skagit Valley campus in Mount Vernon. Our instructor will cover strategic play, understanding the soft game. Later in the morning we’ll put what we’ve learned to use and practice dinking and drills.

Lunch: We’ll have our box lunches at the Skagit Valley College campus.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’re back at the pickleball courts. Our afternoon instruction will focus on court coverage and communication during doubles play. Following, we’ll practice with some doubles play! Next, we’ll board our vans and return to our hotel in La Conner. Upon arrival to the hotel, we’ll receive enjoy a presentation on the artistic community in La Conner. Later in the afternoon, you may explore the Museum of Northwest Art and the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum. Both are steps from our hotel and wonderfully unique gems!

Dinner: We’ll take a short walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 12 miles each way to/from Mount Vernon, over 1/2 hour total riding time. Two segments of pickleball instruction / play on the court – approximately 2 hours in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon. Walking explorations at Kukutali Preserve is approximately 1-mile loop on well-maintained gravel path, sandy in a few spots, with minimal elevation gain and loss.

Breakfast: In the hotel conference room.

Morning: We’ll travel by passenger vans to the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion on the Skagit Valley campus in Mount Vernon. Our instructor will cover advanced shot skills and net play. Later in the morning we’ll put what we’ve learned to use and practice lobbing, smashing and volleys.

Lunch: We’ll have our box lunches at the Skagit Valley College campus.

Afternoon: After lunch, we return to the pickleball courts. Our afternoon instruction will focus on specialty shots and footwork. Following, we’ll practice what we’ve learned today. Next, we’ll board our vans and travel to the Kukutali Preserve State Park Heritage Site. Located on Kiket Island on the Swinomish Reservation, Kukutali Preserve is the first Tribal State park in the US. We’ll learn from the Group Leader about the historic significance of this site as we enjoy the flora and fauna of this special land. Afterwards, we’ll return to the hotel.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in La Conner. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 12 miles each way to/from Mount Vernon, over 1/2 hour total riding time. Two segments of pickleball instruction / play on the court – approximately 2 hours in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon. Walking explorations at Deception Pass State Park Hiking about 1.5 miles with rolling terrain, dirt paths, gravel in some areas, uneven footing, some exposed rocks and roots on the trail. Walk to dinner is approximately 2 blocks on flat, paved sidewalks.

Breakfast: In the hotel conference room.

Morning: After breakfast, we’ll travel by passenger vans to the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion on the Skagit Valley campus in Mount Vernon. Our instructor will cover advanced game play and match strategy. Later in the morning we’ll put what we’ve learned to use and practice different scenarios and decision making during play.

Lunch: We’ll have our box lunches at the Skagit Valley College campus.

Afternoon: After lunch, we return to the pickleball courts for match play and mini-tournament. Next, we’ll board our vans and travel to the Deception Pass Gorge on Fidalgo Island. The Deception Pass area is a dramatic seascape where the tidal flow and whirlpools beneath the twin bridges connecting Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island move quickly. We'll take a short hike along the beach and bluff areas that offer picturesque vistas of the area and opportunities to spot wildlife. After, we’ll return to the hotel. Before dinner, in the hotel conference room, we'll have a short review of the program and tomorrow’s departure details.

Dinner: We’ll take a short walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.

Activity note: Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 12 miles each way to/from Mount Vernon, over 1/2 hour total riding time. Pickleball court play approximately 2 hours in the morning. Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles from La Conner to Seattle, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Drop-offs at SeaTac International Airport and the starting hotel will be around 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Scheduling outbound flights after 3:00 p.m. is advised.

Breakfast: In the hotel conference room.

Morning: After breakfast, we’ll travel by passenger vans to the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion on the Skagit Valley campus in Mount Vernon. We’ll return to the pickleball courts for match play and mini-tournament. Our instructor will provide feedback and analysis of match play. Next, we’ll board our vans and we’ll return to the hotel for check-out, after which we’ll board our motorcoach to return to Seattle.

Lunch: Aboard our motorcoach for Seattle, we’ll enjoy box lunches.

Afternoon: Arriving in Seattle, we will make drop-offs at SeaTac International Airport and the starting hotel. This concludes our program. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!