Afternoon: Orientation and refreshments in the Gathering Place at 4:30 p.m. Meet the program leaders, review the week's schedule and get to know one another.

Dinner: Sample regional cuisine in the lodge dining room.

Evening: Learn to identify constellations and observe celestial objects in the night sky during a Star Party at McDonald Observatory.

Lodging: Mountain Trails Lodge & Outdoor Learning Center

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served in the lodge dining room.

Morning: After breakfast, meet in the Gathering Place for a lecture on historic cowboy culture by a local western musician and championship chuckwagon cook. Later, a volunteer will guide you through Fort Davis National Historic Site, which depicts the history of buffalo soldiers, Native American inhabitants and skirmishes, and life at the fort for the families of the guardians of the Butterfield Overland Mail route and San Antonio-El Paso Road.

Lunch: Lunch in the lodge dining room.

Afternoon: Join staff at world-renowned University of Texas McDonald Observatory for a solar viewing program. Then tour the large research telescopes, including the world's third largest single structure optical telescope: the Hobby Eberly Telescope (HET).

Dinner: Enjoy your evening meal with staff and fellow participants at the lodge.

Evening: Discover the natural world of the Chihuahuan Desert and Big Bend region. Our presenter will explain the different landscapes and ecosystems, and discuss the unique flora of the area.

Lodging: Mountain Trails Lodge & Outdoor Learning Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Scenic River Road/Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center/Terlingua Ghost Town

Breakfast: Wake up with an early breakfast in the lodge dining room.

Morning: Depart for Lajitas. Travel through Marfa and Presidio, passing the historic silver mining town of Shafter and stopping at historic Fort Leaton along the way. Meander the scenic river road that hugs the Rio Grande. On arrival, check into the Lajitas Resort & Spa.

Lunch: The lodge will pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at a scenic location.

Afternoon: Learn about geology, botany and wildlife of the Big Bend region at the Barton-Warnock Environmental Education Center and Big Bend Ranch State Park visitor's center. In the Terlingua Ghost Town, experience the past on a docent-led walking tour of the abandoned mining community.

Dinner: Indulge in the unique culture that emerged in this community during its unusual rebirth over the past decades. Dine at the famous Starlight Theater, so named because for years it stood roofless while it entertained dancers and revelers.

Lodging: Lajitas Resort and Spa

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking & Exploring Big Bend National Park/ Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive/Chisos Basin

Breakfast: Mexican breakfast at the Chili Pepper Cafe.

Morning: Discover Big Bend National Park. Your program leader will set the pace depending on the interests and abilities of the group. You will visit the highlights, including the Chisos Basin, Castalon, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Santa Elena Canyon overlook, and Panther Junction visitor's center.

Lunch: Dig into a hearty picnic lunch at a scenic location in the field.

Afternoon: Continue to explore the vast expanses of this 800,000 acre national park. Participate in an optional hike along Lost Mine Trail to the scenic overlook.

Dinner: Tex-Mex specialties at the Chili Pepper Cafe.

Lodging: Lajitas Resort and Spa

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Further Exploration of Big Bend National Park / Rio Grande Village / Marathon's Post Park / Museum of the Big Bend

Breakfast: Breakfast served at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and return to Big Bend National Park to explore the eastern edge and riparian ecosystem at Rio Grande Village. Leave the national park by way of Marathon, stopping at the Post Pavilion watering hole enroute.

Lunch: Picnic lunch served enroute.

Afternoon: Return to Fort Davis by way of Alpine, stopping to learn about the history and cultures of the region at the Museum of the Big Bend on the campus of Sul Ross State University.

Dinner: Bring your appetite! Traditional West Texas barbeque, with all the fixin's, served in the lodge dining room.

Evening: Authentic, traditional western music and stories performed by a favorite local entertainer.

Lodging: Mountain Trails Lodge & Outdoor Learning Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Program ends after breakfast. Shuttle for those returning to the El Paso airport leaves at 8 a.m. Check out is 11 a.m. for those who arrived on their own.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served in dining room.

Meals Included: Breakfast