Magical Yosemite With Your Grandchild: Trains, Gold & Robots

Activity note: Check-in available from 3:00 p.m. You are welcome to arrive early if you wish, but you may not be able to check in until the indicated time. Walking about 1 mile around the camp; some uneven terrain and inclines as it is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Afternoon: Program Registration 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the main meeting room to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. After check-in, take time to relax before our get-acquainted social hour, which will be followed by Orientation. Orientation. 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. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren during the program. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. 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. After going through logistical information, we’ll set out on foot with our Group Leader to explore the camp, see the recreation fields, hiking trails, game room, and much more before ending up in a classroom where we'll play a short game that will help us get to know each other. It's going to be a great week!

Dinner: In Lyles Hall at the camp, we’ll have a buffet meal with juice, coffee, tea and water included.

Evening: Afterwards, we’ll gather for an introductory video on Yosemite with a group discussion. Then continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, gardening, yoga, etc.). Walking about 3 miles; approx. 2 hours; elevation gain of roughly 400 feet. Driving approximately 35 miles each way on country roads; about 3 hours total. Train ride is about 4 miles; approx. 1 hour long.

Breakfast: In Lyles Hall, we’ll have a buffet meal, plus juice, coffee, tea, water included. While we’re here, also take some time to make and pack your own sack lunch from an assortment of choices so we can take it with us.

Morning: Setting out from our accommodation, we’ll board our bus and take a short drive up to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad where we will learn from a railroad employee who will teach us how to pan for gold while also telling us about the California Gold Rush. Also while here, we’ll hop on a steam engine train for a ride with our railroad expert as we learn about the area’s fascinating logging history.

Lunch: At the Railroad, we’ll have our sack lunches.

Afternoon: We’ll then board our bus and transfer to Yosemite National Park where our Study Leader will lead a hike. All the while aboard the bus and on the trail, our Study Leader will offer commentary on the surrounding area and its history. Bring your camera! We’ll then return to the camp via bus.

Dinner: Lyles Hall buffet.

Evening: Each evening at the camp we’ll gather for a group activity. Whether a performance by local musicians or artists, a live animal or historical presentation, or lectures on the human and cultural history of the area, our presenters are all experts in their field and they love to share their knowledge of Yosemite with others. Lucky us!

Activity note: Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, gardening, yoga, etc.). Walking about 2.5 miles throughout the day; uneven, unpaved terrain. Be sure to bring swimwear and a towel for the afternoon activity at the pool. Driving approx. 42 miles total for the day with stops throughout for field trips; about 1/2 hour aboard vehicle at a time.

Breakfast: Lyles Hall buffet. Be sure to prepare your sack lunch to take along on our field trips.

Morning: After transferring via bus, we’ll set out on foot with our instructor to explore the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias with commentary as we go. Get ready to walk among some of the oldest and largest species on earth!

Lunch: In the forest among the enormous Sequoias, we’ll have our sack lunches.

Afternoon: Then, we’ll jump back on the bus and head over to the Baker Swim Complex where we will use their facilities to learn about robotics from our instructor before getting to experiment with how to make and maneuver underwater robots! Before we go, take some time to enjoy a swim in the experiment "tank" – a swimming pool.

Dinner: Lyles Hall buffet.

Evening: We’ll gather for a fun group activity at the camp!

Activity note: Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, gardening, yoga, etc.). Walking distance, duration and terrain dependent on personal preference. Driving approx. 35 miles each way on country roads; about 3 hours total.

Breakfast: Lyles Hall buffet.

Morning: We’ll start out the day by boarding the bus for travel along winding, beautiful mountain roads to Yosemite National Park where we’ll gaze at the woodland terrain through the conifer forest, which drops down into the glacially-carved valley of Yosemite. Upon arrival, enjoy the rest of the morning as Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You may wish to explore areas such as the Ansel Adams Gallery or the Indian Village.

Lunch: Enjoy your sack lunch on your own wherever you wish.

Afternoon: Continue to enjoy free time before returning to Shuttle Stop #7 for return to ECCO in the afternoon.

Dinner: Lyles Hall buffet.

Evening: We’ll get to spend some time with fellow participants and roast marshmallows around a campfire.

Activity note: Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, gardening, yoga, etc.). Walking about 3-4 miles throughout the day; mostly flat, paved or graveled paths. Driving approx. 35 miles each way on country roads; about 3 hours total. Be sure to bring swimwear and a towel for the afternoon activity at the pool.

Breakfast: Lyles Hall buffet.

Morning: After transferring back to Yosemite, we’ll explore Yosemite Valley with our Study Leader, beginning with a stop at Tunnel View, a picturesque vista right off the road that serves as the first view of Yosemite Valley through the south entrance. Continuing via bus, we’ll take a short ride to Bridalveil Fall where we’ll set out on a short hike with our Study Leader. Carrying on, we’ll also see other historical sites in the Valley en route.

Lunch: In the amphitheater area of Yosemite Lodge, we’ll eat our sack lunches.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll take some time to cool off, relax, and have some summer fun at the swimming pool at Yosemite Valley Lodge. We’ll return to the camp in the mid-afternoon.

Dinner: Lyles Hall buffet.

Evening: We’ll gather for one more group activity. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Activity note: Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, gardening, yoga, etc.). Camp check-out is by 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Lyles Hall buffet.

Morning: We’ll gather for one more group session to share a photo slide show of our adventures together and say farewell to our new Road Scholar friends. 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 another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!