California

Magical Yosemite With Your Grandchild: Trains, Gold & Robots

Program No. 20349RJ
Create lasting memories on a uniquely Californian adventure with your grandchild as you ride a steam engine, pan for gold, construct robots and learn the story of Yosemite.

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Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

At a Glance

The best stories are the ones told around a camp fire – roast a marshmallow beside your grandchild and hear stories of Yosemite National Park and the pioneers who first explored this great wilderness. On this epic adventure, you’ll use your imagination to become a park ranger, prospector, train conductor and engineer as you pan for gold, ride a steam engine and build an underwater robot. Plus, hike through the magnificent domes, granite cliffs, meadows and Sequoia groves of Yosemite as you get to know this beautiful national park.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walk up to four miles daily on varied terrain. Elevations of 3,100-7,000 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Board a steam engine train for a ride through the sugar pine forest to learn about the gold rush and the area’s logging history.
  • Explore Yosemite from the spectacular cascading waters of Bridalveil Fall to the giant sequoia trees — the oldest and largest species on earth!
  • Head to the Baker Swim Complex to learn to create and manipulate a real underwater robot, and spend some swim time in the pool yourself!

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 8-12.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Doug Jensen
Doug Jensen recently retired after more than 20 years as an administrator in education, including eight years in developing and supervising Outdoor Environmental Education programs. One of the significant motivators behind his retirement was based upon his love for Outdoor Environmental Education and his desire to re-enter that field. He is so fortunate to live in an area where the Sierra National Forest is my yard boundary; I spend most of my free time exploring and learning new things about nature.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Doug Jensen
Doug Jensen View biography
Doug Jensen recently retired after more than 20 years as an administrator in education, including eight years in developing and supervising Outdoor Environmental Education programs. One of the significant motivators behind his retirement was based upon his love for Outdoor Environmental Education and his desire to re-enter that field. He is so fortunate to live in an area where the Sierra National Forest is my yard boundary; I spend most of my free time exploring and learning new things about nature.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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5 days
4 nights
11 meals
4 B 3 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Oakhurst
D
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst (ECCO)

Activity note: Check-in available from 4:00 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: 4:00-5:30 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, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. After check-in, take time to relax before our social hour to get acquainted, which will be followed by Orientation. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. 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. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. 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. We’ll then head into 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.

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.

DAY
2
Sugar Pine Railroad, Hike in Yosemite National Park
Oakhurst
B,L,D
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst (ECCO)

Activity note: Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, gardening, yoga, etc.). Walking about 3 miles, approximately 2 hours; elevation gain of roughly 400 feet. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 35 miles each way on country roads, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Getting on/off a train; riding about 4 miles, approximately 1 hour.

Breakfast: In Lyles Hall. While we’re here, take some time to make and pack your own sack lunch from an assortment of choices so we can take it with us. We will be doing this each full day of the program.

Morning: Setting out from our accommodation, we’ll board our bus and take a short drive up to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (8.3 miles, 15 minutes) 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. The current heritage railroad follows narrow gauge track that the former Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company (1874-1931) used in the early 1900s.

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

Afternoon: We’ll then board our bus and transfer to Yosemite National Park (35 miles, 1 hr. 15 min.) 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. (43 miles, 1 hr. 30 min.)

Dinner: In Lyles Hall.

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!

DAY
3
Explore Giant Sequoias, Create Underwater Robots
Oakhurst
B,L,D
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst (ECCO)

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

Breakfast: In Lyles Hall. 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 (15 miles, 30 min.) 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 (20 miles, 25 min.) 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: In Lyles Hall.

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

DAY
4
Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Nature Walk, Afternoon Swim
Oakhurst
B,L,D
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst (ECCO)

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. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 35 miles each way on country roads, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Be sure to bring swimwear and a towel for the afternoon activity at the pool.

Breakfast: In Lyles Hall.

Morning: We’ll return via bus to Yosemite, where we’ll explore Yosemite Valley with our Study Leader (39 miles, 1 hr. 30 min.), 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, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, the Merced River, and more.

Lunch: In the amphitheater area of Yosemite Lodge, we’ll have 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 (39 miles, 1 hr. 30 min.).

Dinner: In Lyles Hall.

Evening: We’ll gather for a campfire and sing-a-long with s'mores to wrap our week together. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
5
Wrap-up Slideshow, Program Concludes
Oakhurst
B

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

Breakfast: In Lyles Hall.

Morning: We’ll gather for one more group session to share a photo slideshow 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!






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