Hike, Paddle & Float: Outdoor Adventures in the Grand Tetons

Upon arrival at the Jackson Campus of Teton Science Schools, join us at the Road Scholar table in the Welcome Center to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

At the Jackson Campus of Teton Science Schools (TSS) Dining Lodge, we’ll enjoy a buffet dinner featuring a variety of healthy and balanced options created by our kitchen team, plus tea (iced/hot), lemonade, water.

The Site Coordinator will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review any updates to the daily schedule, discuss safety guidelines and emergency procedures including contact numbers for key staff, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. Participants will be subdivided into equal groups of participants plus the Group Leader. What follows is a representative schedule. The order of the elements each day will vary by group, but each group will have an opportunity to experience all scheduled activities. All transportation will be via mini-vans and mini-buses provided by Teton Science Schools. On the free evening, a shuttle bus will transport participants between the Jackson Campus and downtown Jackson. Jackson's free public bus service is available for transit around town. An inexpensive public bus runs between Jackson and Teton Village. Periods in the 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. Additionally, participants are welcome to sign-out of scheduled programming should they have other plans while visiting. 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.

At the Teton Science Schools Dining Lodge, enjoy a breakfast buffet with choices such as an egg dish, breakfast meat, cereals (hot/cold), fresh fruit and beverages (juice, coffee, tea, water).

We’ll start our day with a drive into Grand Teton National Park to hike near some of the most visually stunning mountains in the country. Today’s hikes will bring our groups through a series of habitats at the base of the Teton Mountain Range, where we can explore firsthand the effects of glaciation, fire, and more recent human influences on the landscape.

Along the trail in a scenic location, we’ll enjoy a packed field lunch.

We’ll continue our hike at the base of the Tetons, enjoying magnificent views as we learn about native wildlife. At the end of our hike, we’ll ride by mini-bus back to campus, stopping at the Craig Thomas Discovery Center in Grand Teton National Park for a self-led exploration. Opened in 2007, this impressive center has 22,000 square feet dedicated to education. Interpretive displays focus on people, place, and protection and provide an excellent educational overview of the natural and cultural resources of Grand Teton National Park.

Dining lodge buffet.

After dinner, the President of the Geologists of Jackson Hole will come to campus to give a presentation on the captivating geologic history of Grand Teton National Park and the surrounding area- empowering you to view the landscape through a different lens while adventuring through the week.

Dining lodge buffet.

We’ll depart early this morning to the Snake River for a scenic float trip, offering participants to experience a pristine riparian habitat, exquisite views of the Teton Range, and natural history commentary from a local expert. Chances abound to see moose, eagles, osprey, and beavers. Afterwards, we’ll dock, then ride about one mile to the Murie Ranch for lunch.

We will enjoy lunch at the beautiful and historic Murie Ranch - tucked off the beaten path in Grand Teton National Park.

We will explore the Murie Ranch, which is in the National Register of Historic Places, to learn about the lives of Mardy and Olaus Murie. Olaus Murie was a famous naturalist who lived and worked in Jackson Hole in the early and mid-1900s. He later went on to become the president of The Wilderness Society. His wife, Mardy, carried on his conservation ethic after he passed, and became known as “the grandmother of the conservation movement.” We’ll visit the log cabin ranch where they lived and worked to hear their incredible story from the Murie Ranch docent. Following our visit and a short walk around the property and surrounding trails, we will return to our accommodations.

Dining Lodge Buffet.

Settle in for an evening lecture focusing on the wildlife that reside in Jackson Hole and the challenges they face by sharing their home with us. The talk will be provided by a local expert and will be held on the Jackson Campus of Teton Science Schools.

Dining lodge buffet.

Today, we will be treated to a beautiful canoeing experience on String Lake in Grand Teton National Park. String Lake is one of the shallowest lakes in the Tetons, with an average depth of about five feet. Canoeing techniques, strokes, safety, and boat terms will be taught prior to getting on the water.

Packed field lunch.

We’ll continue canoeing on beautiful String Lake, or we can take a walk with our Group Leader along the shores. At the conclusion of our field trip, we will return to campus.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like from the selection of restaurants in downtown Jackson. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions. Shuttles from campus to downtown will be provided.

At leisure.

Dining lodge buffet.

Following breakfast, enjoy an expert led introduction to alpine ecology and culture in Jackson, WY. Following this lecture, journey to the base of the Tetons at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and take the aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. Climbing more than 3/4 of a mile above the valley floor to a final elevation of 10,450 feet, Rendezvous Mountain offers amazing views of the valley and the surrounding mountain range. Once we’ve reached the summit, our Group Leaders will offer choices for hikes that explore of the alpine environment and the unique flora and fauna found there. Our groups can choose a hike ranging from as little as 1/2 mile to as much as 5.5 miles.

Packed field lunch.

We’ll continue hiking one of the trails at the summit of Rendezvous Mountain and will return to the valley floor via the aerial tram or the gondola, depending on the hike you choose. For those who may choose not to hike, the views from the top of the tram are worth it all the same! Once there, we will enjoy some free time to explore the charming mountain village before returning to campus.

Celebrate the final night of your program with a Farewell Dinner, loosely themed after an Old West Cookout. We'll enjoy a chuckwagon-style dinner at the Dining Lodge of Teton Science Schools. An alcoholic beverage (beer or wine) is included in this meal, as well as tea, lemonade and water.

Relive a simpler time with an evening sharing stories around the campfire. Enjoy hearing local tales and share your own as you reminisce about the week with friends, new and old. Roasting a s'more is an added treat to an already special evening.

Dining lodge buffet.

After breakfast, we will begin to close the program with a little reflection before heading to our final field trip. To complete our program, we’ll head to the National Museum of Wildlife Art to explore the museum with an experienced docent. Resting upon a dramatic cliff overlooking the National Elk Refuge, the National Museum of Wildlife Art serves to enrich and inspire the relationship between humans and nature. The museum contains approximately 5,000 works of art, with exhibitions and programs that focus on wildlife of the world. Constructed to fit seamlessly into the landscape, the building was inspired by the ruins of Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

At the Palate restaurant at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, we will enjoy plated meals chosen from a seasonal menu selected by the executive chef. This concludes our program.

We hope you enjoy all your Road Scholar learning adventures and we look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. We encourage you to join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!