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Alberta

Outdoor Adventure in the Canadian Rockies With Your Grandchild

Program No. 21822RJ
On this active adventure with your grandchild, discover the Canadian Rockies by raft and on horseback and watch for grizzly bears, eagles and mountain goats in the wild!

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Age 9 - 12
ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
DATES
Jul 7 - Jul 13, 2024
Per Adult
3,299
Per Child
2,299
Select
Jul 7 - Jul 13, 2024
3,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
3,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
4,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
Select Date
Jul 21 - Jul 27, 2024
Per Adult
3,299
Per Child
2,299
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Jul 21 - Jul 27, 2024
3,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
3,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
4,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
Select Date
Aug 4 - Aug 10, 2024
Per Adult
3,299
Per Child
2,299
Select
Aug 4 - Aug 10, 2024
3,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
3,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
4,299
/ Adult
2,299
/ Child
Select Date

At a Glance

Take a deep breath and take in a huge gulp of some of the freshest air you’ll ever breathe as you visit the Canadian Rockies with your grandchild. Together you’ll experience the beauty of the majestic mountains along the Bow River trail from the saddle of a friendly horse. Explore the glittering waters of Lake Louise, and observe grizzlies from a gondola in one of the best places on earth to see these magnificent creatures in real life. The Rockies are just waiting for your curious, enthusiastic discovery.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Walking two miles daily, stairs, river float on Class II to III rapids. Elevations up to 5,700 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.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Float along the gentle natural roller coaster of Kicking Horse River by white water raft.
  • Explore Yoho National Park, home to timber wolf, lynx, cougars, black bears, moose and more, and learn about Burgess Shale fossils.
  • See a train looping over and under itself as it figure-eights through snowcapped mountains via the amazing Spiral Tunnels.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 9-12. For a comparable family adventure for all generations, check out "Outdoor Adventure in the Canadian Rockies With Your Family" (#23439)!
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Sonya Pollock
Sonya Pollock grew up in Calgary, Alberta and loved taking trips out to the Rocky Mountains as a child. These trips with her family solidified her love of nature and wildlife. Her passion for helping animals resulted in her pursuit of an MSc in animal behavior and welfare where she studied thermoregulation in the Indian rhinoceros. She’s currently a Ph.D. candidate in wildlife ecology at the University of Alberta where she studies grizzly bear habitat selection in Banff National Park.

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

Profile Image of Brenda Blair
Brenda Blair View biography
A summer job as a general studies student changed Brenda Blair’s life forever. She spent eight years living in Cold Lake before moving to Sydney, Australia for a few more. For the past twenty years Brenda has lived in Calgary, being involved in adult education as well as having a particular interest in vintage and historic aircraft. That had her working for a number of years at the Aero Space Museum of Calgary, bringing her passion to life for visitors.
Profile Image of Sonya Pollock
Sonya Pollock View biography
Sonya Pollock grew up in Calgary, Alberta and loved taking trips out to the Rocky Mountains as a child. These trips with her family solidified her love of nature and wildlife. Her passion for helping animals resulted in her pursuit of an MSc in animal behavior and welfare where she studied thermoregulation in the Indian rhinoceros. She’s currently a Ph.D. candidate in wildlife ecology at the University of Alberta where she studies grizzly bear habitat selection in Banff National Park.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
A Prairie as Wide as the Sea: The Immigrant Diary of Ivy Weatherall
by Sarah Ellis
Ivy Weatherall and her family leave a comfortable life in London for the promised riches of Canada's expanding West. Expecting to make their fortunes on Uncle Alf's ranch, the Weatheralls are shocked to find themselves living in a sod hut on a rented farm. Ivy is determined to taste life to the fullest, whatever hardships she may encounter. Writing in her diary, she recounts learning the new skills expected of a young farm girl. She struggles to help the family survive, but ultimately learns that responsibility brings its rewards.
Rocky Mountain Nature Guide
by Andy Bezener
This guide includes information on mammals, fish, birds, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, insects and reptiles from the entire span of the Rockies - Alaska to New Mexico. Featuring over 300 exact full-color illustrations.
Rocky Mountains
by Jonathan Grupper
This National Geographic "Destinations" book, featuring breathtaking color photographs, introduces the wildlife and terrain of the Rocky Mountains. Geared for kids ages 6 to 12.
As Long As the River Flows
by Larry Loyie
In the 1800s, the education of First Nations children was taken on by various churches, in government-sponsored residential schools. Children were forcibly taken from their families in order to erase their traditional languages and cultures. As Long as the Rivers Flow is the story of Larry Loyie's last summer before entering residential school. It is a time of learning and adventure. He cares for an abandoned baby owl and watches his grandmother make winter moccasins. He helps the family prepare for a hunting and gathering trip
The Great Rocky Mountain Nature Factbook
by Susan Ewing
Ewing's family-friendly guide, with black-and-white drawings throughout, answers the curiosity of engaged visitors about the plants, animals and natural features of the Rockies.
Lost in the Barrens
by Farley Mowat
Two brothers face the wilderness with no food and little hope of rescue when their canoe is destroyed by the rapids in this tale of adventure for ages ages 9-12. To survive, they build an igloo, battle a towering grizzly bear, track several wolves, slaughter caribou for food and clothing. They tame two lost huskies for companionship -- and maybe a way home.
Raven's End
by Ben Gadd
A young raven, with no memory of his past, arrives to the beautiful and dangerous landscape of Yamnuska, Banff. A book that looks at the complex world of ravens.
This Wild Spirit: Women in the Rocky Mountains of Canada
by Colleen Skidmore
In 1912, Mary Vaux, a botanist, glaciologist, painter, and photographer, wrote about her mountain adventures: “A day on the trail, or a scramble over the glacier, or even with a quiet day in camp to get things in order for the morrow's conquests? Some how when once this wild spirit enters the blood…I can hardly wait to be off again." Vaux's compulsion was shared by many women whose intellects, imaginations, and spirits rose to the challenge of the mountains between the late-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries. This Wild Spirit explores a sampling of women's creative responses—in fiction and travel writing, photographs and paintings, embroidery and beadwork, letters and diaries, poetry and posters—to their experiences in the Rocky Mountains of Canada.
Reading The Rocks, A Biography of Ancient Alberta
by Monique Keiran
Scientists at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology and natural history writer Keiran worked together to bring about this vividly detailed account of Alberta’s rich geological history, beginning with the Big Bang and traveling into the modern era. Includes over 200 full-color photographs and 45 maps, timelines and line drawings.
Switchbacks, True Stories from the Canadian Rockies
by Sid Marty
A native Albertan and park warden in the Canadian Rockies, Marty relates colorful anecdotes from friends, colleagues and his own youth in this collection of tales, which includes A Horse Named Candy.
The Amazing Death of Calf Shirt and Other Blackfoot Stories, Three Hundred Years of Blackfoot History
by Hugh A. Dempsey
A wonderful collection of stories, illuminating the history of the Blackfoot people of the prairies of southern Alberta and northern Montana.
All Fall Down: The Landslide Diary of Abby Roberts
by Jean Little
After her father dies, Abby and her family move west to live with relatives who run a hotel in the mining town of Frank, Alberta. Abby keeps busy helping out at the hotel, being chief caregiver to her little brother with Down Syndrome, and learning Morse code at the telegraph office. When the devastating Frank Slide buries much of the town, Abby must do all she can to help. But a long-buried family secret emerged just before the disaster — and now she will have to wait for the dust to settle before getting the answers she so desperately wants. Inspired by two of her own relatives, one who helped run a telegraph office in the late 1800s and another who shares Abby's story (and her family secret), Jean Little crafts a compelling story rich with emotion and historical detail.
Stories from Where We Live, The Great North American Prairie
by Sara St. Antoine, Paul Mirocha (Illustrator), Trudy Nicholson (Illustrator)
An anthology of writings about this North American ecoregion, from Alberta and Saskatchewan south to Texas -- wonderfully useful as a young person's guide to people, nature and place.
Mark of the Grizzly
by Scott McMillion
McMillion gives readers a thorough understanding of the behavior of these magnificent, yet deadly creatures through examples of encounters gone very wrong.
Scats and Tracks of the Rocky Mountains
by James Halfpenny, Todd Telander (Illustrator)
An essential pocket guide to tracks, scats and signs of not just the mammals of the region, but also of the reptiles, amphibians and birds. Each of 70 species gets a double-page spread, with line drawings of the animal, scat and track, range map and description.
After the Ice Age: The Return of Life to Glaciated North America
by E.C. Pielou
Eighteen thousand years ago, an immense sheet of ice covered all of present day Canada and northernmost U.S. This story tells of how a harsh terrain was transformed into the environment we know today.
The Rocky Mountain Berry Book
by Bob Krumm
In an inspired move, Bob Krumm included recipes in this family oriented field guide to 15 berry species of the Rockies. Now children may pick and parents may cook, and everyone will be pleased.
Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
by Ben Gadd
Geology, plants, animals, history and recreation from Waterton/Glacier to the Yukon.
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7 days
6 nights
15 meals
6 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Calgary, Alberta
D
Best Western Plus Port O'Call Calgary Airport Hotel

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby 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.

Dinner: 6:00 p.m.at the hotel.

Evening: 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. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips with our knowledgeable Group Leader. 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. 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.

DAY
2
Calgary Zoo, Heritage Park, Transfer to Banff
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Rundlestone Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven terrain. Wear sturdy shoes.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and set out on a field trip to the Calgary Zoo. We will encounter animals that call the prairies, sub-alpine forests and Rocky Mountains home. As we wander along forested paths, we’ll see natural enclosures where brown bears can bathe in a pond, bison survey the land, and cougars and wolves nap in the sun. The Canadian Wilds section of the Calgary Zoo is also home to Skoki, a rescued Grizzly bear, whose story illustrates the sometimes sad consequences of human/bear interaction. Next, we will ride to Heritage Park Historical Village.

Lunch: At Heritage Park.

Afternoon: At Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada’s largest living history museum, we’ll step back in time to a village that depicts the history of Western Canada from the 1860s through the 1930s. Costumed interpreters help tell the story of Canada’s past with exhibits featuring steam trains, antique automobiles, and historical buildings that were transported to the park furnished and decorated with genuine artifacts. We will then transfer to Banff and check in to our hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
Banff National Park: Johnston Canyon, Cave and Basin Site
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Rundlestone Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 42 miles, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours riding time plus stops. Walking up to 2 miles; pavement and groomed trails, some stairs, uneven terrain at historic site.

Breakfast: At the hotel

Morning: We will hop aboard the motorcoach and ride to begin our exploration of Banff National Park at Johnston Canyon. This spectacular canyon has been formed over thousands of years by the waters of Johnston Creek passing over limestone as it approaches the Bow River. The creek has cut through the limestone rock to form sheer canyon walls, as well as waterfalls, tunnels, and pools. We’ll traverse sturdy iron catwalks while the waters of the creek flow beneath our feet. As we go, we’ll scan the rocks and woods for abundant flora and fauna and keep an eye out for water ouzel — birds called dippers — that can usually be seen bouncing up and down on streamside rocks. These slate-grey birds are equipped with an extra eyelid that allows them to see underwater. They also have scales that close their nostrils when submerged.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: For our next expert-led field trip, we will ride to Cave and Basin National Historic Site, which gave birth to Banff National Park and the creation of Canada’s national park system. learn about the 1883 “discovery” of thermal hot springs, though First Nations people who had long known and revered this spot and the reputed healing power of the mineral-rich waters. We’ll understand why they regard the Cave and Basin as a sacred place as we see dancing lights in the cave’s bubbling waters.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: Tonight we will have a scavenger hunt.

DAY
4
Whitewater Rafting, Yoho National Park, Field Centre
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Rundlestone Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Getting on/off inflatable rafts; Whitewater rafting Class II to III, approximately 1.5 hours. Bring swimsuit and towel. Meticulously maintained and cleaned daily gear provided: neoprene wetsuits, booties, gloves, polar fleece sweaters, spray jackets, mandatory government-approved life jackets, helmets.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will board the motorcoach and ride to Yoho National Park, where this section of the Kicking Horse River offers fun and splashy waves and rapids along with beautifully scenic float sections. It is the ideal introduction to whitewater rafting. With river experts at the helm, we’ll navigate six Class II and Class III rapids during the journey downstream, approximately 1.5 hours. “Alarm Clock” rapid just moments after pushing off from shore is sure to wake everyone up. “Hopi’s Hole” will dowse us. We’ll learn how the Kicking Horse River earned its name, what wildlife inhabits the area, and what makes the river its beautiful color? We’ll also enjoy the quieter, upper reaches of the Kicking Horse River.

Lunch: At the River Base, we’ll have a barbecue.

Afternoon: Next, we will ride on to the Spiral Tunnels, where we will see the trains go through the feat of engineering that was safer than the previously used switchbacks. Yoho’s name derives from the Cree word for wonder and awe. It boasts an impressive array of wildlife and geological marvels. At Emerald Lake, named for its remarkable color, we’ll go on an expert-led trail walk to learn about the interesting plant species found here and at the Burgess Shale quarries along Fossil Ridge. We will also visit the nearby Field Interpretive Centre that has informative displays including one with Burgess Shale fossils. Parks Canada staff will be available to provide information and answer questions.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: We’ll have a kids’ paint night with a local artist inspired by nature.

DAY
5
Horseback Riding, Ranching, Free Time
Banff, Alberta
B
The Rundlestone Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off horses; riding approximately 1 hour along a riverbank.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will be matched with friendly horses and receive basic horseback riding instruction; no experience necessary. Helmets are mandatory and provided. We’ll then set out with lead and tail trail leaders and follow the Bow River on horseback. As we ride, keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife amongst the thick marshes and grassy meadows. We’ll pass by the birthplace of the Banff National Park, where craggy rock walls surround pools of bubbling thermal water. After returning, we’ll have a behind-the-scenes look at the horse stables, learn how a functioning ranch works, and about the daily activities of the staff. It’s not all romantic rides into the sunset!

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

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your 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. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy the local flavors of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Grizzly Bears, Lake Louise Gondola, Moraine Lake
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Rundlestone Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; pavement, groomed trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll learn from a wildlife expert about the role national parks play in grizzly bear conservation and how plants and animals have adapted to survive in this remarkable landscape. The Bow Valley is considered an internationally significant wildlife migration corridor within the Park and the Lake Louise area is notable for its critical grizzly bear, elk, lynx, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat habitat. As protected areas, the parks make an important contribution to grizzly bear conservation in the Rocky Mountain ecosystem. We’ll also learn how Parks Canada is conducting land use and management policies. We’ll then board a motorcoach and ride to the Lake Louise region. We'll board an open air chair lift at the Lake Louise Gondola that runs up and down the mountain. The grassy slopes below the gondola offer lush, rich vegetation and, if we’re lucky on our brief but exciting ride, we may be able to safely observe many of the different types of wildlife. We’ll also be able to views of the green waters of Lake Louise from the top of the mountain.

Lunch: A boxed lunch in a scenic area.

Afternoon: For our next field trip, we’ll ride to Moraine Lake. Surrounded by peaks and a deep teal color, this lake is nothing less than stunning and sits in the gorgeous Valley of the Ten Peaks. We will explore the area around Fairmount Chateau Lake Louise with our Group Leader and walk the trail around the lake. We’ll ride back to the hotel after our field trip.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We’ll gather for a wrap-up session and see a photo montage of our adventures. Then prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
7
Program Concludes
Banff, Alberta
B

Activity note: Group transfer departs Banff at 8:30 a.m., approximate arrival at Calgary airport 10:30 a.m. Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. at the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. 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!






Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.