Alberta

Great American Get-Together in Banff

Program No. 22397RJ
Join fellow Road Scholars in the heart of the Canadian Rockies to learn about the geology, ecology and culture of Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake and more.

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At a Glance

Experience the very best of Road Scholar as you join lifelong learners from around the country for a week in Banff National Park — Canada’s oldest National Park. In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, enjoy field trips and insightful presentations that give you an up-close look into the geological history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nature walks shed light on the ecology of Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake and more. Be introduced to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity by the Director of this world renowned institution, and get a taste of the arts scene during a private screening of the Banff Mountain Film Festival.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles at a moderate pace, on mostly groomed trails or pavement.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy an exclusive screening and discussions with experts at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival.
  • Journey along the Columbia Icefields Parkway and learn more about geological history and glaciology, then stop at the famous Athabasca Glacier.
  • Visit the world-famous Lake Louise as you learn about the challenges the future holds for these gems of Canada’s wilderness.

General Notes

Max of 75 participants, divided into groups for activities.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Jennifer Royal
Jen Royal graduated with a bachelor’s in Canadian history from the Wilfred Laurier University and has over ten years of experience teaching, leading and interpreting history. She has worked at the Whyte Museum since 2014 in both the Education Department and the Archives and Library.

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

Profile Image of Brent MacDonald
Brent MacDonald View biography
Brent Macdonald has been a resident of the Canadian Rockies for almost 30 years. As a geology expert, he provides a wealth of knowledge about geography and geomorphology. Brent has had a diverse career as a freelance natural history interpreter, also working as a consultant for a geotechnical engineering company. He has shared his knowledge of geology and natural history as an interpreter and guest lecturer. Brent is also a certified mountain leader and ski instructor.
Profile Image of Colleen Campbell
Colleen Campbell View biography
Colleen is a Victoria, British Columbia native who has lived all over Canada and in many parts of the world. She holds three degrees in visual arts, has studied in the sciences and has worked as a wildlife field researcher, concentrating on coyotes and grizzly bears. She believes that studying wildlife means learning about all their interactions — plants and other animals — and about how and where they travel. Colleen was also full-time faculty at Mount Royal in Calgary for more than 30 years.
Profile Image of Andrea McPherson
Andrea McPherson View biography
Originally from Ontario, Andrea has settled into Calgary. Her love of travel has taken her around Canada and around the world. Andrea loves introducing visitors to the wonders of her home country of Canada and the vast range of experiences it has to offer. She is just as happy in the heart of a downtown metropolis as she is in the middle of the wild. From whale-watching to dog-sledding, from walks in downtown metropolises to the Rockies, Andreas has done it all.
Profile Image of Susan Carr
Susan Carr View biography
Susan Carr is a true nature lover. She studied geology in England — her home country — and expanded her knowledge of the Earth around her as she worked in the mining industry in both the U.K. and Western Canada. Susan moved to Canada over 30 years ago and loves exploring the mountains around her home in Calgary. Upon retirement, Susan began leading groups through the natural wonders of Heritage Park and discovered a love for sharing her knowledge of local history and nature with others.
Profile Image of Jennifer Royal
Jennifer Royal View biography
Jen Royal graduated with a bachelor’s in Canadian history from the Wilfred Laurier University and has over ten years of experience teaching, leading and interpreting history. She has worked at the Whyte Museum since 2014 in both the Education Department and the Archives and Library.
Profile Image of Jim Olver
Jim Olver View biography
Jim Olver is the director of guest services at Banff Centre for Creativity where he has worked for 34 years. Jim has a bachelor’s in geology and a master’s from the Ivey Business School. He spent the first 15 years of his Banff Centre career producing leadership seminars and workshops specializing in marketing and customer service. As campus historian, Jim enjoys recounting stories of Banff Centre history. Jim is very active exploring the Rocky Mountains and is an active curler – one of Canada’s iconic sports.
Profile Image of Ileana Nielsen
Ileana Nielsen View biography
Ileana was born and raised in the beautiful city of Montréal. She stayed in Montréal to attend McGill University where she studied nursing. Ileana’s career led her to Ottawa where she married and had two boys, and eventually led her family to Calgary where she currently lives. Ileana fit right into the outdoor lifestyle of the Canadian Rockies with her love of skiing, hiking and photography. Two years ago Ileana made the transition into the travel industry and loves introducing Canada to visitors.
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.
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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8 days
7 nights
18 meals
7 B 6 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 available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Getting on/off a hotel shuttle.

Afternoon: Arrivals and transfers to the hotel in Calgary. Program Registration: 4:00-6:00 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: At the hotel in Calgary.

Evening: Orientation: 7:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Great American Get Together (GAGT) program. GAGT programs involve a large group of participants from all over the country who get to learn about a wide variety of topics and themes from some of Road Scholar’s most acclaimed instructors. For some scheduled activities, participants will be divided into smaller groups. 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. Periods in the schedule labeled “Free time and “At leisure” offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable while going out to explore on your own, engaging in available activities independently, making new friends among fellow Road Scholars, or simply relaxing. The Group Leader will always 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.

DAY
2
Banff Exploration, Johnston Canyon, Geology Presentation
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Banff Centre

Activity note: Each group (max 30 participants) will depart with a Group Leader by motorcoach from Calgary to Banff, and for an exploration of Banff and area. Walking up to 2 miles, about 2 hours. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 140 miles, approximately 3.5 hours riding time. The entire group will come together for afternoon and evening presentations.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Two groups will set out via motorcoach from Calgary, for an exploration of the Banff area, including the town and the Banff Springs Hotel, a National Historic Site of Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While en route, we will learn about the importance of Canadian Pacific Railway and how it contributed to the building of Canada. As we travel the Minnewanka Scenic Route including Bankhead, an abandoned mining town and relic of Banff’s industrial past, we will see hoodoos and anthracite, notable landmarks and historic places, an underwater village, and learn about native history. We’ll stop at a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the classic Two Jack Lake of the Rockies. The other two groups will explore the Parks at Johnston Canyon, a deep rugged canyon with waterfalls and rushing waters. We’ll see how Johnston Creek has carved down into the limestone on the valley bottom, creating a spectacular and deep canyon. Along the way, we’ll make stops for interpretation, viewing, and photo opportunities. To enable animals to connect their habitats safely and protect motorists, Parks Canada has implemented wildlife crossings – underpasses and overpasses. If we’re lucky, we may spot deer, elk, mountain goats, longhorn sheep, bears, and wolves. Groups will switch activities for the morning of Day 7.

Lunch: At the Banff Centre.

Afternoon: We will discover the fascinating history and geology of the Canadian Rockies in a presentation at the center. Today’s glacial landscape was carved over the last 2.9 million years, during which there have been many ice advances and retreats. We’ll learn from a local geologist about mountain building, the different layers of rock and what they mean, and how the geology of the Canadian Rockies differs from the American Rockies. A second presentation will introduce us to the Banff Centre, during which we will learn from a Banff Centre insider about the state-of-the-art design and architecture of the premises as well as the art, its resident artists and leaders. Afterwards, we’ll embark on an in-depth exploration of the center – the artists in residence, recreation facilities, exhibits, and more.

Dinner: At the Banff Centre.

Evening: We will meet with an expert biologist and conservationist who will give a presentation on how to share the land with grizzly bears. The Bow Valley is considered an internationally significant wildlife migration corridor, contained within the Lake Louise area, it is notable for its critical grizzly bear, elk, lynx, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat habitat. As protected areas, the mountain national parks make a weighty contribution to grizzly bear conservation in the Rocky Mountain ecosystem. These parks can contribute refuge in the greater landscape but this requires special considerations for the way in which humans share the landscape with bears. During the presentation, we will also hear how Parks Canada is conducting land use and management policies.

DAY
3
Cave & Basin National Historic Site, Free Time
Banff, Alberta
B,L
The Banff Centre

Activity note: For Days 3, 4, 5, 6, each group (max 30 participants) will depart with a Group Leader by motorcoach to attend the daily field trips. The order of the days will change per group. Driving less than 1 hour on this day. Walking up to 1 mile, about 1 hour on pavement and boardwalks; some stairs at Cave and Basin site. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 90 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Extent and duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the Banff Centre.

Morning: We’ll transfer by motorcoach from the centre to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site to explore the birthplace of Canada's first National Park with a Parks Canada expert. The warm waters issuing from Sulphur Mountain have been long-known to aboriginal peoples and eventually these same hot springs became the centerpiece of Canada’s first national park (and the world’s fourth). While here, we will also stroll down to the warm marshes below the springs, easily accessible along a boardwalk, to see introduced tropical fish and warm-water plants. Bring binoculars! We’ll then return to the Banff Centre.

Lunch: At the Banff Centre.

Afternoon: 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.

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

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Banff Centre

Activity note: For Days 3, 4, 5, 6, each group (max 30 participants) will depart with a Group Leader by motorcoach to attend the daily field trips. The order of the days will change per group. Walking up to 2 miles, approximately 2.5 hours over the course of the day; well-maintained trails and pathways; easy, flat lakeside trail at Emerald Lake with no elevation gain. Stops along the way for interpretation. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 150 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time.

Breakfast: At the Banff Centre.

Morning: We’ll transfer by motorcoach to experience some of the foremost geological highlights of the Rockies on an expert-led walking field trip with our Group Leader to Yoho National Park. We’ll learn about the geology of the area in trailside discussions, and see some textbook examples of topics that were covered in the presentations.

Lunch: At a scenic spot, we'll enjoy boxed lunches.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll continue to Emerald Lake with a stop at the Spiral Tunnels on the way where we’ll hopefully see a train loop on top of itself like a snake as the front of the train goes 180 degrees in the opposite direction of the back of the train. At Emerald Lake, another jewel of the Canadian Rockies, we’ll go on an expert-led trail walk with our Group Leader to learn about the interesting plant species found here and at the Burgess Shale quarries along Fossil Ridge. Thanks to its position on the west side of the Great Divide in Yoho National Park, a 360-degree view from Emerald Lake showcases four very different environments: a huge avalanche path, the pine forest, a dry and dramatic alluvial fan and the towering trees of the rainforest. We’ll then return to the center.

Dinner: At the Banff Centre.

Evening: At your leisure.

DAY
5
Lake Louise, Grizzly Bears, Gondola, Moraine Lake
Banff, Alberta
B,L
The Banff Centre

Activity note: For Days 3, 4, 5, 6, each group (max 30 participants) will depart with a Group Leader by motorcoach to attend the daily field trips. The order of the days will change per group. Walking up to 2 miles; about 2 hours; pavement and/or groomed trails. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time.

Breakfast: At the Banff Centre.

Morning: Arriving by motorcoach at Lake Louise, we’ll meet with an expert biologist and conservationist who will give a presentation on how to share the land with grizzly bears. The Bow Valley is considered an internationally significant wildlife migration corridor, contained within the Lake Louise area, it is notable for its critical grizzly bear, elk, lynx, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat habitat. As protected areas, the mountain national parks make a weighty contribution to grizzly bear conservation in the Rocky Mountain ecosystem. These parks can contribute refuge in the greater landscape but this requires special considerations for the way in which humans share the landscape with bears. During the presentation, we will also hear how Parks Canada is conducting land use and management policies. Next, we will board the Lake Louise Gondola – one of the best places for a chance to see grizzly bears in their natural environment. If we’re lucky, we may experience this rare and awesome spectacle of nature from the comfort of an enclosed gondola. From atop a mountain, we’ll enjoy views of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake surrounded by peaks and a deep teal color – nothing less than stunning as it sits in the gorgeous Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Afterwards, we’ll take an expert-led trail walk with our Group Leader around Lake Louise and explore the grounds of the Chateau Lake Louise. Strolling along the lake shore, we’ll take in the beautiful views of the water and mountain peaks and visit Moraine Lake, one of the most photographed lakes in the area. We’ll then return to the Centre.

Dinner: On your own in Banff to enjoy the local fare, or you may wish to join the Group Leader at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Icefields Parkway
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Banff Centre

Activity note: For Days 3, 4, 5, 6, each group (max 30 participants); the order of the days will change per group. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 235 miles throughout the day, approximately 5 hours total riding time.

Breakfast: At the Banff Centre.

Morning: We’ll start the day traveling along the famed and scenic Icefields Parkway, one of the most impressive stretches of scenic driving in Canada. The highway follows a lake-lined valley between two chains of the Eastern Main Ranges, which make up the Continental Divide. The mountains here are the highest, craggiest, and maybe the most scenic in all of the Canadian Rockies. En route, we’ll learn more from our Group Leader about the geological history and glaciology of the Athabasca Glacier, and about the ever-changing landscape. At several points along the way we’ll stop to enjoy some scenic overlooks.

Lunch: At a scenic spot along the Parkway, we will stop for boxed lunches.

Afternoon: We’ll continue our motorcoarch exploration of the Icefields Parkway while making our way back to Banff. En route we will stop at scenic overlooks to enjoy the turquoise lakes, mountain-framed valleys and raging waterfalls.

Dinner: At the Banff Centre.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Early Explorers, Johnston Canyon, Banff Film Screening
Banff, Alberta
B,L,D
The Banff Centre

Activity note: Scenic canyon trail walk is approximately 1.5 miles to the waterfall and back (with time to rest in between). Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. The entire group will come together for the Film Screening from the Banff International Film Festival.

Breakfast: At the Banff Centre.

Morning: An expert from the Whyte Museum will join us at the Banff Centre for a presentation focused on the early explorers of the region. We’ll learn about the historical and current figures that have shaped the mountain culture landscape, including the women whose lives are part of a legacy of backcountry travel, ranching, climbing, scientific research, writing, drama, and art. Afterwards, we’ll transfer via motorcoach with our Group Leader for an exploration of the Bow Valley and Johnston Canyon. The entire area is rich with wildlife; watch the cliffs for bighorn sheep and the swamps for elk and wolves. Exploring Johnston Canyon with our Group Leader on foot, we’ll hike through a deep rugged canyon with waterfalls and rushing waters and see how Johnston Creek has carved its way into the limestone on the valley bottom and created a remarkable canyon in a relatively short period of time. Along the way, we’ll make stops for interpretation, viewing, and photo opportunities. Groups will switch field trips the same as Day 2. We’ll then return to the Centre by motorcoach.

Lunch: At the Banff Centre.

Afternoon: We will attend a screening at the Banff Centre of short films from the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival; the works are bursting with stories of profound journeys, unexpected adventures, and groundbreaking expeditions told by renowned authors, photographers, adventurers, and filmmakers from around the globe. There will be pre- and post-viewing discussions about the festival and the film with an expert from the Banff Centre.

Dinner: At the Banff Centre. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer to Calgary Airport in the morning.

DAY
8
Transfer to Calgary Airport, Program Concludes
Banff, Alberta
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the Banff Centre.

Morning: Departing Banff, group transfers to Calgary International Airport will start at 7:30 a.m. Our earliest expected arrival time is 9:30 a.m. 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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