Spaceships & Surfboards: Cocoa Beach With Your Grandchild

Program Registration: 3:00 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. Orientation. 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 any questions you may have. 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. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Meals will be provided at the hotel and a variety of local restaurants. 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. 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 hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will hop aboard a motorcoach and start our learning adventures with a self-directed exploration of the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. In addition to being the main launch site for NASA, the center houses facilities that are researching and developing innovative solutions for working and living on the surfaces of the Moon and other bodies in our solar system. Be sure to check out the “Heroes & Legends” exhibit, an amazing new addition to Kennedy Space Center that celebrates pioneers of NASA’s early space programs. After our self-directed exploration, we will gather in a private room where we’ll be joined by an astronaut who will tell us about their exciting experiences in space and working with NASA. There will be photo opportunities.

At the Kennedy Space Center.

Our Kennedy Space Center field trip will continue with more self-directed exploration. Don’t miss the Apollo/Saturn V Center to explore the exhibits surrounding these two series of missions. The giant F1 thruster engines of the Saturn V moon rockets that took the first humans to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s are showcased here along with command modules from Apollo XIV, space suits, and real lunar samples we can touch. Also on display is the monumental 363-foot rocket that was launched 13 times from the Kennedy Space Center. We will then depart for dinner.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll spend the evening with our fellow Road Scholars and show off all of our newfound space knowledge with a trivia game about outer space.

At the hotel.

We’ll grab our swimwear and walk across the street for a group surf lesson on the beach. The instructors will provide a water safety lesson before we learn the basics of surfing. By the end, we’ll be amazed at how well we are doing. Grandparents are welcome to join grandkids in this activity, or relax in the Florida sun and take pictures of loved ones having fun while learning.

On the beach, we’ll have box lunches.

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. Grandparents will stay with grandkids who want to continue practicing surfing skills.

At the hotel.

We will gather with our expert instructors who will give us an exclusive presentation about their experiences riding the waves and tales of “hanging ten.”

At the hotel.

We’ll ride back to Kennedy Space Center with our multi-day passes for what we might have missed during our self-directed exploration last time. If you haven’t tried them out already, opportunities for independent exploration include IMAX movies, the Shuttle Launch Experience, and Astronaut Training Simulators. We’ll then depart for lunch.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll board our motorcoach for a field trip to explore Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Upon arrival at the visitor center, we’ll settle in for a interactive talk by a park ranger to introduce the park and its wonderfully varied habitats. Next, we’ll learn more about the park's animals inhabitants at the observation deck, followed by a scenic wildlife drive around the refuge.

At the hotel.

At the hotel, we will enjoy a live animal show featuring species such as alligators, snakes, arachnids, and other reptiles.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach and ride to the launch point for a kayaking field trip around the harbor islands. Our kayaking leaders will give us a presentation on safety and proper technique before we grab paddles. They will also do their best set course to give us the best experience with current conditions. Paddling in tandem kayaks, grandparents and grandkids will have the opportunity to see wildlife that may be present such as manatees and various species of birds. Remember, wild animals come and go on their own schedules! We’ll return to the hotel after our field trip.

At the hotel.

We’ll have some “down time” to do what we like. It might be taking advantage of the stretch of Cocoa Beach across from the hotel, enjoying the great outdoors, spending time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relaxing. We’ll rendezvous at an announced time and place and ride from the hotel to Golf N Gator. There we'll be able to play up to two rounds of mini golf in a tropical landscape.

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

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel.

We’ll get certificates of completion to take home with us. This concludes our program. 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!