Arizona

Exploring & Rafting the Western Grand Canyon With Your Grandchild

Program No. 2519RJ

Explore the Western Grand Canyon with your grandchild as you whitewater raft the Colorado River, learn about the life of a cowboy and ride a helicopter above it all!

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Protecting the Environment

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

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768

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Age 9 - 13

	ROOMING OPTION PRICING The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
DATES
Jun 6 - Jun 11, 2023 Per Adult 1,899 Per Child 1,549 Select
Jun 6 - Jun 11, 2023	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	2,149 / Adult 1,549 / Child	Select Date

Jun 17 - Jun 22, 2023 Per Adult 1,899 Per Child 1,549 Select
Jun 17 - Jun 22, 2023	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	2,149 / Adult 1,549 / Child	Select Date

Jun 22 - Jun 27, 2023 Per Adult 1,899 Per Child 1,549 Select
Jun 22 - Jun 27, 2023	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	2,149 / Adult 1,549 / Child	Select Date

Jul 11 - Jul 16, 2023 Per Adult 1,899 Per Child 1,549 Select
Jul 11 - Jul 16, 2023	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	2,149 / Adult 1,549 / Child	Select Date

Jul 24 - Jul 29, 2023 Per Adult 1,899 Per Child 1,549 Select
Jul 24 - Jul 29, 2023	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	2,149 / Adult 1,549 / Child	Select Date

Jul 29 - Aug 3, 2023 Per Adult 1,899 Per Child 1,549 Select
Jul 29 - Aug 3, 2023	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	1,899 / Adult 1,549 / Child	2,149 / Adult 1,549 / Child	Select Date

Deposit, Transfer & Cancellation Policy

Program Terms & Conditions

Exploring & Rafting the Western Grand Canyon With Your Grandchild

Program No. 2519RJ Deposit at Enrollment: 100 Final payment due: 59 days before departure date

Transfer & Cancellation Policy

Note: These fees apply to at least one date of this program, but may vary by date.

If you transfer or cancel:

fee will be applied if you do not call Road Scholar Participant Services at least one business day prior to the program start date.

Transfer Fee: 100 % of order total

Cancel Fee: 100 % of order total

less than 14 days prior to program start date

Transfer Fee: 50 % of order total

Cancel Fee: 50 % of order total

55 to 14 days prior to program start date

Cancel Fee: $200.00

119 to 56 days prior to program start date

Cancel Fee: $100.00

up to 120 days prior to program start date

Cancel Fee: $50.00

up to 14 days prior to program start date

Transfer Fee: $0.00

If you transfer or cancel:	Transfer Fee:	Cancel Fee:
fee will be applied if you do not call road scholar participant services at least one business day prior to the program start date.	100 % of order total	100 % of order total
less than 14 days prior to program start date	50 % of order total	50 % of order total
55 to 14 days prior to program start date		$200.00
119 to 56 days prior to program start date		$100.00
up to 120 days prior to program start date		$50.00
up to 14 days prior to program start date	$0.00

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

For the greatest peace of mind and protection, we require all Road Scholar participants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including having received all recommended boosters if eligible.

Road Scholar Program Terms and Conditions

How to Enroll in a Program

Call Us or Enroll Online To enroll

Please call us toll free at (877) 426-8056, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. You may also enroll online at www.roadscholar.org. To reserve space on a program, Road Scholar requires a deposit followed by final payment.

Road Scholar is Not-For-Profit

Road Scholar is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that incurs over $5 million annually on credit card fees. Please help us reduce this cost by paying for your program with a check. Please consider our paperless check option when paying on the phone or over the Internet. Our Advisors are happy to explain this payment option to you.

Tax-Deductible Donations

As a not-for-profit organization, we appreciate and rely on charitable donations to help us develop and maintain high-quality educational programs with exceptional value. Donations from U.S. citizens are tax-deductible as provided by law. As Road Scholar is not a registered charity in Canada, donations are not tax deductible for Canadian citizens.

Financial Assistance

Road Scholar offers two kinds of assistance: Scholarships, for those with desire but not the financial means to participate in our U.S.- or Canada-based learning adventures; and Caregiver Grants, designed to provide a unique respite opportunity for unpaid family caregivers to participate in a U.S.- or Canada-based Road Scholar program. Visit www.roadscholar.org/about/financial-assistance/scholarships, email us at scholarships@roadscholar.org, or call us toll free at (877) 426-8056.

General Program Information

Activity Level Ratings

Each Road Scholar program is assigned an Activity Level rating, ranging from Easy Going to Challenging, which are noted on program webpages. Try our Advanced Search tool to find programs that match your activity level. If you have special needs, or need a little extra help in finding the right program for your level of fitness and ambition, please call us and we’ll work to find options for you.

Disabilities and Special Needs

Road Scholar is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to participants with special needs and disabilities. If you have special needs requiring accommodation, please communicate them to Road Scholar at the time of enrollment. We will discuss your request with you and make every effort to accommodate you.

Service Learning

Our Service Learning programs bring participants together to work as a team to serve worthy projects. Road Scholar and sponsoring service institutions are not-for-profit organizations and are tax-exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The program price may qualify as a tax-deductible gift. However, since individual circumstances vary, we suggest participants contact their tax advisors.

Included Emergency Assistance and Medical Evacuation Insurance

Road Scholar’s continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified in our Road Scholar Assurance Plan. Whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our programs overseas, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under the Road Scholar Assurance Plan. This plan is purchased by Road Scholar on behalf of every participant. The plan provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program and insurance for emergency medical evacuation. This plan includes insurance benefits underwritten by Arch Insurance Company and emergency assistance services provided by LiveTravel Assist. To learn more about this plan, including its terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions, and to view and download a certificate of insurance, please visit: www.roadscholar.org/about/included-insurance/

Travel Health

In addition to maintaining necessary vaccinations, including seasonal influenza vaccination, Road Scholar recommends all participants consult with their physician, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of State regarding their health condition and any recommendations specific to the destinations they will visit or transit well before departure. While Road Scholar does its best to provide pertinent information regarding international health requirements and travel health precautions for travel abroad, please remember we are not health experts and can only share with you the recommendations made by the CDC and the US Department of State. It It is therefore your responsibility to consult with your physician and/or contact the CDC for health information specific to your travel destination. Your physician will be able to assess your overall health and fitness, provide information and guidance on health risks you may encounter while traveling, medication you may need to take, and other precautions for the prevention of injury and illness during your program.

Here is guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on how to avoid contracting and spreading an illness.

Only travel if you are healthy. Stay home if you are sick, displaying any symptoms of potential sickness.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For those looking for additional resources on this topic, we recommend trusted sources such as your physician, the US Department of State, CDC, and WHO.

U.S. Department of State: www.travel.state.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/travel
World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int/

Your health and safety are of the utmost importance to us. To learn more about Road Scholar’s commitment to our participants’ well-being and the steps you can take to keep yourself healthy when traveling, please visit www.roadscholar.org/practical-information/general-health-safety/

Please also be sure to review our Travel Updates webpage for the latest travel information, steps we are taking to keep your program experience as safe as possible, as well as helpful information about how to prepare for your upcoming program and what to expect once you're there. www.roadscholar.org/practical-information/travel-updates/

Domestic Travel Arrangements

Programs in the United States and Canada require independent arrivals and departures unless otherwise stated, meaning that you must make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. If you are flying to your program, you will be responsible for getting yourself from the airport to the starting location of your program and returning to the airport at the end. Please keep in mind that many airlines assess penalties if you need to change or cancel your ticket— up to 100 percent of the ticket price in certain cases — for which you will be responsible. Please also be aware that Road Scholar may occasionally have to alter a program in a way that affects flight schedules, and you will be responsible for changing your flight arrangements and paying applicable fees. For the greatest protection, we recommend waiting until 60 days prior to your program in the United States or Canada to purchase airfare.

International Travel Arrangements

Road Scholar Can Help Arrange Your International Airfare

Almost all of our international programs can be purchased with airfare arranged by Road Scholar. We have negotiated special international rates with major airlines. A list of departure cities can be found by visiting our website or calling to speak with one of our experienced Advisors. As an added benefit, guaranteed airport transfers on the program’s published start and end date are included with your international air travel when arranged through Road Scholar. If your preferred airport is not listed, or you would like to travel on a different day, travel in premium or business class, specify the airline or routing, or travel independently before or after our program, we are happy to customize and create a personalized air travel itinerary to meet your needs. Select the “Custom Flight Arrangements” option and then the airport you want, or discuss your flight preferences with one of our expert air Travel Advisors.

Arranging Your Own International Airfare

If you choose to make your own international air travel arrangements, you will be responsible for getting yourself from the airport to the starting location of your program and returning to the airport at the end. Please keep in mind that many airlines assess penalties if you need to change or cancel your ticket— up to 100 percent of the ticket price in certain cases — for which you will be responsible. Please also be aware that Road Scholar may occasionally have to alter a program in a way that affects flight schedules, and you will be responsible for changing your flight arrangements and paying applicable fees. For the greatest protection, we recommend waiting until 90 days prior to your International program to purchase airfare,

Road Scholar Optional Trip Protection with “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage

The optional Road Scholar Trip Protection Plan helps protect your investment if you must cancel or interrupt your program for specified, covered reasons, such as illness or injury to you, your traveling companion or an immediate family member of you or your traveling companion. Plus, if you need to cancel your program for any reason not covered by insurance, you will receive a credit good for future travel with Road Scholar for the full amount of the Road Scholar cancellation fee. The plan also provides benefits if you are delayed getting to or returning home from your program and protects your investment should you have an emergency during your program that causes you to miss program days or return home earlier than expected. Your airfare, whether purchased through Road Scholar or independently, is covered at no additional cost — an exceptional benefit and value offered exclusively to Road Scholar participants. You will receive information about this optional travel insurance plan when you enroll in a program. To learn more about this plan, including its terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions, and to view and download a certificate of insurance, please visit: www.roadscholar.org/about/protection-plan.

Additional Program Information

Our goal is to make sure our participants have the most enjoyable and rewarding program experience possible. Whether you are considering one of Road Scholar’s many educational adventures or are currently enrolled in a program, we highly recommend you review the additional program information available in the Practical Information section on our website. The section includes a wide range of topics and information -- everything from how to choose the perfect program to traveling solo to insurance. Please visit www.roadscholar.org/practical-information, or call us if you have specific questions. After you enroll in a program, please be sure to carefully read all pre-program communications and your Program preparatory materials, as they provide important information about how to prepare for your upcoming program and what to expect once you're there.

Program Policies

Deposit, Transfer and Cancellation Policy

Road Scholar requires deposits for all its programs, and charges fees if you transfer or cancel your enrollment. Deposits and fees vary between programs. Please refer to the Deposit, Transfer & Cancellation Policy on program webpages for specific deposit amounts, and transfer and cancellation fee schedules.

About Program Details and Itineraries

We make every effort to operate our programs as advertised. The information on our website is updated regularly, and reflects the most up to date information. We are committed to providing participants with final program details no later than three weeks before the start of land programs within the United States, four weeks for programs International and Afloat programs. and one week for online programs. However, itineraries or other aspects of a program may change due to situations beyond the control. If this happens we will do our best to notify you of the change prior to arriving on your program. We ask you to pack a little extra patience and flexibility, just in case there are last-minute changes to your program.

If Road Scholar Cancels or Interrupts a Program

Road Scholar reserves the right to cancel programs prior to departure, terminate a program early, and to take action as needed on an individual or group basis when, in Road Scholar’s opinion, the health, safety or well-being of participants requires such action. Additionally, due to low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances, Road Scholar must occasionally cancel or change the dates of a program. When that occurs we will notify you as far in advance as possible and will assist you in transferring your enrollment to another program or refunding your full Road Scholar program payment. If you have made transportation arrangements, such as an airline ticket purchase, Road Scholar will give you a credit good for future travel with Road Scholar to help cover the cost of transferring your travel arrangements for use on a replacement program. The maximum value of the credit will be $300 and documentation of your paid fees is required before issuance of the credit.

Accuracy of Information

While every effort is made to provide accurate information on our website and in our catalogs, Road Scholar is not responsible for typographical errors, inaccuracies or omissions that may relate to program descriptions, pricing, and availability. Road Scholar reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions that may appear in our publications, and to change or update information at any time without prior notice. If you discover an error on our website or catalog, please let us know.

Program Pricing

As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing exceptional educational opportunities at a remarkable value. We do everything in our power to ensure that the published program price is the price you pay. On occasion, costs we can’t anticipate and that are beyond our control arise and may be passed along to you. If this occurs, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Terms and Conditions

Program Selection
We want every participant to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding program experience. The travel and activities of Road Scholar programs require participants to be in good general health and capable of performing all program activities as described by the program description and its corresponding Activity Level. As a group travel experience, participants must be capable of caring for themselves during the program and agree not to impede the progress of the program or interfere with the enjoyment of other participants. Participants are required to disclose known medical and physical conditions that may interfere with their safety and well being or the safety and well being of others during this program. Road Scholar may limit or terminate the participation in the program at the participant’s expense and without refund any participants who fail to disclose all medical information or do not honestly assess their physical capabilities in advance. With this information in mind, carefully consider the travel and program demands as described on the Road Scholar website, and consult with your physician about your travel plans. If after enrolling you have second thoughts about the program you chose, please call us and we will be happy to assist you in finding a program better suited to your abilities.

Responsibility

Road Scholar’s responsibility is limited. Road Scholar organizes, promotes, and sells educational programs consisting of certain travel services, including land, air, and water transportation, excursions, and cruise/barge/hotel accommodations that Road Scholar purchases or reserves from various suppliers (collectively, “Suppliers”). Road Scholar neither owns nor operates any of these Suppliers; they are independent contractors and are not Road Scholar’s agents. Therefore, Road Scholar is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any Supplier or any other third party. You agree that you will look to such Suppliers, and not to Road Scholar or its agents, for any accident, injury, property damage, or personal loss you may suffer. Without limitation, Road Scholar is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay, or inconvenience in connection with the provision of, or failure to provide, any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from — but not limited to — acts of God or force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation, or the failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Road Scholar.

Safety & Risks

Certain risks — from natural disasters to accidents, outbreaks of illness, crime, insect-borne and other infectious diseases, environmental risks to health, terrorism and other unforeseen events — are inherent in travel. While such occurrences are beyond our control, we make substantial efforts to be prepared for such possibilities. Participants are encouraged to review the safety and travel information provided by the U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn about current security issues, travel advisories and warnings, recent embassy notices, country-specific health information, health risks you may encounter while traveling, precautions for the prevention of illness, disease and general health issues during your program and other helpful destination-specific information. By enrolling in a program, you agree to assume responsibility for your own health, safety, and welfare, and acknowledge that Road Scholar cannot guarantee your safety or health at any time.

Admission & Participation Policy

The granting or denial of admission to a program is within the sole discretion of Road Scholar. Road Scholar reserves the right to revoke admission or terminate or limit participation at any time if Road Scholar reasonably determines a participant’s condition, behavior or actions are inappropriate or disruptive, or adversely affect the participant’s health or safety, or the health, safety or enjoyment of other participants. Road Scholar reserves the right to take action as needed on an individual or group basis when, in Road Scholar’s sole opinion, the health, safety or well-being of participants requires such action.

Photography and Video

Road Scholar reserves the right to take photographs, videos or audio/visual recordings during the operation of any program or part thereof and to use them, whether taken by a representative of Road Scholar or by other participants, for promotional purposes. By enrolling in a Road Scholar program, participants agree to allow their images or recordings to be used for such purposes. Participants who prefer that their images or recordings not be used are asked to identify themselves to program staff and the photographer at the commencement of their program. For Road Scholar online programs, all audio or video recordings, content and materials are the property of Road Scholar. Participants are prohibited from taking screen captures, or making, copying or distributing all or part of any audio or video recordings of online programs.

Online Program Terms

If you enroll in one of Road Scholar’s online programs, you are responsible for the integrity of the device on which you will attend this online program, as well as your own high-speed internet connection. Road Scholar is not responsible for outages or interruptions in internet service. Road Scholar cannot and will not provide recordings, content or materials, or provide reimbursement of any kind, for missed portion(s) of your online program, regardless of the reason.

Seller of Travel Information

Road Scholar’s state of Washington Seller of Travel Reg. No. 602244658. CST #2068427-40. Florida Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST35594.

Modifications to Terms and Conditions

Road Scholar reserves the right at any time to update, change, modify, or revise these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will become effective upon posting the changes, modifications or revisions to the Terms and Conditions. Accordingly, participants should review Road Scholar’s Terms and Conditions regularly prior to travel in order to ensure they are aware of any changes.

© 2023 Elderhostel. All rights reserved. The Road Scholar service marks, logos, website address and other marks are owned by Elderhostel, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring adults to learn, discover and travel.

Optional Trip Protection Plan

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768

6 days

5 nights

14 meals

5B 4L 5D

Check-in, Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

Nature Walk, Caverns Exploration, Tie Dye, Arizona Wildlife

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

Bottom of Grand Canyon, Diamond Creek Walk, Colorado River

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

Horse Riding & Roping, River Trip Orientation, Kids Only

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

Grand Canyon River Raft, Waterfall Hike, Helicopter Ride

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

Program Concludes

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

View Full Itinerary

At a Glance

Share with your grandchild the thrill of whitewater rafting on the Colorado River in the depths of the Grand Canyon. With experienced river runners, navigate exhilarating whitewater rapids. Take part in outdoor field trips on the water, on the ground and in the sky as you learn about the geology, natural history and native peoples of the Grand Canyon. Round out a rousing week with s'mores and stories by the campfire!

Activity Level

Outdoor: No Sweat

Walking up to one mile on varied terrain, sometimes in hot conditions. Getting in/out of rafts. Elevations up to 5,500 feet.

Best of all, you’ll…

Raft 37 wild and scenic miles of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
Take a spectacular flight by helicopter from the river to the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Drive the only road to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and picnic and play on a Colorado River beach.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren 9-12 or 11-13, depending on the date. Children must be 9 years old for rafting/helicopter rides. For a comparable family adventure for all generations, check out program #9878! Please note, helicopters cannot fly in excessively hot and/or windy conditions for safety reasons. Although this happens very infrequently, it remains a possibility. In that event, the raft trip will be extended to a location where ground transportation can reach the group.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Karen Landis

Karen Landis' front door opened up onto Route 66 for 38 years, giving her status as a Route 66 legend in the Seligman stretch of the road. In 1984, a customer at her Route 66 convenience store mustered the gumption to ask her to marry him, and Karen and Mike Landis — a legend himself and known as Arizona's No. 1 cowboy — ranched together for 29 years. Under Mike's tutelage and her indomitable spirit, Karen became a 'cowboy' in her own right and the two of them became one of the best-known ranching couples in northwest Arizona. Karen's independent spirit and ropin' and ridin' skills have opened up new perspectives to countless Road Scholar participants.

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

Karen Landis View biography

Carrie Calisay Cannon View biography

Carrie Calisay Cannon is a member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and also is of Oglala Lakota descent. She has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. in Resource Management. She is currently employed as an Ethnobotanist for the Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources. She administers a number of department projects and programs which promote the intergenerational teaching of Hualapai ethnobotanical knowledge. She works towards ensuring tribal ethnobotanical knowledge persists as a living practice and tradition.

Suggested Reading List (8 books)

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.

Search for a Title

Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country

by Williams, David B. & Gloria Brown

Comprehensive and beautifully illustrated trailside reference to plants, animals, and geology of an area that includes nine national parks and monuments. 192 pp.

The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons

by Powell, John Wesley

Full text of Powell's 1,000-mile expedition down the fabled Colorado in 1869. Superb account of terrain, geology, vegetation, Indians, famine, mutiny, treacherous rapids, mighty canyons. 240 illustrations. 432pp

Carving Grand Canyon: Evidence, Theories, and Mystery

by Ranney, Wayne

Ranney explains how rivers in general can physically carve canyons, looks chronologically at the numerous theories that have been presented by successive generations of geologists regarding the Grand Canyon's formation, and describes a plausible sequence of geologic events that could create such a landscape. Numerous color photographs, detailed illustrations, and maps are provided. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR 160pp; 2nd edition 2012.

Half Broke Horses

by Walls, Jeannette

Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle, wrote this true life novel which unfolds across Northern Arizona from the 1920s to the 1960s. Its heroine, Lily Casey Smith, (Ms. Wall's grandmother) battled the elements, prejudices, economic conditions and politics of remote frontier Arizona. Many of the locations described - Peach Springs, Seligman, Flagstaff, the Navajo Reservation, the Arizona Strip - are sites visited by NAU Road Scholar programs. Readers of this selection will feel the sense of heritage from this tale of life in our distant corner of America. Note: may not be appropriate for young readers.

An Introduction to Grand Canyon Ecology

by Houk, Rose

56pp

An Introduction to Grand Canyon Prehistory

by Coder, Christopher M.

People have inhabited Grand Canyon for the past twelve thousand years. Evidence of their lives exists throughout the canyon; but it is up to their ancestors and archaeologists to interpret those remains for us. This book provides a popular look at the architecture, art, and tools of prehistoric Puebloan peoples, as well as information about modern-day Native American tribes. With illustrations and color photographs.

Field Guide to the Grand Canyon

by Whitney, Stephen R

This book describes and illustrates the area's plants and animals, and offers fascinating in-depth information on the natural history and geology of this dramatic region. 272pp

Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest

by Steve Plog

The American Southwest is home to some of the most remarkable monuments of America's prehistoric past, such as Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. Stephen Plog, who has spent decades working in the region, provides the most readable and up-to-date account of the predecessors of the modern Hopi and Pueblo Indian cultures in this well-received account. Chaco Canyon became the center of a thriving Anasazi cultural tradition. It was the hub of a trading network extending over hundreds of miles, whose arteries were a series of extraordinary roads that are still being discovered and mapped. Interweaving the latest archaeological evidence with early first-person accounts, Professor Plog explains the rise and mysterious fall of Southwestern cultures. 224pp.

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6 days

5 nights

14 meals

5 B 4 L 5 D

DAY

Check-in, Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

Grand Canyon Caverns Inn

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the hotel meeting room 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.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant approximately 1 mile from the rooms, which we will reach via program vans, we’ll enjoy a buffet dinner featuring a full salad bar and home-cooked entrees, which will appeal to both young and old. Soft drinks, iced-tea, coffee, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

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. Transportation will be provided primarily by passenger vans, unless otherwise noted. This is a Road Scholar intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. 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. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY

Nature Walk, Caverns Exploration, Tie Dye, Arizona Wildlife

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

B,L,D

Grand Canyon Caverns Inn

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; uneven and sometimes rocky ground; paved and sloped surfaces with stairs in Grand Canyon Caverns. Participants may choose to walk to/from the restaurant 1 mile from the motel; transportation always provided. We recommend bringing a water bottle, good walking shoes, sun protection, long sleeves, and perhaps a walking stick.

Breakfast: At the restaurant on-site, the breakfast buffet features a wide assortment of hot and cold choices including granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, eggs, breakfast meats and breads, plus juice, coffee, tea, milk, water.

Morning: Beginning at the restaurant on the Caverns property (740 acres; mixed grassland and pinon juniper woodland, unique desert plants, animals and geology), we’ll set out on a nature walk with our naturalist Group Leaders. Along our walk, we’ll learn about some of the common plants of this high desert area, how they have adapted to limited rainfall, and how the prehistoric peoples of the region utilized them in their daily lives. We may also venture off trail at times to explore further and we may also sit on the ground for short periods.

Lunch: At the restaurant on the Grand Canyon Caverns grounds, we’ll enjoy a buffet lunch featuring selections that will appeal to both young and young at heart. Selections will vary daily and always include a salad bar. Soft drinks, coffee, iced tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Afterwards, we’ll walk to the other side of the building and the caverns entrance to set out on a walk through the Grand Canyon Caverns (210 feet underground with elevator access), a famous Route 66 landmark, with a Grand Canyon Caverns expert staff member who will share the Cavern's geology and its lore. Following our exploration of the Caverns, we’ll take a short transfer down to the inn for our mid-afternoon check-in before gathering on the patio for our tie-dye shirt project. Our intergenerational groups have been making these colorful shirts together for over 20 years!

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant approximately 1 mile from the rooms, which we will reach via program vans or on foot depending on personal preference, we’ll enjoy a buffet dinner featuring a full salad bar and home-cooked entrees. Soft drinks, coffee, iced tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: We’ll then join our Group Leader for a ‘walkabout’ on the Grand Canyon Caverns property, which begins just outside the restaurant. We’ll learn a little bit more about this western Arizona ecosystem and about each other. Afterwards, we’ll make our way back to the inn.

DAY

Bottom of Grand Canyon, Diamond Creek Walk, Colorado River

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

B,L,D

Grand Canyon Caverns Inn

Activity note: Driving approx. 62 miles total for the day; about 4 hours: approx. 12 miles on paved road, then about 20 miles on an unpaved and rough road to reach the bottom of the Canyon; about 3 hours, with stops; return drive is approx. 32 miles; about 1 hour. Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; additional elective walk of 1 mile along road and in creek down to the Colorado River; some slippery rocks. Short walks to scenic viewpoints; some sandy terrain and possible hot temperatures.

Morning: We’ll then board our vans for a field trip down Peach Springs Canyon on the Diamond Creek Road to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Our Group Leaders will provide commentary in the vans and make stops at various points of interest along the way as opportunities to describe the wonders of the Canyon. During this “journey to the center of the Earth," the walls of the Grand Canyon rise higher and higher as we drive towards the Colorado River past hundreds of millions of years of geologic history, all of which culminates with our arrival at the 1.8 billion-year-old rock of the Granite Gorge. You may wish to join one of our Group Leader naturalists for a 1 mile walk along Diamond Creek and to the river. Alternatively, those who require it can continue to the picnic site via van where we will rendezvous with the walkers for lunch.

Lunch: At picnic tables in the shade, we’ll have sack lunches featuring a sandwich, chips, snack, fruit, and a drink.

Afternoon: Our field trip will continue at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. As we view Diamond Creek Rapids, look for desert bighorn sheep, wild burros, hawks and lizards. At the river, look for river runners rafting the Colorado River. We'll have time to play safely on the beach and in the Colorado River during the hottest part of the day. Interesting human history, facts and management issues regarding the Colorado River will be shared with the group on the beach. Especially for kids: Upon our return to the Grand Canyon Caverns, we’ll finish the tie-dye project by rinsing the dye from our shirts and displaying them on the clothes line.

Dinner: Restaurant buffet.

Evening: In the meeting room at the inn, we will participate in a kid-focused presentation given by a local expert about the natural and biological environment of Arizona. Exact topics are dependent on availability of presenters who travel long distances to reach the inn.

DAY

Horse Riding & Roping, River Trip Orientation, Kids Only

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

B,L,D

Grand Canyon Caverns Inn

Activity note: Short periods of standing, sometimes in full sun, during the morning session. We will have a campfire as long as Coconino County is not under fire restrictions due to drought conditions.

Breakfast: Restaurant buffet.

Morning: At the riding arena a short walk from our rooms, we’ll spend this morning learning about ranching, horses, and the importance of cattle in the history of the west with a real cowboy who has cowboy-ed in northern Arizona for over 40 years. Believe it or not, cattle still have many uses today, besides just steak and hamburger! Kids will learn about a horse’s tack, how to properly saddle a horse and how to rope. All kids will have an opportunity to ride a horse at the corral. Adults will too!

Lunch: Restaurant buffet.

Afternoon: We’ll gather for a secret "Kids Only" activity led by our Group Leaders! Shhhhh! While the kids are engaged, the adults may wish to take a breather, a dip in the pool or engage in purely adult conversation for a short time. Following this activity, we’ll assemble in the inn’s meeting room to learn everything we need to know for the river trip and helicopter flight coming up the next day through an in-depth orientation to the day’s activities. We'll go over how to dress for the river, how to pack your daypack, and what to take so you'll be well-prepared for a Colorado River raft trip – and helicopter flight – to remember!

Dinner: On the screened-in porch of the restaurant, we’ll enjoy a delicious BBQ meal, plus iced-tea, soft drinks, coffee, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Adjacent to the restaurant and weather permitting, we’ll have a campfire complete with marshmallow roasting under the stars and some group activities like river or ghost stories, joke-telling, skits, and shared fun. Look up from the smoke of the fire to star-studded western skies and see the Milky Way as we spend this evening with new friends, both young and young at heart, from across the country.

DAY

Grand Canyon River Raft, Waterfall Hike, Helicopter Ride

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

B,L,D

Grand Canyon Caverns Inn

Activity note: Driving approx. 145 miles total. Morning about 20 miles; approx. 1.5 hours; unpaved, rough road. Afternoon approx. 125 miles; about 3 hours, with stop. Rafting approx. 37 miles; 5-6 hours total. Climbing in/out of rafts, assistance provided as needed. River temperature about 50 degrees F – air can be 100+ degrees F. Hiking about 1/2 mile total for the day; some slippery rocks, sand. Elective climb using ropes & ladders to hidden waterfall. Getting in/out of helicopter; flight is about 6 minutes.

Breakfast: Restaurant buffet.

Morning: Boarding our vans, we’ll transfer to a lodge in Peach Springs (12 miles) to meet our connecting transportation to our drop-in point on the Colorado River. Upon arrival at our destination, we will go through a safety orientation with our river leaders and get fitted with life jackets before embarking on our river rafting trip. We will divide up into multiple groups to fit on 8-passenger motorized pontoon rafts (approximately 25 feet long), each with a certified rafting expert. The Diamond Creek trip down the Colorado River is about 37 miles in length. During the first 16 miles we will encounter about 10 whitewater rapids, some rather large (5, 6 and 7’s on a 1 to 10 scale), so we will get wet. The air temperature in summer at the bottom of the canyon will likely be around 100 degrees so the splashing is a welcome relief and will keep us cool. We’ll pull the rafts over at a couple of attractions including the beautiful Travertine Falls and a lunch spot. While stopped, our rafting experts will lead some short walks to stretch our legs and explore the area. After 16 miles the rapids disappear, but the scenery remains "grand" in all regards. Hualapai tribal members will operate rafts and, along with our staff, provide information about the canyon along the way.

Lunch: Along the river, we’ll have sack lunches provided by the river company including a sandwich, chips, and cookie, plus a soft drink, juice or water.

Afternoon: Continuing downriver, we’ll reach Quartermaster Landing where we will get off our rafts and climb up to the landing pad in order to board the helicopter that will fly us out of the canyon on a quick but spectacular ride. Have your cameras ready! The helicopter will drop us off at Quartermaster Point where we will board our transportation and transfer back to the lodge in Peach Springs. On our way we’ll travel through a landscape of Joshua Trees and creosote bush as we cross the beautiful basin and range landscape of the Mohave Desert. Upon arrival in Peach Springs, we’ll board our vans for the short transfer back to the inn. Note: Helicopters cannot fly in excessively hot and/or windy conditions for safety reasons. Although this happens very infrequently, it remains a possibility. In that event, the raft trip will be extended to a location where ground transportation can reach the group.

Dinner: In the restaurant at the inn, we’ll enjoy a hearty buffet farewell dinner with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

DAY

Program Concludes

Grand Canyon Caverns/Peach Springs

Activity note: Hotel check out in 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Restaurant buffet.

Morning: We’ll gather for a program wrap-up to share some of our favorite memories from our week together before saying farewell. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!