Walking up to 2 miles total throughout the day; paved and unpaved, uneven terrain. Driving approx. 65 miles total for the day: 30 miles one way to Williams, AZ; about 1.5 hours total throughout the day. Challenge Course activities will include team building exercises and obstacles at various heights; supervised by certified leaders; safety orientation and equipment provided upon arrival.
At the hotel, the buffet includes a variety of hot and cold items such as waffles, cereals, and fruit, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
After a transfer to Northern Arizona University's Challenge Course on south campus, we’ll engage in a morning of team building events led by certified leaders who are college students at NAU. The goal is to build a trusting and cohesive group of grandparents and grandchildren who just met each other the night before. We will start out with on-the-ground games, then move to low and high element activities, all preceded by a safety orientation. This will include some of the elements of the static course with activities at heights 25 to 30 feet off the ground. This progression of activities will challenge the group with increasingly difficult tasks while encouraging cooperation, inspiring confidence and having fun, all within a supportive and safe environment. Grandparents as well as grandchildren are encouraged to participate, but all activities are “challenge by choice.” We’ll then transfer to Williams, AZ and Bearizona Wildlife Park.
Upon arrival at Bearizona, we’ll head inside the wildlife park and have sack lunches featuring sandwiches, fruit, cookie, chips.
At Fort Bearizona, we’ll watch hawks, owls, falcons, and other raptors in “free flight” demonstrations while learning about their natural history, conservation, and important role in ecosystem health from representatives of High Country Raptors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting raptor conservation through education. Following the raptor show, we’ll take some time independently to see black bear cubs and other North American animals in a walk-through setting adjacent to the raptor show site. Next, we’ll board our vehicle and travel through the Drive Thru Wildlife Park to see large North American mammals including bison, wolves, big horn sheep and black bears. Our Group Leaders will provide commentary on the animals we see as we ride. We’ll return to the hotel in late afternoon.
At a local Greek restaurant with a variety of entree choices for all ages and palates, we’ll have plated meals. Soft drinks, coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
In a meeting room on campus, our kid-focused presentation given by a biologist from the university will cover some aspects of Arizona wildlife. We will learn about some of the critters living in the Grand Canyon region and look at their adaptations to this high desert environment.