Yosemite – August 2013

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Summer Camp

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Our trip to Yosemite was a fabulous success!

 

Starring Nate the Nature Guy, along with the staff who will teach us about science, art and culture & enjoy music with Chaia

* Children 6 and up, $750 each. Family members accompanying including siblings under 6 are included at no extra charge except for their own fees for entrance, food contribution, and gas if driving with camp drivers. If interested in being a driver, let Chaia know.

This 5 day excursion is one of a kind. Set in one of the world’s most cherished settings… Yosemite.

Each day we will explore a different area in the park. We will balance our lesson plans to include plenty of hiking, playing, relaxing and most importantly learning. Children and parents are welcome.

Lesson topics will include; natural history, cultural anthropology, ecology, geology, zoology, botany, political science, field biology, limnology, art, camping skills, ethics, astronomy, map reading, navigation and catch and release fishing – to name a few.

Itinerary

Day 1 — Depart Bay area early from Chaia’s at 7 am. Arrive in Yosemite and set up camp/eat lunch. Spend rest of afternoon exploring the valley (waterfalls, El Capitan, Merced River, etc.). The lesson plan will briefly discuss the Park’s creation (as we will discuss in detail on Day 3) and focus on exploring the many sites in the valley before dinner. We will see many plants and animals and discuss their significance. We will briefly discuss the geological forces that created the valley (we will discuss in detail on day 2.)

Day 2 — Toulomne meadow, California’s largest alpine meadow. We will learn about the formation and importance of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. We will also learn about alpine ecosystems and adaptations of its inhabitants. Have a picnic in the meadow on the peaceful banks of the Tuolomne River. Followed up with a field biology experiment and many other side journeys our students may wish to take while we’re up there.

Day 3 — We will be off to Yosemite’s southern entrance Wawona. Here we will discover life before America with a stop to the museum. We will then hike to a grove of trees that are among the largest living things in the world, referring of course to the Giant Sequoia. Here we will have lunch and discuss what life was like when these giants ruled over the land. We will also travel to glacier point for a stunning view of the valley and learn about how Yosemite became Americas first National Park and who made sure it happened.

Day 4 — We will hike to a less visited section of water in the park and learn the art of catch and release fishing. Here we will discover the magic of fishing for wild trout and why it has prompted conservation efforts around the world. We will learn proper fishing ethics and techniques. We will discover many other gems of knowledge in the process. I should add that during our relaxation times during days 2 and 3, I will take volunteers in small groups or individually and work on casting and reeling fundamentals with them so that everyone has the best opportunity possible to catch fish. We will also learn about riparian ecology, biodiversity and a plethora of other water related topics.

Day 5 — We will break down camp and float down peaceful portions of the Merced River. Lesson plan will be light and relaxing and will focus on reflecting and enjoying our past adventures.

Please note that relaxation time will be based on the energy level of the group, and that evenings will have group social activities, followed with stargazing and story telling at night.

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