Preview: NatureBridge Launches New Yosemite Family Camp

Make it a family outing to Yosemite this fall with NatureBridge

31 Aug 2020

NatureBridge Launches New Yosemite Family Camp

Tags: Tourism, National Parks, Yosemite, education, Family, Yosemite National Park

This fall, NatureBridge invites cohorts of families to learn together, laugh together and build a lifetime of memories as part of Yosemite Family Camp.

NatureBridge's Crane Flat campus will serve as your base camp for exploring one of the country's most iconic national parks. Relax under a canopy of tall trees, go on educational hikes led by our experienced educators and explore the grandeur Yosemite has to offer. Yosemite Family Camp is best suited for ages 3 and up. The all-inclusive experience provides meals, lodging, entrance to Yosemite and four days of educational fun in Yosemite.

NatureBridge's Crane Flat campus—located 30-minutes north of Yosemite Valley—will serve as your base camp for exploring one of the country's most iconic national parks. In order to ensure safe distancing, family groups will be organized into individual family cohorts that have their own designated bunkhouse, eating area and bathroom station.

To learn more about Yosemite Family Camp, please visit NatureBridge's website and fill out a request information form or reach out directly at mpatton@naturebridge.org.

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The Family Camp Program

Over four fun-filled days, families will:

EXPLORE a giant sequoia grove or high country river with a NatureBridge educator.
LEARN about Yosemite's domes, cliffs, waterfalls and cultural history.
RELAX around the campfire and gaze at the star-filled sky.
DISCOVER the joy of building memories together in the outdoors.

Sample Day & Activities

Morning: Enjoy breakfast in a designated family cohort eating area, pack backpacks and prepare for the day. Families will meet educators at the trailheads using their own vehicles. Instructional Day on Trail: Spend the day in family cohorts led by an experienced NatureBridge educator. Participants engage in educational experiences that encourage exploration, observation and discovery in various parts of the park.Sample Activities

Hike along the path of a waterfall and learn about glaciation.
Study ecological relationships from the perspective of a 2,000-year-old giant sequoia tree.
Explore the rich cultural history of Yosemite's first people who have long been and continue to be stewards of this land.
Observe the unique biodiversity and stunning views of the Sierra Nevada High Country.

Afternoon/Early Evening: Return to campus to relax and unwind. Dinner will be served in a designated family cohort eating area.

Evening: NatureBridge educators facilitate evening programs that could include stargazing and campfire circles. Participants then return to the dorms and get ready for bed.

COVID-19 Precautions

Yosemite Family Camp is being coordinated in cooperation with the National Park Service and US Public Health Service officials following CDC guidelines for outdoor camps. The safety of our participants and staff is our number one priority and guides every aspect of the program. In order to ensure safe distancing, family groups will be organized into individual family cohorts that have their own designated bunkhouse, outdoor eating areas and dedicated porta-potty and handwashing stations. We will coordinate alternating times for accessing the central bath/shower house. The rustic bunkhouses will be ventilated with open windows and fans. Masks and social distancing will be maintained when we're interacting together. NatureBridge has a robust Health & Safety Plan that all participants and staff will be required to follow. The Health & Safety Plan will be available to all participants prior to the program.

Your Stay at Crane Flat

Long the home of Yosemite's first people, Yosemite's Crane Flat area–located 30-minutes north of Yosemite Valley–has been an important historical crossroads. For centuries it was part of the trans-Sierra trading route, as well as a way-station for travelers and sheep-herders headed to the high country. Surrounded by a mixture of pines and black oaks, the green meadows are home to a grand diversity of wildlife. NatureBridge's Crane Flat campus sits directly in this natural and cultural intersection. Our Crane Flat campus has two rustic bunkhouses, a central dining hall and a bath/shower house amidst Yosemite's natural beauty. Make no mistake, this is camp! Families also have the option to tent camp and sleep under the stars.

Dates & Pricing

There are six sessions to choose from:

September 24-27
October 1-4
October 8-11
October 15-18
October 22-25
Hallosemite: October 29-November 1

LODGING	FAMILY COHORT SIZE	PRICE	OPTION TO INCREASE
Tent camping	5 participants	$375 per person	n/a
Peregrine	5 participants	$2,375	up to 3 additional participants at $425/person
Big Horn	15 participants	$7,125	up to 1 additional participant at $425/person
Exclusive use	45 participants	$21,375	up to 5 additional participants at $425/person

What is a family cohort?

Immediate family group (parent/guardian and children)
Extended family group (parent/guardian, children, aunts, uncles, cousins grandparents)
Family pods that have been practicing safe protocols (two or three family groups within the same community)
School pods that have been practicing safe protocols

Prepare for the Program

REQUIRED: All participants must fill out an online registration form prior to arrival. A link to the form will be sent to you after you register. Packing List Sample Itinerary Alcohol Policy Map & Directions

For More Information and to Register

To learn more about Yosemite Family Camp, please visit NatureBridge's website and fill out a request information form or reach out directly at mpatton@naturebridge.org.

Photos

MED LRG