Yosemite Association Announces Exciting New Expanded Roster of Outdoor Adventures for 2006

94 affordable, interactive and fun-based learning experiences appeal to all ages and interests in spectacular Yosemite National Park

Guided naturalist hikes to such popular destinations as Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Tuolumne Meadows; a family field trip focused on bugs; entry level lessons on the hip outdoor sport of fly fishing, and a host of diverse programming designed specifically for women are just a sampling of the wide range of affordable learning adventures offered by the acclaimed non-profit organization, Yosemite Association (YA) in 2006.

A total of 94 field courses designed to appeal to all ages, interests and abilities are outlined in YA’s newly published 2006 Outdoor Adventures catalog. Held in the spectacular setting of Yosemite National Park, courses span a diverse range of subjects including art, writing, photography, astronomy, bird watching, cultural and natural history, outdoor skills, interpretive day hikes and backpacking trips. The 2006 Outdoor Adventures catalog is free, and available online at www.yosemite.org or by calling (209) 379-2321.

A new focus this year, is the availability of custom guided trips offered to groups and organizations, tailored toward their specific interests. “If the dates for certain courses don’t fit with busy schedules or if a specific topic is appealing, we can customize a course exactly to your needs,” said Pete Devine, YA Education Program Director. “This new feature is ideal for all types of groups, from friends and family reunions, to wedding parties or small companies.”

For 2006, several new courses are introduced as a supplement to programming repeated based on past popular appeal. Some notable new offerings include:

• “For Women Only” Day Hikes and Backpacking Trips By popular demand, YA has designated several new field trips tailored for women. Led by a female naturalist, several hikes held in Yosemite Valley and the high country encourage camaraderie, relaxation, fitness, wilderness appreciation and creative journaling.

• New Trends in Outdoor Fitness From learning to use trekking poles while hiking, to functional fitness exercises that help maintain (or regain) healthful movement, two new exercise driven classes held in June are appropriate for all ages and athletic abilities.

• Family Bug Adventure Kids just love bugs, and two one-day courses in July and August will uncover lots of them in Tuolumne Meadows. Led by an author who has written ten children’s books on bugs, kids will learn how to find, watch, identify and respect a wide variety of cool arthropods.

• Pioneer Living Re-Enactment Today’s kids could use a reminder that their forefathers didn’t live with the modern comforts that we take for granted today. This family-friendly course invites a step back into history for a day, with participants learning hands-on pioneering skills such as blacksmithing, wood chopping, stage coach operations and cooking meals on a wood burning stove.

• Building Modern Day Artistic Skills YA’s popular series of art and photography workshops expands with new topics that incorporate modern techniques including: helping digital photographers learn new equipment, composition and printing skills; teaching amateur videographers new filming and editing techniques; and introducing painters to the concept of utilizing natural history and realism as inspiration for their art.

• Naturalist Guided Day Hikes Introduced in 2005 to overwhelming popular response, the menu of guided day hikes has increased to include such popular park destinations as Half Dome, Mt. Dana, Clouds Rest, Mt. Hoffman, Yosemite waterfalls, the high country and a descent along the Panorama Trail.

• Yosemite’s Unsurpassed Forest and Bird Life Yosemite boasts the Sierra’s largest individual trees in three species (Red Fir, White Fir and Sugar Pine), as well as 11 different species of woodpeckers. Botanists and birding enthusiasts will enjoy two new courses exploring the park’s appreciable abundance of forestry and wildlife.

• Cutting Edge Teaching Skills Teachers of all grades are invited to learn a new approach, utilizing place-based learning strategies, which incorporate the community, environment and hands-on stewardship projects to engage students for more real and meaningful learning.

For 2006, YA will also offer two Family Camping Jamborees, highly popular all-inclusive camping trips in the high country. Taught by park rangers, experienced naturalists and field scientists, both adult and young participants can learn about the great outdoors and experience Yosemite in an interactive, stimulating environment.

The Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL) and the National Park Service awarded Yosemite Association’s Outdoor Adventures top prize in 2004 for its on-site educational programs, honoring the great variety of offerings for diverse groups. Since its inception in 1971, the award-winning Outdoor Adventures program has been growing steadily, reflecting the public’s continuing interest in quality outdoor education.

Founded in 1923, the Yosemite Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of Yosemite National Park through its volunteer, publishing, outdoor education and other programs. Revenues from YA programs such as the Outdoor Adventures provide substantial annual funding to supplement the National Park Service’s interpretive services, museum and research programs.

Yosemite Outdoor Adventure participants do not have to be a member of Yosemite Association to attend field courses. However, those who wish to become a steward of Yosemite, can join the Yosemite Association with memberships starting at $35 per year. Membership benefits include discounted room rates in and around Yosemite, a 15% discount on all outdoor adventures, subscription to “ Yosemite,” the quarterly journal of the association, 15% discount on all books, maps, posters and calendars, and regular email newsletters.

For a free 2006 Outdoor Adventures course catalog, call (209) 379-2321 or visit online at www.yosemite.org.

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