Yosemite

Family Camp

Connect with your family and nature!

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Location

Yosemite

Ages

All

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.

Our 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 bunk house, outdoor eating areas and dedicated porta potty and hand washing stations. We will coordinate alternating times for accessing the central bath/shower house. The rustic bunk houses 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 review and follow.

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 bunk houses, 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.

Crane Flat is at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Because of the altitude and surrounding trees, it is about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Yosemite Valley. You can expect cold nights year round and warmer days throughout the fall. Be prepared for possible rain as the weather can change unexpectedly.

Crane Flat is located on Tioga Road (SR 120). The site is about 15 miles from Yosemite Valley (usually 45 minutes to an hour by car or bus).

Crane Flat dining hall with outdoor picnic tables for breakfast and dinner meals. Trail lunch will be provided.

Exterior of Peregrine dorm which can sleep up to 16 (8 on each side).

Dormitory bunk beds. No linens are provided. Be sure to pack the following: sleeping bag, pillow, towel, personal toiletries, a fitted sheet (twin size).

Showers and private toilet stalls. Each family cohort will have their own port-a-potty and hand washing station but will use the central bathhouse for showering.

Showers and toilets are located in a central bathhouse.

FAQ

What are the weather conditions like at Crane Flat?

Because of the altitude (6,200 feet) and surrounding trees, it is about five to ten degrees cooler than Yosemite Valley. You can expect cold nights and warmer days throughout the fall season. Be prepared for possible rain as the weather can change unexpectedly.
What is the food like? Will my family’s special dietary needs be accommodated?

The kitchen prepares hearty home cooked meals, served family style in each cohort’s designated eating area. With advance notice, we can usually accommodate most dietary needs (e.g., nut free; vegetarian; gluten free). If you are concerned about meeting dietary needs, you are also welcome to bring supplemental food and snacks. Families should bring their own coolers to store personal food overnight in the NatureBridge kitchen.
What are the sleeping arrangements like?

Each family cohort will have a designated side of the bunk house with bunk beds. Linens are not provided, so be sure to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, personal toiletries and a fitted sheet (twin size). Refer to the 'Your Stay at Crane Flat' section above for more information about the facilities. For families that choose to tent camp, please bring enough tents for your family members.
Will we be sharing the Crane Flat campus with other families?

Yes, there may be up to five family cohorts on campus during each session. Each family cohort will have a designated sleeping area, eating area, porta potty and hand washing station to maintain physical distance.
Will my family have access to showers?

Yes. There is a central bathhouse on campus and the NatureBridge site manager will help facilitate shower sign ups in an effort to maintain CDC guidelines.
How far will we be hiking? Can we skip out on certain activities?

Educators will adjust hiking mileage based on each family cohort's abilities and comfort levels. While it is possible to opt out of an activity, we encourage everyone to participate to get the deepest experience possible. The educational program is an important component of Family Camp. Children should be under parent/guardian direct supervision at all times. If you choose to leave campus during part of your stay, you will need to sign in and out of the program so that we know where you are in the event of an emergency.
Will NatureBridge provide transportation to the trailheads?

No. Families will need to meet educators at the trailheads using their own vehicles.
Is this program appropriate for small children?

Yosemite Family Camp is best suited for ages 3 and up due to the nature of our bunkhouse-style accommodations. Educational content will be geared towards learning in a multi-age family setting. Our educators can adjust hiking mileage based on each family cohort's abilities and comfort levels.
Is alcohol allowed on campus?

NatureBridge will serve a bottle of wine or beer with dinner on the first night and participants are allowed to bring their own beer and wine. However, hard alcohol is discouraged. NatureBridge's Alcohol Policy can be found here.
Will there be cell phone reception and wireless internet available?

Cell phone service is spotty in Yosemite because of the mountainous terrain, but it may be available depending on your location. You will likely find connectivity on campus if you have Verizon Wireless or Sprint. AT&T does not have service at Crane Flat. Due to such limited cell coverage and internet access, be prepared to disconnect completely, unless an emergency arises. NatureBridge has a land line that can be used in emergencies.
What if we cannot make the scheduled arrival time or wish to depart early?

We may be able to make special exceptions for later arrivals with advance notice, but encourage you to plan for the standard program arrival time. You are welcome to depart the program early; however, we do not provide program discounts for late arrivals and early departures.

Dates & Pricing

There are six sessions to choose from:

October 1-4
October 8-11
October 15-18
October 22-25
Hallosemite: October 29-November 1
November 5-8

Pricing - includes meals, lodging, entrance to Yosemite and all educational experiences
Lodging	Family cohort size	Price	Option to increase
Big Horn	15 participants	$7,215	up to 1 additional participant at $425/person
Peregrine	5 participants	$2,375	up to 3 additional participants at $425/person
Tent camping (sold out)	5 participants	$375/person	n/a

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