The cabins are heated by propane heaters. They are still chilly in the winter, so please ask each student/adult to bring their own sleeping bag.
Yes. Each of these cabins is equipped with a light and an electrical outlet.
Tent cabins accommodate either four students or three adults and are separated by gender. Each tent cabin has two single beds and one double bed. Your school may opt to include an adult chaperone in each student cabin, but you are not required to do so.
NatureBridge has access to a very limited number of hard-sided cabins (referred to as WOBs). Each WOB has two double beds and one rollaway single. Please assume that you are in tent cabins unless your itinerary specifically states WOBs.
Luggage is stored inside the tent cabins, which can be locked. Outside of each tent cabin is a “bear box”: a metal, bear-proof storage container in which all “smelly items” should be stored. These include food, shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc.
NatureBridge participants will eat breakfast and dinner in the Curry Village Dining Hall. The food is cooked and served by Yosemite National Park’s concessionaire, Yosemite Hospitality. Lunches are provided by NatureBridge and eaten on trail with your educators.
Restrooms and showers are available at central locations in Boystown within Curry Village and are cleaned regularly by Yosemite Hospitality staff. Generally, restrooms are no more than a two-minute walk from any cabin.
Yes. While your group is staying at Boystown you will be there with other NatureBridge groups. We ask the adults in your group to set a helpful example by encouraging positive interactions between your group and others, and maintaining a reasonable noise level. You may also have other park visitors housed in cabins near yours, so please be respectful.
The NatureBridge Evening Manager patrols Boystown from 7–11 p.m. each night and is available on call all night for emergencies. Our Evening Manager can help you call for additional resources, such as medical help or law enforcement.
Availability of 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 in Yosemite Valley, including the Curry Village area, if you have AT&T, Verizon Wireless, or Sprint. Please remember to turn off cell phones while you are on trail.
Yes. Wireless access to the internet is usually available in the Curry Village historic lounge, across from the dining pavilion (which also has wifi), and the Boystown Kitchen. However, availability of wireless can be variable. The primary focus for adult chaperones is student supervision, so opportunities for internet use will be extremely limited.
Crane Flat is located on Tioga Road (SR 120). The site is about 15 miles (usually 35-45 minutes by car or bus) from Yosemite Valley. View the location in GoogleMaps.
Crane Flat is at an elevation of 6,200 feet and is a picturesque example of an upper montane environment, including shady red fir forests, beautiful meadows, and a nearby giant sequoia forest. Crane Flat is peaceful and quiet, away from the stores, large numbers of visitors, and other distractions of Yosemite Valley.
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 snow cover throughout the winter season.
Crane Flat provides opportunities for participants to see big trees up close at the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias and breathtaking views across the mountains from the Crane Flat fire lookout. During the winter, Crane Flat turns into a winter wonderland. Skis or snowshoes may be used for participants to explore the area. Your NatureBridge educator will assess whether conditions are appropriate for integrating skiing or snowshoeing into your program and provide instruction.
Crane Flat has two dormitory-style accommodations, which are furnished with bunk beds and are divided to separate groups by gender. The layout does not provide separate dorms for group leaders, who stay in the dorms with participants. Dorms are equipped with electricity and electrical outlets (additional outlets are available in the dining hall). During the winter, the dorms are heated by wood-burning stoves, creating a cozy environment and a new experience for many participants.
No, linens are not provided. Be sure to pack the following: sleeping bag, pillow, towel, personal toiletries, and a fitted sheet (twin size). This equipment is included in the clothing and equipment lists for your program.
Yes. Dormitories and other common areas may be shared by other NatureBridge groups.
Family-style meals are served in the Crane Flat dining hall along with a salad bar at dinners. Meals are prepared by NatureBridge staff.
Restrooms with showers are located in a central bathhouse on campus.
Availability of 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 at Crane Flat if you have Verizon Wireless or Sprint. AT&T does not have service at Crane Flat.
The dining hall has intermittent satellite internet, which is severely limited and varies depending on weather and service availability. Satellite internet cannot be used for downloading.
Food allergies can be life threatening. NatureBridge understands this and takes many precautions to mitigate this risk. In any camp setting there is a risk of accidental exposure. We work diligently with families, our staff, and our contracted food service provider at Curry Village to reduce the risk of exposure. If you have specific questions or concerns, feel free to contact the NatureBridge food service department at 209-379-9513 or djohnson@naturebridge.org.
Every participant must fill out a registration form. When a participant has a food allergy or dietary restriction, it must be noted on the registration form as well as copied by the group coordinator onto the trail group list. Additional information can be attached to the form if additional details are necessary. Groups send in these forms weeks before the group arrives. NatureBridge then distributes this information to NatureBridge staff and contracted food service providers. Meals that will be provided by NatureBridge are modified, if possible, to meet the participants’ needs. If a family desires to provide meals during a participant’s stay, they may be allowed to do so. Please organize this with the NatureBridge food service manager at least two weeks prior to arrival.
All lunches are provided by NatureBridge and are eaten while out on trail. If a participant in a trail group has an allergy there is a separate bag of supplemental food items sent out that day to accommodate their needs. If the family wishes to provide their own lunches, the family must work out the details with our food service manager before arrival.
Curry Village meals are served buffet style. All items on the buffet are labeled. On these labels all major allergens are listed. If the participant requires a special, individually prepared meal, the Group Coordinator from the school will work with NatureBridge and Curry Village staff to have the participant receive the meal directly from the kitchen instead of going through the regular meal line. If a specially prepared meal is required or if the family wishes to provide their own meals, the family must work out these details at least two weeks prior to arrival. The Curry Village Dining Pavilion contact phone number is 209-372-8307.
At Crane Flat the meals are served family style with a small buffet of side dishes. Any participant who requires a special meal substitution has their meal individually prepared by our staff. If the family wishes to provide their own meals, the family must work out the details with NatureBridge’s food service manager at least two weeks before arrival.