Yosemite National Park
Just For Kids
Starry Skies over Yosemite and Wawona: Spend a summer evening lying in a meadow looking up at a brilliant sky. This program is offered for a fee (summer only) in Wawona and Yosemite Valley. Space is limited to 70 people; check Yosemite Today for schedule.
Be a Junior Ranger: Kids 7 to 13 can earn a certificate and a patch as they learn about the mysteries and marvels of Yosemite. This self-guiding booklet is sold for $3.50 plus tax at visitor centers throughout the park and online at www.YosemiteStore.com. Aspiring Junior Rangers must complete the booklet, collect a bag of trash, and attend a guided program.
See Yosemite Today in the summer for a schedule of ranger-led Junior Ranger programs. Also visit Web-Rangers, the National Park Service's online Junior Ranger Program at www.nps.gov/webrangers.
Little Cubs Wanted: Are your kids between the ages of three and six? Little Cubs is a self-guiding booklet that encourages young visitors and their families to discover Yosemite's wonders and earn a Little Cubs button. The booklet (published by the Yosemite Association) is sold for $3 plus tax at visitor centers throughout the park. It is also available online at www.YosemiteStore.com.
Visit the Nature Center at Happy Isles: See wildlife exhibits and a display of Yosemite at night or play in the children's corner. Open daily from late spring to September. Take the shuttle to stop #16.
Go into the Field! Join the Yosemite Institute on their fun and challenging residential field science program, a five-day introduction to Yosemite's outdoor classroom. Other custom programs for all ages are available. Contact the Yosemite Institute (for more information, see pages 36—37).
Old-Fashioned Campfires: Enjoy an evening around the campfire with a pair of naturalists. Sing silly songs, listen to some stories, learn about Yosemite and roast marshmallows over the campfire. This program is offered for a fee. During the summer, free ranger-led campfire programs are given outside Yosemite Valley. Check Yosemite Today for schedule.
Explore Yosemite Family Program: In summer, this program provides a morning full of hands-on activities. Cultural and natural history information is presented in a family-friendly way during a two to three-mile walk. Each session is limited to 20 people and is offered for a fee during the summer. See Yosemite Today for schedule or visit any Tour & Activity Desk.
Night Prowl: Yosemite is an amazing place to explore after dark, and you'll need to use all of your senses to do it. Join us for ninety minutes of fun on this nocturnal nature tour during our shoulder seasons. Each prowl is limited to 20 people and is offered for a fee. See Yosemite Today for schedule.
Discover Yosemite Books: Learn about the park with Two Bear Cubs, an American Indian legend about El Capitan or The World of Small, which comes with a magnifying glass. The Happy Camper Handbook tells kids (and adults) all they need to know about camping (includes a flashlight and rescue whistle). To order these and other titles, call the Yosemite Association at (209) 379-2648 or visit www.YosemiteStore.com. For additional selections, shop Yosemite online at www.YosemiteGifts.com.
Children's Programs
Yosemite offers a variety of walks, presentations, and storytimes in the park. Wee Wild Ones is a 45-minute program packed with stories, games, and fun surprises specifically for pre-schoolers. LeConte Memorial Lodge offers family programs and walks geared for kids. Children's Storytime includes a 30-minute tale for children 7 and under. See Yosemite Today for program schedule and locations.
Winter
Ski, Snowboard, Snowtube, or Snowshoe at Yosemite's Badger Pass: The whole family will have fun with these winter activities. Nine runs, a ski and snowboard and cross-country ski school, guided snowshoe walks, and equipment rentals are available, as are a cafeteria, sport shop and child care. Free shuttles go to Badger Pass from Valley lodging locations. See Yosemite Today for schedule.
Go Sledding, Tobogganing or Inner-Tubing: Head for Crane Flat Campground on the Big Oak Flat Road near the Tioga Road intersection.
Ice Skate at Curry Village: You can skate daily from November through March, conditions permitting, on a large outdoor rink. Rental skates, a warming hut with lockers, a fire pit and limited snacks are available on-site.
Yosemite Institute provides educational adventures in nature's classroom to inspire a personal connection with the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. For more information on how your child can participate in YI programs, please contact (209) 379-9511 or yi@yni.org.
Yosemite In Depth
News from the Parks
Frommer's Top 5 Parks for Cozy Camping
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
Park to Reopen Today after Crews Repair Road, Channel Kautz Creek
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
Jenna Otter Returns to Scene of Grizzly Bear Attack
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
Expected Rule Change Would Benefit Bicycling in National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
Things Slow At Hawaii's National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
