Yosemite

Yosemite is a place that puts us in touch with the wild that we miss day to day. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Naturalist John Muir said of Yosemite, “. . . [It is] the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter. . .” This dramatic place is accessible to a lucky few for a day trip. It stands as a retreat from our daily reality and a place for us to tangibly experience nature on a grand scale. When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, amidst the violent throes of the depths of the Civil War on June 30th , 1864, he dictated that this special place be protected “. . . upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort and
recreation . . . “

Approximately 3.5 million people visit Yosemite National Park annually. These people come for reasons as unique as the individuals themselves. But the opportunity for education in the valley cannot be overlooked. Yosemite is rich in lesson material. There is history and art and geology and anthropology. There is biology and literature and these are all held in the crags and cracks of massive granite walls, in the ever alert gaze of a mule deer or the roar of a barreling waterfall, even the perceived simplicity of an acorn. We find in Yosemite that as we learn, there is more to learn. The layers peel back but no end is found. This, the place from which our national park idea was founded, is a wonderful gift and one from which we must learn lessons of conservation and appreciation.

Old Oak Ranch Educational Programs (OOREP) is now presenting an introductory trip to Yosemite for campers of all ages and school groups grades four through eight. “Introductory,” because it is our hope that we will spark a passion for Yosemite that will burn for a lifetime. We hope that this trip will be the first of many for our students and guests.