Students arrive at Clair Tappaan Lodge sometime in the mid to late morning depending on school departure time. Travel time from your school to Clair Tappaan Lodge is 3.5 - 4 hours.

Check in and Orientation: We will provide an orientation for the entire group - going over safety rules and Leave No Trace ethics and practices. Students will have already been assigned to hiking groups and they will know who their designated adult chaperones are. Upon arrival, the groups will each move into the lodge with their chaperones; rooms and bunks will already have been assigned.

Program Overview Gateway Mountain Center programs balance field science instruction, hiking, and reflection. We emphasize active learning that is cooperative, fun, and provocative. Exact destinations are chosen by our staff to illustrate themes and concepts and to provide a meaningful outdoor experience. Group safety, trail conditions, group cooperation and fitness levels (including adult chaperones) are taken into account in determining a day’s activities.

Groups will be made up of 10-12 students and one or two chaperones to one guide.

• Wednesday, October 26th
Forest Ecology We will hike through the forest behind the lodge, searching for animal tracks and learning how animals adapt and survive with the climate on Donner Summit. We will also learn the different tree species and other elements of the forest habitat, emphasizing the many benefits these forests provide, such as recreation, beauty, timber resources and carbon storage. In addition, students will get hands-on practice conducting an assessment of the carbon sequestration capacity of local trees. In small teams, students will learn to identify tree species, measure their height and diameter, and use this information to calculate the amount of carbon sequestered in each tree and how this relates to the students’ carbon footprint.

Evening Program: Night walk including animal adaptation activities

• Thursday, October 27th

Morning: History Hike We will walk back in time passing through Tunnel 6 (infamous as the most difficult to complete section of the entire trans-continental railroad) – to the craggy gap that the emigrant Stevens and Donner parties struggled through with their wagons – down to some of the oldest petroglyphs found in the Sierra. Along the way we will share readings describing the Chinese rail worker experience, harrowing stories from the emigrant pioneers, and tales of initiation from California’s Native American tribes. Students will do a creative writing assignment describing a “day in the life” from one of the periods studied. Group challenges along the way incorporate leadership, communication and trust building.

Afternoon: Rock Climbing We will enjoy the challenge of climbing on the spectacular granite cliffs of Donner Summit. Students will learn the basics of the climbing safety system: harnesses, knots, and belaying. All equipment is provided.

Evening Program: Campfire, with stories, songs, skits and s’mores

Donner Peak Hike Students will hike to the summit of Donner Peak, for spectacular views and a grand overview of the unique geology of the region. At the summit they will have time for reflection and an overview of the beginning of the South Yuba River watershed. We will do journaling activities, nature-based art, and games throughout the day.

Groups will return to the lodge for a closing activity and to load vehicles for the return trip to school (approximate departure time 3:30pm).