Yosemite is the ideal outdoor classroom for exploring the natural and cultural history of the park. Yosemite is a great place to realize the wisdom of the National Park concept of protection and preservation, which is basic to our enjoyment of Yosemite now, and for the pleasure of generations to come.

If you're planning to bring your class to Yosemite, you have several options:

• Parks as Classrooms
  Students spend about an hour learning about black bears (spring) or local Indian culture (fall).
  
  
• Environmental Living Program
  Students stay at the Pioneer History Center and assume the roles of historical people from the 19th and 20th centuries.
  
  
• Yosemite Institute environmental education programs
  Award-winning residential programs for K-12 schools. Programs are experiential, inquiry-based, and aligned with state learning requirements.
  
  
• Yosemite Association Outdoor Adventures
  Botany, geology, astronomy, ecology, and ethnic studies are only a few of the topics covered in field seminars offered throughout the year and described in a catalog issued annually.

Even if you don't attend a scheduled program, your educational group may still qualify for a waiver of park entrance fees.

Resources

• Self-Guiding Trails:
• • Pioneer Yosemite History Center [267 kb PDF]
  • Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias [256 kb PDF]
  • Cook's Meadow (begins at Valley Visitor Center)
    
    
• Indian Village and Museum: A self-guiding trail winds through the Indian Village of Ahwahnee, where you can see demonstrations of various facets of Indian life. The Indian Museum displays baskets, clothing, tools, and jewelry along with demonstrations of beading and other crafts.