I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
-William Wordsworth

In this issue we feature:
- Mesa Verde 100 years
- Summer Intergenerational - a great bonding experience
- Program review: Great Deserts by Robert Sholiton
- A river adventure: kayaking the San Juan
- News, Tips & Ideas, and Recommended Reading

As always we love hearing from you! Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have a story you would like to share, or think of a topic you would like us to cover. Just send an email to: ehcomments@bus.cba.nau.edu

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Wishing you lots of sunshine and warmth,
The Staff at NAU Elderhostel

This year Mesa Verde is celebrating 100 years as the first national park set aside to preserve the works of humankind. Join us in experiencing this World Heritage site. We have several offerings of both three and five night programs to Mesa Verde this May, August, September and October.

Three night program highlights include:
·  Presentations on Anasazi culture, park history and discovery by the
   Wetherills.
·  Guided tours of Cliff  Palace and Mesa Top Loop.
·  Visit to Chapin Mesa Museum and guided tour of Spruce Tree House.
·  In-park accommodations at the Far View Lodge with private balconies and
   100-mile views.
·  Cowboy songs and storytelling.

Learn more about our Mesa Verde three night Snapshot programs.
Learn more about our Mesa Verde five night programs.

Our popular "Four Corners Canyon Country" program also visit Mesa Verde for three nights.
 

Join our experienced staff to explore some of the best parts of Northern Arizona with your grandchild or young companion.  Nestled at the base of Arizona’s highest peak, 12,633-foot Mt. Humphreys, Flagstaff provides a stimulating atmosphere for sharing once-in-a-lifetime experiences with your grandchild, which are designed with kids in mind. Build a survival shelter and test your survival know-how. Dip your toes in the Colorado River’s icy waters as you float beneath the towering sandstone cliffs, watching hawks, discovering ancient petroglyphs and maybe even enjoying a water fight! Descend the steps into Walnut Canyon’s limestone and sandstone cliffs where the wind whispers through the trees as turkey vultures soar above you. Round the next corner and you come face to face with ruins of the ancient Anasazi. Lie on your back and trace the summer constellations while listening to star stories. Then climb aboard the Grand Canyon Railway for an exciting trip to the rim of the world’s #1 travel destination, the Grand Canyon! Nearby attractions include ancient Indian ruins, modern Indian tribes, horseback riding, lava-tube caves, natural water slides and Sedona. Flagstaff is 140 miles north of Phoenix with convenient bus, air and rail connections. At 7,000 feet in elevation, it is one of the highest cities in the nation, offering very pleasant summer temperatures in the 80’s.
Learn more about our intergenerational program.
Tips on traveling with grandchildren.
 

NEW - Great Deserts
January 21-30, 2006
Review by Robert Sholiton

"This traveling program, run by Northern Arizona University, is a welcome addition for those interested in the natural history and beauty of the Southwest. In Tucson there was a visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with a docent-led tour, followed by a visit to Saguaro National Park. We then traveled to Yuma where we had lunch at a funky Western restaurant, visited Yuma Crossing State Park and had excellent lectures on water issues and the U.S. Border Patrol. We traveled to Palm Springs via the sand dunes near the Arizona border, the fertile Imperial Valley, Salton Sea and a date farm. Our home in Palm Springs was the Riviera Resort, an attractive and luxurious place. We visited the Living Desert (a bit commercial, but with a good raptor show) and traveled to Joshua Tree National Park with a nature walk there. There was an optional (and extremely worthwhile) visit to the Palm Springs aerial tramway. Many people spent the free evening visiting the downtown street fair or attending the Palm Springs Follies, famous for its Elderhostel-age chorus girls. We drove to Death Valley and visited the lowest point in North America before checking into our comfortable motel-style accommodations at Furnace Creek Ranch. We had two nature walks, a visit to Scotty's Castle, the Harmony Borax Works ruins, and Ubehebe Crater. There were ranger lectures on two evenings. The final night we had a barbecue dinner and closing party. The next morning we drove to Las Vegas Airport.
 
 The entire program was well-planned for interest, variety and pace and well executed by our excellent tour leader Jeff Strang and our great driver Chuck. The university bus was luxurious and comfortable. All in all, it was an exceptional program."
Learn more about this program.

Explore one of the most beautiful and still undiscovered river canyons in the four corners area. Become skilled in paddling inflatable kayaks on the San Juan River, a premier river for mild white water rafting and kayaking as you enjoy magnificent red rock canyons, bighorn sheep and ancient Anasazi dwellings and petroglyphs. Delight in gourmet meals and peaceful wilderness camping. All river and camping equipment provided. The river is challenging, yet friendly and great for first-time paddlers.
Learn more about this program.