yosemite blog

Today was our last day of the trip and students are excited to go home.  We are happy to say that the trip went well, with tons of fun experiences and awesome sightseeing. We ended the trip with a short walk through a typical foggy morning on the Golden Gate Bridge, followed by a cool lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant.  We appreciated our tour guide allowing us to eat there as a special treat for our last day.  It was interesting to watch the kids decide what to order and how to manage a $14 budget when a strawberry lemonade costs $4 and most meals ran around $12. They’re real life solution seeking skills came out strong for this task at lunch! After the lunch, we jumped on a trolley and explored our way through a bumpy ride through San Francisco.  Students were introduced to the concept of “geocaching”, the “treasure” hunt for caches, or containers, planted by people of all ages everywhere all over the world using GPS devices.  As an avid “geocacher” myself, I let the students become geocachers today, eliminating their “muggle” status as we found a cache today in a local California history museum.   The students were interested to know more about geocaching (although they may have their own name for it),  and how easily a fun and free adventure could be experienced with a simple iphone app! We placed “Bruce the Moose”, a travel bug destined for Canada in the geocache and brought some other new cool geocache travel bugs home! We were lucky to get bumped into an earlier flight after many delays at the airport.  A huge thank you to Michael, our brave and fearless tour guide, who was awesome! We appreciated his flexibility, patience, tolerance, and most importantly, his sense of humor these past 5 days! The kids had a blast and they will be talking about this trip for the rest of their lives. Thanks to the “Grand Classroom” for making this trip so “right on” for our kids!

What a day! What a day! Lots of driving. Lots of learning moments (well, hopefully). Lots of laughter. Lots of fun. As we head back to Modesto for our last night, everyone is exhausted from some serious physical and mental exercise, which left us drained! We started our day off kayaking through Crowley Lake.  We took the risk of allowing Toby and Isaac in a kayak together without an adult, letting them work through the frustrations of balance and team work.  Throughout our kayaking experience, we engaged in full blown water “battle”, alliances were built, and water splashing war raged on! Michael, the tour guide, won epically as he was able to completely soak every member of our party (including the teachers), with tons of water downpour. Despite passing around the 100 proof sunscreen, some rather large patches of skin were swept over and thus “sunburn art” attacked Toby’s legs! Lotion and cortizone cream were applied immediately!

After safely arriving back on shore, we started to make our way back to Yosemite to see the Giant Sequoias in the Tuolomne Meadows. The giant sequoias were an outrageous site, and offered quite an expedition through, above, and below these magnificent trees, dead and alive!

Once again, the clash of the titans met for the umpteenth time between CJ and Isaac, with Aaron as the brave mediator.  While the peace treaty was duly sought by teachers, Isaac struggled and declared to people (and nature) all about his frustrations and that indeed “Yosemite was not a holy place”, and therefore he could be as loud as he wanted!  Despite it all, Valerie, Nicole, Trish, Michael (the tour guide) work together to remind students about the opportunities and “real-life” experiences these guys are receiving thanks to this trip, and of course, RESCU Academy. Without cell phone service throughout most of our journeys, we realized the importance and value of being able to pick up the phone and call on Art and Cheryl when needed! Thank you Art and Cheryl for your wisdom, support, and guidance that you have invested in us!

Tomorrow San Fran and then home!

Goodnight and good luck!

Tenacious Teachers- Valerie and Nicole!

Thanks for being patient with our lack of internet access these past couple days.  Yosemite Valley has minimal service, but the kids still did a good job blogging each day.  Homesickness is wearing off, the kids are loosening up, and they are really learning to enjoy going along for the ride. Aaron is opening up and showing that amazing grin of his.  Isaac is showing his leadership skills and helping students when needed.  Toby has been a very happy camper, chatting up conversations with Michael our tour guide.  CJ has shown only the sweeter side and has been a good sport all the way, showing nothing but his toughness.  Joey is showing his independent side and singing along to tunes with Valerie in the back of the van. Nicole was also a good sport for using the porta potties for the first time! Dr.Trish has busted out her hiking skills bravely (despite her bad knee), not to mention her first aid kit! I continue to play DJ with my well known mixed CDs to keep the mood upbeat and always fun! After the best shower we could ask for, lights out and computer off!
Goodnight sweet world, Valiant Valerie

After a long and cold night in the tents, we had an EARLY 6:30 am wake up call!  Though many of the kids still groggy and Nicole coming out of the tent with only 45 minutes of sleep, we took a peaceful (almost peaceful) morning hike around the camp grounds in search of wildlife.  We then made our way straight to the dining hall for breakfast, where Aaron surprised us all and yet again ate an enormous meal! After breakfast and fueling up for the day, we took a shuttle bus to a trail which led to our first stop of the day- Mirror Lake.  The trail to the lake was very peaceful and serene, yet on the same token, quite entertaining, as the kids dodged all of the bugs and inch worms that were falling upon us. Once at Mirror Lake, we took many pictures of mirrored images reflecting on the water.  At the lake, we also came across an entire rock stacking garden, at which we built our own rock creations!  After the light hike we made our way to the bottom of Yosemite Falls (the tallest waterfall on the continent).  Soon after, we ate lunch and then did a bit of shopping (surprises for all of you)!  We then departed for a long yet beautiful drive up to the trailhead of Sentinel Dome.  At this point, we were all extremely burnt out, sore and now beginning to get hungry, but were determined to make it to the top (despite some doubts and whines from the kids).  After about a mile into the hike, we were standing at the base of Sentinel Dome.  Now although you may not have been there, try and imagine being 8,100 ft up in elevation, and now looking straight up at a pretty steep incline covered in slick snow! We  called it the north pole and we were looking for Santa! We prevailed and continued to climb, doing it RESCU style and pushing through the fear the doubt!  Although a bit slippery, we all reached the top with the most incredible view in all of Yosemite.  Sentinel Dome overlooked the entire Yosemite Valley, giving us an entirely new perspective of all of the scenery we had encountered earlier.  Way above the many waterfalls and landmarks previously seen, the view was breathtaking. Much caution was taken to ensure that no one ended up attempting to fly and many amazing pictures were captured.  You may be thinking that this was the highlight of the hike, but heading back down the steep, snow covered decline- happened to be the event of the evening.  With one student in each hand, Valerie, Nicole, Trish and Michael (the tour guide) attempted to descend.  Michael and Toby glided down without a problem and watched the show as Valerie (with CJ and Isaac) and Nicole (with Joey and Aaron) were not so successful.  Isaac slipped once and then sled the rest of the way on his own butt and had quite the ride.  Valerie and CJ were able to make down slow and steady, despite all the laughter when watching Nicole try and manage her group.  Nicole, Joey and Aaron took a few spills and almost couldn’t get up due to a state of hysterical laughter.  And don’t worry parents, we were able to get most of it on video!  Finally making it back to the van, we made it to dinner and finally the hotel.  Along the way, we encountered two baby bears and their mother, which was another highlight of the day.  Finally back at a hotel, with a real shower and beds, we are exhausted and off to bed.  Looking forward to a full day of kayaking tomorrow!!

Over and out- No Sleep Nicole

We ventured to Yosemite today from Modesto without a proper radio in hand. At the risk of having students sing “Row Row Row your boat” until Yosemite (and the chaperones possible loss of sanity) DJ Val stepped up and purchased blank CDs in which she was able to create “YO su Mite Volume 1 and 2” in the van. With our fresh soundtrack blasting, we cruised through the beautiful valleys and mountains to Yosemite. Driving down into Yosemite Valley, the students appreciated a stop at the Mist Trail for a quick hike up to a waterfall.  Everyone was surprised how quickly the downpour came, so much that it looked like major floods flowed down the walkway. Soaking wet and refreshed after a long car ride, we were able to walk around the Yosemite village and stop for a quick lunch.  Along the way, we are counting the many weapons of choice Aaron is picking for his battles with the insects, including Pokeman magazines and empty water bottles.  He is safe and sound, always weary of the next bug, even if that means hundreds of lady bugs! (Gotta love it!) We were soon off again soon and we had no idea what we were in store for on this hike! Climbing 2,000 feet in about 1.5 miles up, the students felt and experienced different temperatures and altitudes in what totaled a 5 mile hike!  Chaperones took a light ear to the many “Are we there yet?” and “How much longer?”, but kept the students in stride all the way to the top! Boy were we surprised for such a drastic change in the hike! Approaching a corner we could hear the crash of Vernal falls, but it wasn’t until we turned the corner and emerged onto what Nicole describes as a Lord of the Ringsesque climb- that we knew what was in store! We scrambled up steep stairs as waterfall “rain” came pouring down upon us! What a sensory overload it was! Between the freezing cold from the waterfall, the soaking wet conditions in our face, the major need for focus and exact spatial awareness, and hot and cold contrast of the sun and shade, the kids climbed up bravely and strongly as Froto climbs up Mount Doom to throw “My precious” into the fire! Don’t worry parents, no students were thrown into the falls! What an amazing hike, you will be shocked when you see the many pictures and videos that were taken.  After the hike, we dried off and changed into warm clothes. Our “tent cabins” welcomed us as home for the evening. Students and staff all checked and then checked again to guarantee we were “foodless” and “odorless” in our tents, making use of our bear proof bins effectively! A quick buffet dinner and a sad moment of silence for the Lakers, we are off to blog and then bedtime.  Hopefully we have service these next few nights, but if not, just know that we are looking after your kids and enjoying the peace and “spirit” of Yosemite!

Until tomorrow- Vivacious Valerie

We finally arrived in San Francisco after a pretty painless flight.  We were greeted by Michael, our lone ranger tour guide and NO OTHER SCHOOLS!!  RESCU can be at our wildest with no other witnesses!!  Oh Boy! Yosemite here we come!  After being picked up at the airport, we loaded up what we now call our RESCU van, and made our way down to Fisherman’s Wharf.  After hearing about San Francisco’s famous clam chowder sourdough bread bowls from all of the Grommetts, we found the perfect place to eat (getting most of the chowder in our mouths and only a little all over our shirts and faces)! After eating our Clam Chowder, we strolled through Fisherman’s Wharf while watching (or should I say imitating) the many sea lions along the pier.  We then boarded a ferry to Alcatraz!  Audios tours left our kids completely emerged into the prison life that once was inhabited there.   There were many teachable moments throughout the tour, including “Learning from our mistakes”, as we learned about the prisoners’ life and their time spent within the prison.  It was a bit of an eye opening experience for many of the kids and they may even appreciate what they have!  We took a nice ride to Modesto and stopped in Livermore for dinner. Kids tired, homesickness kicking in, we’re thankful we used our drive wisely to have the kids blog! They are pooped after the long first day and they are tucked in, snuggled in bed already! We’re ready for Yo-sa-MITE tomorrow!

Hello RESCU families and friends!

We are anxiously awaiting our plane to arrive at Gate 4 at San Diego International Airport. The Grommetts passed through security safely, with as much an independence and focus as they can possibly handle! Isaac almost had a panic attack about tubes of  brand new soap and sunscreen he thought he might have to throw away without ever being used…which weren’t actually in his backpack. It STARTS!!!

Joey and CJ are enjoying watching the planes take off and fly in, excited for the day we have in store for us. Toby and Isaac are enjoying their books on tape as we wait in the terminal. After our short flight, we will be venturing through San Francisco, Alcatraz being the highlight of our day. Aaron is excited to see the Sea Lions at the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Look for our student posts in the “Student Diaries” tonight as we arrive in Modesto. Families and friends- the “Parent Feedback” section is your area to post! We look forward to a great trip for the next five days!