Yosemite, April 13-17, 2026

At One Spark Academy, we take our adventures seriously! We partner with NatureBridge to bring our students the most awesome, hands-on, and memorable experiences possible. (The pictures above are from our 2024 adventure to Yosemite.) Our adventures are unplugged from the indoor world so that we can plug into the natural, outdoor world. Like us, NatureBridge promotes the idea of nurturing kids’  independence and self-reliance, while examining the importance of our interdependence with one another and the world around us.

WHAT WE’LL DO:

We’ll spend a week outdoors in one of the most beautiful classrooms on Earth! With the towering majesty of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls looming above them, students will hike through the dramatic landscapes of Yosemite, explore ancient groves of giant sequoias, and challenge themselves to hike up to cascading waterfalls, as long as the trails are safe. With the incredible resources of NatureBridge, they will explore the geologic history of the Sierra Nevada; engage in field research projects, such as macroinvertebrate biomonitoring; and discover how the environment has supported humans, from the early Miwok to the present. NatureBridge works closely with the National Park Service and utilizes some of the data that students will collect and compile.

Four nights will be spent nestled in the NatureBridge’s BRAND NEW National Environmental Science Center (NESC), which is in Wawona, and outside on the rim of the Valley. (Video of NESC here.) At 6,200 ft. elevation, it is more likely than the valley floor to have snow, as we did in 2024! This is a small campus (only 56 beds so far), so our OSA group might have this location to ourselves! Students will sleep in comfy, updated cabins with their chaperones. They will enjoy delicious food, day programs with an experienced NatureBridge educator, and fun evening programs (such as an art class, a night hike, or a collaborative activity). During the day, we will be out in the field, walking and/or hiking anywhere from 5-8 miles over the day, in all types of weather. Other adventures may include rock scrambling near El Capitan, dipping our toes into the Merced River, enjoying the views from Glacier Point, a spirit walk through the valley, climbing through a felled giant sequoia, and so much more. This is an adventure not to be missed!

COST/ DEADLINES:
Student cost is approximately $1250*

This cost is based on 20 students attending, and includes transportation, comfy accommodations, all meals and snacks (including meals en route), all activities, and a contribution toward other significant costs (OSA teacher-chaperones, gas, and the rental of large vehicles to reduce the number of drivers needed). *The final cost may be adjusted based on gas prices, the cost of rental vehicles, and/or the final number of students attending. 

  • A deposit of $300 is required to hold a spot. We have currently reserved 20 student spots and will only add more with a deposit (and pending NatureBridge approval).
  • October 1: Deposits due since our deposit to NB is due by October 1 (after that, there is no guarantee of attendance)
  • January 2026: Parent information meeting, date TBD
  • February 13, 2026: Final payments due
  • March 13, 2026: All registration paperwork due
  • April 1, 2026: Begin modified quarantine. Students will still be in school and then have one week of Spring Break prior (including Easter on April 5), so please consider all of this and how best to stay healthy. See details below. We prefer that students NOT travel via any public transportation the week prior!
ITINERARY:
  • Monday, April 13: Meet at OSA early (6:30 AM) for a 7:00 AM departure, with our caravan driving to Yosemite. Arrival at the NESC by 3:00. We will stop for lunch* en route.
  • Monday-Friday: Sit down breakfast T-F, and then out in the field each day T-TH, 9:00-4:00 PM (lunch on the trail), followed by delicious sit-down dinners, and then an evening program each night. Midweek, we’ll take our “big” hiking days, although there will be hiking, exploration, and team-building daily! Other activities include studies, experiments, and learning about the geological landscape (rock cycle, tectonic plates), the history of Yosemite, and issues that impact our National Parks.
  • If conditions permit and everyone is interested, we might enjoy cross-country skiing. An $85* surcharge would be added for all the rental equipment.
  • Friday, April 17: Breakfast, morning activities, lunch, and depart in chaperone vehicles. Stop for a meal* en route. Arrival back at OSA around 9:00 PM.
  • *Other stops will be taken for snacks and using restrooms, and/or an additional meal if needed due to traffic.
PLEASE NOTE:
  • Cabin arrangements: We will have large dorm rooms with bunk-style sleeping, dependent on our numbers and needs. At least one male and one female chaperone will be with students in their dorm rooms (see picture above). Other adult chaperones will be in a separate dorm room.
  • This is an unplugged trip. Students are expected to leave their phones at home. Chaperones or OSA staff may secure phones if brought, although some photography is permitted (we suggest a good old-fashioned camera). NatureBridge staff can be contacted at any time in case of an emergency.
  • OSA staff will take PLENTY of pictures and share all of them with you.
  • Excellent student behavior is expected (cooperation, safety, adherence to chaperone/educator directives).
  • Excellent parent communication is expected before (and during, if needed) the trip. There is much to plan and communicate in the months and weeks leading up to our departure. Parents need to support our chaperones and respect our decision-making. They also must recognize that conflicts, growth, and discomfort are all part of such a trip. The safety of all depends on our ability to focus on all.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS:

As this is an overnight trip, it is up to ALL participants to do their best to be healthy for themselves and others:

  • All participants (students, OSA chaperones) agree to adhere to any updated health requests by NatureBridge. NatureBridge follows all California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local National Park Service requirements and recommendations for public health.
  • Moderate quarantine is requested for all participants for ten days before camp arrival. We ask that attendees not travel out of their area, attend large gatherings, or have sleepovers unless health and wellness are assured. This is to ensure a high likelihood of excellent general health and wellness for our group.
CHAPERONES:
  • There is a limit to the number of chaperones we can bring, and priority goes to OSA staff and then OSA Board Members. Most of our chaperones on this trip have been NatureBridge chaperones multiple times and know the drill.
  • After 15 students, we will have two trail education groups (and two NB educators). Students will be assigned to one of those groups to be with during each field day. At least one, but not more than two, chaperones will be with each group each day.
  • Students are supervised by chaperones or NB staff at all times.
  • We believe our students blossom in NEW and unexpected ways when they are allowed to face the uncertainty of being far away from home. That is why we rarely, IF EVER, have parents join us as chaperones. If we need additional chaperones (parents), the priority would go to a father (since we have limited male chaperones) who would not be in the same cabin or trail group as his child. (NatureBridge doesn’t allow parents to be in the same trail group or cabin as their child.) Parent chaperones must pay a chaperone cost of $850.

For further questions, email Lori Peters.