School and Group Programs
About Our Program
Winter Activities
During the course of your stay in Yosemite, your group may opt to participate in some of the activities offered by the Delaware North Corporation (DNC) Parks and Resorts at Yosemite. These activities are weather dependent.
Ice Skating
There is an outdoor ice skating rink in Curry Village. There are two sessions which Yosemite Institute (YI) participants can attend. Your school will need to pay for ice skating at the rink. Please keep in mind that more injuries occur on the ice rink than during any other YI related activity. The ice rink personnel are authorized to suspend anyone's skate privileges at any time if they feel that the skater's behavior is endangering the safety of himself or anyone else on the ice.
Afternoon: 3:30 p.m. through dinner
YI groups pay a reduced rate. The rink tends to be less crowded.
Instructors end their teaching day early in order for the students to attend the full session.
Evening: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
YI groups pay full rate. The rink tends to be crowded. The group must forego an evening program in order to attend the session.
Cross-Country Skiing or Snow Shoeing
If a group is scheduled to spend a week in Yosemite Valley (elevation 4,000 feet) in the winter, they can opt to go to Badger Pass (elevation 8,000 feet) to cross-country ski or snow shoe. On average, there is between 9 and 12 feet of snow at Badger Pass, while
Yosemite Valley has 0 to 12 inches of snow. Participants still receive YI instruction while on cross-country skis or snow shoes. Both activities provide opportunities to develop winter outdoor skills and allow access to the park’s alpine resources. Current rental prices are available on our price list for optional services. YI will bill your school for the equipment rentals and you will also need to pay for the instructor’s equipment rental.
