School and Group Programs
Organizing Your Trip
Crane Flat Accommodations
Crane Flat is located on Tioga Road (SR 120). The site is about 15 miles from Yosemite Valley. Giant Sequoias are about a mile away in Tuolumne Grove.
The new maximum capacity at Crane Flat is 60 people total. Participants should prepare for rustic conditions.
No alcohol is allowed in the camp.
- Weather
- Sample schedule
- Lodging, heat, linens, and bathhouse
- Food service
- Clean up
- Telephone
- Community experience
- Site cautions
- Skiing and snowshoeing
Weather
Crane Flat is at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Because of the altitude and surrounding trees, it is about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Yosemite Valley. You can expect:
- Snow cover all winter
- Cool breezes, even on very warm fall and spring days
- Extreme and sudden shifts in temperatures
For more weather information, visit Yosemite park online.
Sample Schedule
Schedules may vary slightly depending on weather, space availability, etc.
- Wake-up 7:00 a.m.
- Breakfast bell 7:45 a.m.
- Out in the field 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Dinner bell 5:30 p.m.
- Evening program 7:00 p.m.
- Quiet time, everyone in dorm 9:00 - 9:30 p.m.
- Lights out 10:00 p.m
Chaperones are responsible for the supervision of students during all free time. Free time is available:
- Before breakfast
- At the end of the teaching day
- After dinner (unless your group is scheduled for clean up)
Lodging
Accommodations at Crane Flat are rustic. Dormitories are divided to help separate groups by gender. The layout does not provide separate dorms for group leaders. They stay in the dorms with students. Facilities may be shared by other groups with Yosemite Institute.
Heating
Wood stoves heat the buildings in Crane Flat. Stoves in the dorms are to be lit:
- By adults only
- After the evening program
During cold weather, a warm stove will be available in the dining hall in the morning and after hikes.
Linens
No linens are provided. Be sure to pack the
following:
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Towel
- Personal toiletries
Bathhouse
Showers and toilets are located in a central bathhouse. To ensure hot water and paper products for everyone, please:
- Take short showers
- Use the minimum amount of paper towels and toilet paper
Food Service
We provide the highest quality meals possible to our participants. All participants receive lunch out in the field. Participants staying at Crane Flat are served together in dining room, family style.
Clean Up
Teachers, chaperones, and students are all expected to help keep the facilities tidy and clean. Tasks in the kitchen, dorms, bathhouse, and grounds areas are divided equally among teaching groups. Yosemite Institute staff supervises.
Telephone
Cell phone reception is very poor at Crane Flat. One pay phone is available. The private phones onsite are for staff only, except in an emergency.
Community Experience
If your group has fewer than 50 participants, you will likely be sharing the space with other Yosemite Institute groups. Your group could be scheduled to:
- Attend evening programs with other groups
- Eat with others in the dining hall
- Share a dorm
We ask the adults in your group to set a helpful example by:
- Encouraging positive interactions between your group and others
- Maintaining a reasonable noise level
Additional Site Cautions
In case of fire
Each building is outfitted with fire extinguishers.
In a major fire, everyone is to evacuate immediately and meet at the far end of the parking lot.
Electricty
A small, 10,000 watt diesel generator produces all of Crane Flat's electricity. Because of this, please do not plug in hair dryers, electric blankets, or other electronic devices.
For critical needs, the site manager can direct you to an appropriate outlet.
Proper clothing
Packing the proper clothing is essential to making your stay at Crane Flat more comfortable and enjoyable. Our clothing and equipment list gives complete details. For Crane Flat, please remember to pack:
- Extra socks and gloves – wet clothing does not always dry overnight
- Layers – weather can go from one extreme to the next without warning
- Warm clothes – weather is much cooler and shadier than Yosemite Valley
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Skis or snowshoes may be used for participants to explore the area. Your Yosemite Institute field educator will assess whether conditions are appropriate for integrating skiing or snowshoeing into your program
