"The staff, the food, the accommodations, the program, the kayaking were all superb -- everything you could ask for in an Elderhostel. Thanks!!!" Geri & Don Hayes - Sturgeon Bay, WI |
Elderhostel is a not-for-profit organization offering programs that combine outdoor adventure with learning and discovery for enthusiastic learners 55 and older, as well as programs for grandparents and their grandchildren. At Skamokawa Center, Elderhostel offers kayak explorations of the Lower Columbia River [see below]. These programs explore the epic journey of Lewis & Clark and the history, natural history, and the future of the river.
Skamokawa Center,
on the waterfront of an old river town (now a National Historic
District), is on the site of a former Wahkiakum Indian Village
where Lewis & Clark traded on their journey to the Pacific.
Skamokawa is the gateway to the Lewis & Clark Water Trail,
untouched landscapes, and the best kayaking on the Columbia
River. Two national wildlife refuges meet at Skamokawa ["ska-MOK-away"].
It is 90 minutes from Portland and less than 3 hours from
Seattle. (Directions)
Accommodations: Modern rooms in historic Skamokawa Inn have
double bed, twin sofa bed, tiled bath, desk, wing chair with reading light, WiFi access, and satellite TV.
Summary
of Programs and Other Features |
The
Lower Columbia River is a place of natural beauty, wildlife,
marsh islands, and ancient Sitka spruce swamps. Skamokawa
Country resonates with the history and pre-history of the
region. It is a world apart. (View photos from a recent Elderhostel.)
In all our programs we explore three major themes, both on the water and in the evening programs: 1) The Natural History of the Lower Columbia: the
geology, flora, and fauna of the region. 2) The Human History of the river: The Columbia has been
home and highway to diverse people from around the
world; Chinookan tribes, sailors, explorers, trappers,
fishermen, loggers, farmers. We will paddle through
sites where they lived and worked; some places vibrant,
others long abandoned and returning to nature. 3) The Epic Journey of Lewis & Clark: As
we follow the Lewis & Clark Expedition's route through
the Lower Columbia, their journals provide a springboard
for an understanding of their experiences of the local tribes and their scientific discoveries.
Your leaders are not just skilled kayak guides capable of teaching everything from basic skills to rolls and rescues, but are expert in local history, geology, and biology.
| This was one of the most delightful Elderhostels I have been on. All the instructors were above excellent. Their knowledge and enthusiasm put them in the top of the class. The food was excellent. The accommodations were perfect. I will rave about this program. Rasmus Erdal, Ft Collins, CO |
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Spring 2008: Adult |
#13322: Spring
Kayaking Lower Columbia River: Wildflowers, Wildlife,
Waterfalls.
Dates: 6 days, 5 nights:
Mar 30-Apr 4, Apr 13-18, Apr 27-May 2, May 11-16.
Fee: Double room: $729; single supplement, $150.
Kayak into a world
of diverse habitats – spruce swamps, marsh
islands, rain forests, and basalt cliffs with 90-foot
waterfalls. Examine the amazing range of flora and fauna
that flourish in these habitats at the height of the bird migration, when spring flowers open and rain-charged waterfalls pour down the cliffs of the Lower Gorge. (MORE.)
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Summer 2008: Adult |
#2288: Kayaking the Lower Columbia River: Exploration
and Discovery.
Dates: 6 days, 5 nights:
May 25-30; June 8-13; June 22-27; Aug 17-22; Aug 31-Sep 5.
Fee: Double room: $729; single supplement,
$150.
Skamokawa is the best location for exploring the lower Columbia River by kayak. Close by are narrow channels winding through Sitka spruce swamp, the islands of the 35,000-acre Lewis & Clark National Wildlife Refuge, the rugged forests of the north shore, and the 90-foot basalt cliffs and waterfalls of the Lower Gorge. In the summer program we will explore the human history and natural history of the Lower Columbia, as well as the saga of Lewis and Clark.
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Summer 2008: Intergenerational - Grandparents and Grandchildren |
#4763: Kayaking
the Lewis & Clark Columbia River Water Trail.
Dates: 6 days, 5 nights:
July 6-11; July 20-25; Aug
3-8
Fee: Grandparent, $729; grandchild
$699.
Relive,
share, and learn with a grandchild the drama
and adventure of the epic Lewis & Clark expedition on
a kayak-based tour of discovery that includes history,
science, and literature. Trace the Lewis & Clark expedition’s
1805 route in Skamokawa country, paddling by Indian village
sites where Lewis & Clark traded and among with islands
of two great national wildlife refuges. The grandchildren especially enjoy the Kayak Rodeo on the second day. (MORE)
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Fall: Adult |
Dates: 6 days, 5 nights: Sept 9-14; Sept 23-28; Oct 7-12; Oct 21-26; Nov 4-9
Fee: Double room: $729; single supplement, $150.
There is an air of adventure in Skamokawa Country in the Fall. Nature takes on new colors, and wildlife is most in evidence -- giving you a sense of what the Lower Columbia was like when Lewis & Clark first saw this land in November, 1805. Come explore the diverse habitats of spruce swamps, marsh islands, and rain forests, and enjoy great looks at the many species of birds migrating through the area. (MORE.)
| Other Program Features |
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NO KAYAKING EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. Training is by patient and experienced staff. Kayak trips are on protected sloughs and the river. Duration is up to 5 hours including lunch stops and exploration breaks. Participants need to be in good physical condition. | |
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WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT FOOD. Three course dinners. Examples: baked fresh salmon, two salads, pound cake and fresh fruit; mustard chicken breast, baked red potatoes with garlic butter, green salad, pasta salad, and strawberry ice. Menus are available for vegetarian and other dietary requirements. | |
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EVENING
PROGRAMS. Enjoy an evening of
classical music that Jefferson called “the favorite
passion of my soul” and folk music played along
the Lewis & Clark trail. Players are in dress of the
period and provide commentary. Other evening programs
include slide lectures and readings about Lewis & Clark
in Skamokawa Country, local native Americal culture, local history, the fishery, and public policy
issues shaping the destiny of the Lower Columbia River.
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NATURE WALKS. Wind through mature second growth forest along the Columbia’s north shore, featuring many plants first described for science by Meriwether Lewis. Go on an early morning guided bird walk from Skamokawa Center into the neighboring Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge. | |
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FREE TIME. Hike, bike, tennis, golf, kayak, relax. | |
