Compare Hands-On Paleontology: Excavating and Preserving Mammoths in the Black Hills by Road Scholar vs America's Magnificent National Parks 2023 End Denver Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location: Hot Springs, SD Meal: D Hotel: USA Stay Hotel & Suites
Activity note: For this afternoon's exploration of the Mammoth Site, you can walk the 6-7 blocks to the site or a ride will be provided.

Afternoon: Hotel check-in: Available from 3 p.m. Program Registration: After getting your room assignment, please go to the Road Scholar desk in the lobby to register, pick up your Arrival Packet, which will have the latest updated schedule, and find out the time of the day’s Orientation. The group will meet at 3:45 p.m. in the hotel hospitality room to either walk or ride to the Mammoth Site for the introduction tour.

Dinner: Woolly’s Western Grill is across the street from the hotel. Each dinner at Woolly's is order off the menu along with a daily chef's choice entrée. American cuisine as well as several Mexican Style entrées. Additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Orientation: Enjoy a warm welcome and introductions to staff and your fellow participants. We will review the schedule and discuss responsibilities, schedule changes, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, contact numbers for key staff and answer all your questions.

Day 2
Excavation or Lab work at Mammoth Site / Afternoon Lecture
Location: Hot Springs, SD Meal: B,L,D Hotel: USA Stay Hotel & Suites
Activity note: On each day of this program, you must be able to stand, bend, kneel and handle a small container of sediment while excavating in the bone bed (indoors) and participating in lab work (indoors). If you have physical limitations, the staff will help you find a location within the bone bed and lab that will work for you.

Breakfast: Daily breakfast begins at 6:00 a.m. in the hotel. Choice of hot/cold cereal, assorted breads, pastries, hot egg dish, breakfast meat, yogurt, fruit, milk, juices, water, coffee, and hot tea. Additional beverages available for purchase.

Morning: Work begins daily at the Mammoth Site at 8:15 a.m. Participants will split into two or three groups for the excavation and lab work. Justin Wilkins, In-situ bone bed curator and secondary educator along with Monica Bugbee will provide excavation instruction and an overview of the bone bed before each group begins working, as well as continuing supervision and instruction during the week. Lab director and collections curator Olga Potapova oversees all aspects of the lab work. All groups will have equal time to work in the lab, the bone bed excavation site, molding and casting, and an exhibits walk/talk along with a mapping demonstration. The lab group will rotate its work in three major areas: bone preparation, molding and casting, and screen-picking bone bed sediments for small fauna, etc. In addition, Olga Potapova and her assistants will take you on a behind-the-scenes exploration of the lab-specimen storage area. With our experts, you will practice excavation techniques as you piece together life in the Ice Age. Fossil finds may be actual portions of the animal, such as bones, teeth, and shells; imprints of tracks and trails; or maybe replaced by minerals such as silica, iron and manganese. Excavation continues in the previously opened areas of the site both in lateral and vertical dimensions.

Lunch: Today's lunch at the Mammoth Site is chicken, potato salad, buns, salad, dessert, bottled water, hot tea and coffee. You will meet and eat with the Mammoth Site staff members working behind the scenes.

Afternoon: Work continues with the excavation and lab work led by our experts. Work ends at the Mammoth Site at 4:00 p.m. Justin Wilkins presents a 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. lecture at the Mammoth Site, "Geology of the Black Hills and Surrounding Areas." Topic and presenter may vary based on the current research work being conducted at the Mammoth Site.

Dinner: Woolly’s Western Grill is located across the street from the hotel. You may go to dinner anytime after 5:30 p.m. Dinner at Woolly's is order off the menu along with a daily chef's choice entrée. American cuisine as well as several Mexican Style entrées. Additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Free time after dinner: Study/read your handouts from the Mammoth Site, swim in the indoor hotel pool, exercise in the fitness room, take a walk or visit your with fellow Road Scholar participants in the hotel breakfast room.

Day 3
Excavation or Lab work at Mammoth Site / Afternnon Lecture
Location: Hot Springs, SD Meal: B,L,D Hotel: USA Stay Hotel & Suites
Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Work continues at 8:15 a.m. with the excavation and lab work led by our experts.

Lunch: Sack lunch at the Mammoth Site, along with a short presentation about the history of the site and the outreach educational programs at the Mammoth Site. Ham, turkey, roast beef sandwiches, chips, salad, dessert, coffee and bottled water. Soda available for purchase in machines at Mammoth Site.

Afternoon: Participants will continue to work in groups on the excavation and lab work that is led by our experts. Again, there will be a rotation in three major areas: bone preparation, molding and casting, and screen-picking bone bed sediments for small fauna, etc. Work ends at the site at 4:00 p.m. Monica Bugbee presents a 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. lecture at the Mammoth Site, "Skull removal and preparation." Topic and presenter may vary based on the current research work being conducted at the Mammoth Site

Dinner: Woolly’s Western Grill is located across the street from the hotel. You may go to dinner anytime after 5:30 p.m. Dinner at Woolly's is order off the menu along with a daily chef's choice entrée. American cuisine as well as several Mexican Style entrées. Additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Free time after dinner: Study/read your handouts from the Mammoth Site, swim in the indoor hotel pool, exercise in the fitness room, take a walk or visit your with fellow Road Scholar participants in the hotel breakfast room.

Day 4
Excavation or Lab work at Mammoth Site / Afternoon Lecture.
Location: Hot Springs, SD Meal: B,L,D Hotel: USA Stay Hotel & Suites
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Work continues at 8:15 a.m. with the excavation and lab work led by our experts.

Lunch: Sandwiches, chips, fruit, salad, dessert, water, hot tea and coffee for lunch at the Mammoth Site. Purchase sodas at the Mammoth Site. Presentation focusing on opportunities for supporting the Mammoth Site.

Afternoon: Participants will continue to work in groups on the excavation and lab work that is led by our experts. Again, there will be a rotation in three major areas: bone preparation, molding and casting, and screen-picking bone bed sediments for small fauna, etc. Work ends at the site at 4 p.m. 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. lecture by Justin Wilkins, "The Mammoth Site in Context: Expanded Research Projects."

Dinner: 6:15 p.m. Enjoy a catered dinner in the hotel breakfast room. Salad, entrée, dessert, soda, hot tea, and coffee.

Evening: Free time after dinner: Study/read your handouts from the Mammoth Site, swim in the indoor hotel pool, exercise in the fitness room, take a walk or visit your with fellow Road Scholar participants in the hotel breakfast room.

Day 5
Excavation or Lab work at Mammoth Site / Afternoon Lecture
Location: Hot Springs, SD Meal: B,L,D Hotel: USA Stay Hotel & Suites
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Beginning at 8:15 a.m., participants will continue to work in groups on the excavation and lab work that is led by our experts. Also interact with other experienced workers and volunteers. Practice your excavation techniques as you help piece together life in the Ice Age. Fossil finds may be actual portions of the animal, such as bones, teeth, and shells; imprints of tracks and trails; or maybe replaced by minerals such as silica, iron and manganese.

Lunch: Enjoy your salad lunch during a noon presentation at the Mammoth Site. Beverage choices include bottled water, hot tea and coffee. Purchased sodas available at Mammoth Site.

Afternoon: Participants will continue to work in groups on the excavation and lab work that is led by our experts. Work ends at the Mammoth Site at 4:00 p.m. 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Monica Bugbee presents your final lecture "A Trip to Channel Islands."

Dinner: Woolly’s Western Grill is located across the street from the hotel. You may go to dinner anytime after 5:30 p.m. Dinner at Woolly's is order off the menu along with a daily chef's choice entrée. American cuisine as well as several Mexican Style entrées. Additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Free time after dinner: Study/read your handouts from the Mammoth Site, swim in the indoor hotel pool, exercise in the fitness room, take a walk or visit your with fellow Road Scholar participants in the hotel breakfast room.

Day 6
Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument
Location: Hot Springs, SD Meal: B,L,D Hotel: USA Stay Hotel & Suites
Activity note: Will be walking across grassy areas at the Buffalo Roundup, flat sidewalk surfaces at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, optional walking trail with steps at Mount Rushmore.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Depart the hotel very early in the morning to attend the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. Enjoy a drive through Custer State Park’s 73,000 acres, one of the largest state parks in the nation. While driving the park’s Wildlife Loop, watch for mule and whitetail deer, antelope, “begging” burros, coyotes, wild turkeys, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and Golden Eagles. The State Game Lodge, located within the park, is a gracious stone-and-wood lodge built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It served as the "Summer White House" for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. During the Buffalo Roundup, you will be sitting and standing on grassy areas. Your instructor will find the best observation place as park personnel and cowhands do their best to drive the buffalo into corrals in this first step to preparing part of the herd for the November Buffalo Auction. The annual roundup is conducted to keep the bison population in check with the available grassland forage. The revenues from the sale (about 450 animals) help support day-to-day operations of the park. Bison facts: It is the largest land mammal in North America, can stand 6 feet at the shoulders, weigh over 2,000 pounds, clock speeds of 50 mph and easily push a one-ton opponent backwards. Buffalo paw the ground and raise their tail as a warning when angry. During a storm, buffalo face straight into the storm, whereas domestic livestock face away.

Lunch: Enjoy a BBQ sandwich, chips, cookie, bottled water or coffee for lunch at the Buffalo Roundup Corral Tent. Beer available for purchase.

Afternoon: At 12:30 p.m., park staff begins branding the calves and checking the general health of all the bison, determining which will be sold and which kept. You can watch all this from a catwalk above the pens. Travel to Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. The majestic, 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents gaze out over South Dakota’s Black Hills. From the Grandview Terrace, the views are spectacular of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Discover why the four presidents were selected, see how the mountain was carved and learn about sculptor Gutzon Borglum and workers who brought Mount Rushmore to life. Visit the interpretive center that explains how the mountain was carved, watch a short introduction film, find your state flag, and just enjoy the beauty of the area. If you can walk stairs, you may want to take a half-mile walk on the Presidential Trail. Later, 15 miles from Mount Rushmore, see a fifth granite face that has emerged in the Black Hills. Crazy Horse is the largest sculptural undertaking ever, on a scale with the Egyptian pyramids. In 1939, Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear invited sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to carve an Indian memorial in the Black Hills. Though Korczak died in 1982, the sculptor’s family continues the non-profit project. It will be the largest mountain carving in the world when completed.

Dinner: Enjoy a Farewell Dinner at Woolly's, say goodbye to fellow participants and share stories of your week long adventure in the Black Hills.

Evening: Relax after dinner and a busy day in the Black Hills and the Buffalo Roundup. Don't forget to make your arrangements with the shuttle to the airport.

Day 7
Program Concludes
Location: Hot Springs, SD Meal: B
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. The program concludes after breakfast. Hotel checkout by noon. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network, where you can share memories, pictures and comments. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1: Arrive in Phoenix and Travel to Scottsdale

Welcome to Arizona, famous for its scenic road trips, towering Monument Valley, and of course the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Your airport transfer will whisk you to your hotel in Scottsdale where you can enjoy the facilities and grounds of this striking desert oasis. Why not head out and explore Old Scottsdale, a vibrant and unique urban downtown area that introduces you the best of the state? Here, you’ll be surrounded by retro wooden buildings, rodeo inspired artwork and a selection of local stores, all radiating a classic Southwestern flair. At 18:00, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner at Zuzu, where you will have the opportunity to mingle and get to know one another.

Day 2: Sedona and the Wonders of the Mighty Grand Canyon

Travel through world-renowned Red Country along the Red Rock Scenic Byway, one of only 20 designated All-American Roads nationwide. Explore bohemian Sedona with its shops and galleries, or simply take in the exceptional beauty of Red Rock Country before you make your way to the Grand Canyon. Follow Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Byway through Coconino National Forest, a breathtaking stretch of road recognized by Rand McNally as one of the Top Five Most Scenic Drives in America. On arrival, you can take an optional flightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon. Whether you prefer a helicopter or a fixed-wing plane, you'll enjoy magnificent scenery with aerial views from above. Meet your Local Expert Canyon Tim at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to discover its wonders. You'll learn all about the origins of the five-million-year-old canyon, its rock formations and the human impact on this natural masterpiece. He'll also talk to you about the local flora and fauna, and where you might be able to spot them.

Day 3: Monument Valley and Lake Powell

Early risers will take advantage of the lodge location to witness one of Mother Nature's grandest shows on earth: a sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Travel along the South Rim Desert View Drive, skirting the South Rim of the canyon. We will stop at Desert View Point to see the historic Watchtower built by Mary Colter in the Puebloan style, the Colorado River turning north and the Painted Desert extending towards Navajo and Hopi Indian lands. Make Travel Matter as we will be supporting the Grand Canyon Conservancy and making a donation to support the development of the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Head to the Cameron Trading Post, on of the oldest and most historic general stores in Arizona. Enter Monument Valley Tribal Park, where you'll join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet your Navajo Local Experts and board all-terrain vehicles with open sides for a private, off-the-beaten path exploration of this magical valley. Learn about Navajo history, culture and heritage from your expert as you travel deeper into the natural wonders of this unique landscape. Enjoy a Navajo cookout amid the giant buttes and mesas of this unique landscape. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your lakefront resort.

Day 4: Leisurely Lake Powell Relaxed Start

Today is entirely yours to do as you please. Partake in one of our popular optional experiences, explore on your own, or simply relax by the resort swimming pool with views of Lake Powell. As an optional activity this morning, let yourself be tempted by a gentle float trip down the Colorado River. Calmly float down the Colorado, past some of the most awe-inspiring sites, like the iconic Horseshoe Bend and Petroglyph Beach. In the evening, enjoy dinner with wine at the Red Heritage as you get the opportunity to watch local dancers talented in colorful powwow dancing, flute playing, and live drum music and enjoy a traditional dinner at this Navajo owned Native American Performing Arts Theater.

Day 5: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks

Journey across a wide-open landscape punctuated by colorful sandstone cliffs, sagebrush-covered flats, and high ridges dotted with piñon pine and juniper. Travel through Bryce Canyon Country on a portion of the Scenic Highway 89, recognized by National Geographic as the No. 1 Driver's Drive in the world. You will be struck by the beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park, an otherworldly landscape of red rock pillars known as hoodoos, pink cliffs, and endless vistas. Follow the Rim Trail from Surprise Point to Bryce Point. Stops will be made at the major viewpoints and there will be time for a leisurely walk along Sunset Point or a more physical hike down the canyon. Either way, you will be spellbound by the beauty and majesty of this dramatic natural landscape.

Day 6: Zion National Park Relaxed Start

After a leisurely breakfast and a Relaxed Start, we will tour the canyon aboard a privately chartered open-air vehicle, with live commentary from a Local Expert to show you the many scenic highlights of the canyon such as the weeping rock, the hanging garden and the fauna and flora of the park.Then choose between a Travel Director guided hike to the Emerald Pools for beautiful scenery of the canyon, waterfalls and green pools surrounded by red sandstone or visit the Zion Nature Center at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The afternoon is free after that. In the evening enjoy a Celebration Dinner hosted at the lodge, and a last chance to share travel memories with your new friends.

Day 7: Salt Lake City

This morning you make your way out of Zion National Park and will transfer to Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah. Your hotel is short walk away from Temple Square, which is the headquarters of the Mormon church. In the evening join for a dinner with wine at the hotel.

Day 8: Jackson and the Tetons

Before leaving Salt Lake City, take in the State Capitol building. Drive along the scenic Logan Canyon, over the Wasatch Mountain Range, and up to the Bear Lake Summit. Stop for lunch at Garden City, Utah while enjoying views of the beautiful turquoise waters of Bear Lake. You will then head north across the Oregon Trail to historic Jackson. Have your cameras ready for the famous elk antlers the central square, while eager shoppers will find a number of charming traditional boutique galleries to browse. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure, with your hotel located only a short walk away from Jackson's Town Square.

Day 9: Yellowstone National Park

Wake up to a mountainous view like no other and witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 6,562 feet (2,000 metres) from the valley floor. This morning, you have the opportunity to partake in an optional scenic float down the Snake River (signed waiver required) inside Grand Teton National Park. In keeping with today’s rustic country charm, you’ll enter Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. Known for its unique geothermal activity, spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife, you’ll experience Wyoming in all its glory. Keep an eye out for black bears or wolves. Tonight you’ll stay in the National Park Lodges, allowing you to experience the park after hours, in its natural habitat.

Day 10: Geysers and Colourful Mudpots Relaxed Start

Savour the surreal surroundings of Yellowstone with a relaxed start. Walk among the rainbow tinted hot springs and watch the erupting geysers as you take in the history of the park on an informative stroll with your Travel Director. Catch the renowned colourful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 metres) into the air. In the afternoon, enjoy the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone as you take in stunning natural wonders. While driving through Hayden Valley, famous for its wildlife, keep an eye out for wolves, bears, elk and hundreds of bison. The rest of the evening is at leisure for you to relax.

Day 11: The Ranch at Ucross Relaxed Start

Set off on your travels through the stark Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains, leading you to the Wild West Town of Cody. Channel your inner showman and learn more about America’s great Western legends at the Buffalo Bill Centre, known for its Western art collection, firearms, and natural history. Travel through the Bighorn National Forest to the Ranch at UCross. Take in the rustic charm as you're hosted at a traditional Wyoming Family ranch. Start off the evening with a cocktail hour in the historic Ranch House bar. After a home-cooked dinner, enjoy a fire pit with live entertainment, including country, folk and bluegrass music.

Day 12: Devils Tower into the Black Hills

Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride (8) accompanied by a Ranch Hand. If playing cowboy isn’t your thing, perhaps go fishing or merely relax and take in your beautiful surroundings, the choice is yours. Make your way to Devils Tower, an astounding geological feature that protrudes out of the surrounding Black Hills. This symbolic landmark is considered sacred to the Lakota and other tribes. Experience Spearfish Canyon, a favoured spot among wildlife enthusiasts and one famous for its elvish woodland beauty. The limestone palisades of this creek-carved gorge are more ancient than the Grand Canyon itself.

Day 13: Custer and the Wild, Wild West

A day for those looking to explore the Wild West, try to spotting the fastest mammal in North America, the pronghorn antelope as you cross the great high plains to the Black Hills of South Dakota. We visit Badlands National Park in South Dakota, 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. Without a doubt, a hidden gem in the national park system, the unique beauty of the Badlands landscape is like no other. Sightseers as well as scholarly scientists are attracted to the area for its astounding beauty and the opportunity to peek into an ancient world. Continue on to Custer State Park, renowned for its beautiful landscape and abundant wildlife.

Day 14: Mountain Monuments of the Black Hills Relaxed Start

Travel to the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Here, carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt overlook the landscape. Next, head  to Crazy Horse Memorial, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the culture, tradition and living heritage of the North American Indians. An exclusive Insight Experience awaits as you are taken up to stand face-to-face with this impressive sculpture. At 641 feet (195 metres) long and 563 feet (172 metres) tall the piece takes the record for the world’s largest mountain carving.Join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Celebration Dinner with wine, as you reflect on your adventure across the wide-open spaces of America's national parks.

Day 15: Depart Denver

Travel south from Custer State Park where your trip ends on arrival in Denver. A transfer is available to Denver International Airport. Airport arrival in Denver will be at 16:30 or choose to extend your stay in Downtown Denver.