Colorado Family Dinosaur Discovery
July 21 - 27, 2007
U.Va. Faculty: Laura Justice, PhD. Director, Preschool Language & Literacy Lab in U.Va.’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning
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This program has been cancelled. If you are interested in seeing future programs like this, please let us know by emailing cavaliertravels@virginia.edu. |
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Overview
What could be more exciting for your children or grandchildren than the chance to dig for dinosaur fossils deep in Colorado's red-rock country? Share a unique adventure with your family on this exciting week in one of the country's richest dinosaur domains. Excavate alongside scientists in a quarry where bones from eight species of dinosaurs have been found. The enthusiastic field staff is expert at tailoring instruction for all age levels, with emphasis on learning and fun.
The week is rounded out with wonderful activities outside the dinosaur quarry. Horseback ride in a secluded valley, hike in the magnificent Colorado National Monument, and spend a day rafting on the magnificent Colorado River.
Program Highlights
- Dig for Jurassic bones in a quarry where fascinating dinosaur discoveries have been made.
- Make dinosaur track rubbings at an actual dinosaur track site, and cast bones and teeth at a professional lab.
- Ride horses through a beautiful valley at the base of the Colorado National Monument.
- Search for plant and insect fossils in a beautiful alpine forest on the 9,000-foot Douglas Pass.
- Spend a day floating the Colorado River though the towering Ruby and Horsethief Canyons.
Accommodations
- The Holiday Inn Grand Junction provides comfortable lodging for families. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool in a courtyard, and a large indoor recreation area with swimming pool, hot tub, pool tables, table tennis, and game room. Rooms have been recently renovated and feature two double beds, coffee makers, hair dryers, data ports and high-speed Internet access.
Meals
- Five breakfasts, five lunches, and two dinners are included.
Faculty
Laura Justice, PhD., is a clinical speech-language pathologist and applied researcher in early childhood language and literacy development, communication disorders, and educational interventions. Dr. Justice directs the Preschool Language and Literacy Lab in the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning; she also is a faculty member in the McGuffey Reading Center in the Curry School of Education, in which she teaches course in reading disabilities and early literacy development. Dr. Justice's research activities have been supported by grants from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the International Reading Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the U. S. Department of Education. Her research on early language and literacy has received awards from the International Reading Association (Distinguished Finalist, Dissertation of the Year), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (Editor's Award, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology), and the Council for Exceptional Children (Early Career Publication Award). Dr. Justice is currently the Principal Investigator of three randomized clinical trials supported by the USDOE's Institute for Education Sciences that focus on preschool literacy and language acquisition, to include a field-initiated research grant, a preschool curriculum evaluation research grant, and a reading scale-up grant.
Itinerary
* Portions of this program take place on lands managed by the Bureau of Land ManagementDay 1 - Departure City - Grand Junction
Arrive in Grand Junction, Colorado this afternoon and meet fellow alumni families and the program staff at a welcome reception and dinner this evening. (R,D)
Day 2 - Split Rock & Colorado Natl. Monument
Spend the morning hiking the "bone yard" at the Split Rock dinosaur area. Learn to distinguish bone from rock in this prehistoric landscape. Explore the wonderful exhibits and life-size robotic dinosaurs at the Dinosaur Journey Museum before lunch in the museum. Later, drive through the spectacular red-rock canyons of Colorado National Monument. (B,L)
Day 3 - Uncompahgre Plateau & West Creek
Take a horseback or wagon ride though a secluded canyon at the base of the sandstone cliffs that form the edge of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Afterward, picnic on the banks of West Creek, and cool off in the creeks clear, flowing waters. Visit a dinosaur track site to make track rubbings and learn about dinosaur locomotion. (B,L)
Day 4 - Mygatt-Moore Quarry & Rimrock Rodeo
Begin this exciting day at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry with a hike on the "Trail Through Time" to identify large fragments of dinosaur skeletons that have been embedded in place for 145 million years. Then learn excavation techniques and dig for Jurassic bones in a productive quarry where eight species of dinosaur remains have been found. Have fun this evening at the local Rimrock Rodeo, a long-time Grand Valley tradition. (B,L)
Day 5 - Douglas Pass
This morning tour a professional fossil lab and learn to cast dinosaur bones and teeth. Later, depart the Grand Valley and drive up to the 9,000-foot Douglas Pass to hunt for plant and insect fossils in a spectacular high alpine forest. (B,L)
Day 6 - Colorado River
Raft the Colorado River through Ruby and Horsethief Canyons, floating through miles of towering red sandstone cliffs. Swim at Black Rocks beach, and marvel at the colorful, fossil-filled Precambrian schist. At day's end celebrate the week during a farewell barbeque at the river's edge. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Depart
Individual departures from Grand Junction this morning. ^ back to top
Program Fees
$2,695 per adult; $1,785 per child, double occupancy, land only. A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplement of $475 to the per person, double occupancy rates.
Price includes:
- First-class accommodations based on twin occupancy.
- Transfer from the Grand Junction, CO airport to the hotel and return.
- Five breakfasts, five lunches, and two dinners.
- All special visits, excursions; all transportation and sightseeing with expert guides as set forth in the itinerary.
- The assistance of a representative of The University of Virginia, the services of a study leader and an ATA tour manager.
- Pre-trip notes and guidelines; service charges, taxes and basic gratuities.
Price does not include:
- Transportation from your home city to Grand Junction, CO and return; personal items such as wines, liquors, a-la-carte orders, room service, and valet/laundry charges; expenses incurred by Academic Travel Abroad in making individual travel arrangements before or after the program; and other items not specifically mentioned as included.
How To Register
Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 800-346-3882. Or, e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
A deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve your spot. Final invoicing will be done approximately three months prior to departure. Final payment is due upon receipt of your final invoice.
Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. ^ back to top
Terms & Conditions
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
$500 deposit upon application. Balance due upon receipt of invoice, 90 days before departure. Credit cards may be used for airfare. If payment is not received by 30 days prior to departure, your space is subject to cancellation.
CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
After confirmation on the tour, a nonrefundable processing fee of $150 per person will be charged upon written cancellation. Written cancellation between 90-61 days of departure: full refund, minus your deposit (including nonrefundable processing fee). Written cancellation between 60 and 30 days prior to departure: 50% refund of the tour price. Written cancellation within 30 days prior to departure: no refund. Airfare is fully refundable up to time of ticket issuance, generally three to four weeks before departure. Thereafter tickets are nonrefundable and no changes are allowed. Cancellation on day of departure or after tour departs: no refund. No refund for unused portions of tour, including, but not limited to, missed meals, hotel nights and sightseeing. Cancellation of program by UVA and Academic Travel Abroad: full refund. Cancellation of the program after departure by UVA and ATA: full refund of all land fees, less the cost of service up to the time of the group's return. NOTE: Neither UVA nor ATA accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable domestic ticket to the tour departure city and return.
A NOTE ABOUT ITINERARY AND COST
While every effort will be made to carry out the program as planned, the itinerary as described is subject to modification and change by UVA and ATA. The program cost is based upon current airfares, tariffs, and currency values in effect July, 2006, and assumes that a minimum of 25 participants will join the program. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed price, it is subject to change. If it is necessary to levy a surcharge, notification will be given before time of invoicing (approximately 90 days prior to departure). In the event of cancellation due to a surcharge, all monies are fully refundable except for processing fee.
INSURANCE
A package of trip cancellation, baggage and medical insurance is available through Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. for coverage of nonrefundable expenses incurred in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. $150,000 of flight insurance is automatically provided with each ticket written by Academic Travel Abroad.
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS
To enjoy your travels to the fullest you should be in good physical and mental health. Any physical condition requiring special attention, diets, or treatment must be reported in writing when the reservation is made. We reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour member should such a person's health, mental condition, physical infirmity, or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour or the enjoyment of other participants.
RESPONSIBILITY
Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. and UVA act only as agents for the passenger with respect to all transportation, hotels, and all matters of reservations and tour operation. We and our agents accept no responsibility for loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or irregularity, expense or liability caused by the defect of any vehicle or negligence or default of any independent contractors, their employees, agents, or representatives. Nor do we accept responsibility for losses or delays arising from sickness, pilferage, acts of terrorism, weather conditions or acts of God. All such losses or expenses shall be borne by the tour participant. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. We likewise reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any tour participant at any time without being under any obligation to assign any reason therefor. In the event of the exercise of this right, we shall be under no liability to such person(s) except to refund such amount as our absolute discretion deems reasonable to attribute to the uncompleted portion of the tour. Baggage is carried at the owner's risk entirely. It is understood that air, ship or train tickets when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and carrier concerned. The airlines and all other transportation companies involved in this tour are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the passengers are not on board their plane or conveyances. All services are subject to the laws of the country in which they are rendered. The tour participant agrees on behalf of himself, his dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to abide by the above conditions and to release and hold harmless, Academic Travel Abroad, Inc., and any of their representatives from any and all liability for any delays, damage, loss, injury or death occurring in relation to this tour.
CALIFORNIA SELLER OF TRAVEL PROGRAM
CST #2059002-40
ATA is a participant in the California Seller of Travel program. California law requires that certain sellers of travel have a trust account or bond. ATA has a trust account. ATA is not a participant in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation.
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