Family Fun and Service at Clair Tappaan Lodge, Tahoe National Forest, California
Sierra Club Outings Trip | Service/Volunteer
Highlights
- Maintain the trails around historic Clair Tappaan Lodge
- Explore Sierra Nevada streams, lakes, and meadows
- Enjoy engaging after-work activities for family members
Includes
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Great opportunity to meet and work with other families
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Lodging, hot tub, hot showers, and laundry
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Hearty, vegetarian-friendly meals and snacks
Overview
The Trip
Looking for a trip you and your family can enjoy that offers a memorable setting, fun, and rewarding service work? And, to add to the experience, all within an historic lodge in the mountains? If this combination sounds like it will fit your plans, join us at the Sierra Club’s famous Clair Tappaan Lodge. The Lodge is situated at 7,000 feet near Donner Pass, in the Sierra Nevada in central California. This historic Lodge has hosted many generations of nature lovers, and our efforts will help to ensure it can and will continue to do so in the future. You can help to ensure the special legacy of the Lodge and what it represents to people who cherish nature, while at the same time enjoying its amenities and setting. This trip will be a fun and educational opportunity for all family members
The Trip
Looking for a trip you and your family can enjoy that offers a memorable setting, fun, and rewarding service work? And, to add to the experience, all within an historic lodge in the mountains? If this combination sounds like it will fit your plans, join us at the Sierra Club’s famous Clair Tappaan Lodge. The Lodge is situated at 7,000 feet near Donner Pass, in the Sierra Nevada in central California. This historic Lodge has hosted many generations of nature lovers, and our efforts will help to ensure it can and will continue to do so in the future. You can help to ensure the special legacy of the Lodge and what it represents to people who cherish nature, while at the same time enjoying its amenities and setting. This trip will be a fun and educational opportunity for all family members.
We'll enjoy hearty, vegetarian-friendly meals, served family-style; spend evenings swapping stories around the fireplace; or “chill-out” in the lodge’s hot tub after a rewarding work day. On our day off, one may choose from a variety of activities: A hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, a visit to Donner Memorial State Park, a ride on the Squaw Valley Tram, or just a relaxing exploration of the surrounding mountain streams, meadows, peaks and lakes.
Nestled in the Tahoe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and built by Sierra Club volunteers, Clair Tappaan embodies sustainable practices and supports the Sierra Club's mission to encourage people to "explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth." To support that mission, the lodge’s operation is designed to increase awareness of the environment, foster a sense of community, increase the spirit of volunteerism, and nurture environmentally attuned conduct.
The Project
Our group will help further the lodge staff's plans to maintain both the facility and the surrounding forest. Since the 1860s, the forests in the Tahoe Basin have been heavily logged to supply timber for railroads and buildings. Since the lodge's construction during the 1930’s, the forest has remained mostly untouched except for the addition of a few nature trails. After an expert inspection in 2003, a plan was created to restore the forests to their pre-1860s state (before the railroads came through). Our specific tasks, whether to improve forest health or to preserve the lodge, will be determined by the Clair Tappaan staff.
Specific projects may include invasive plant removal, trail improvement in the surrounding forest lands, or preservation work on the lodge. Child-friendly projects such as building creature-caves provide variety for younger participants. Since we are working at a higher altitude, we will stop frequently for water and rest breaks. We’ll look for spots with a scenic view for our lunch breaks. Before work begins, the lodge staff will provide instruction on safe tool use.
Itinerary
Day 1: We will meet at the Lodge between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. After all participants arrive, we will introduce ourselves, then have an orientation and tour, courtesy of the lodge staff. For the rest of the evening, you will be free to visit with your fellow participants, read, play games, settle into your rooms, or “turn in” early.
Days 2-3, 5-6: Work days. The "come and prepare your lunch" bell will ring at 7:30 a.m., followed by a hearty breakfast that starts at 8:00 a.m. Work will start daily around 9:00 a.m., as soon as we finish our kitchen cleanup chores
Day 1: We will meet at the Lodge between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. After all participants arrive, we will introduce ourselves, then have an orientation and tour, courtesy of the lodge staff. For the rest of the evening, you will be free to visit with your fellow participants, read, play games, settle into your rooms, or “turn in” early.
Days 2-3, 5-6: Work days. The "come and prepare your lunch" bell will ring at 7:30 a.m., followed by a hearty breakfast that starts at 8:00 a.m. Work will start daily around 9:00 a.m., as soon as we finish our kitchen cleanup chores.
Day 4: No work today! Time to explore a network of nearby trails that offer miles of hiking and access to streams, meadows, mountain peaks and crystal-clear lakes, or visit outlying points of interest, including the well-known Pacific Crest Trail, just a short hike from Clair Tappaan's back door. The trip leader and lodge staff will be happy to suggest outdoor activities you might enjoy. Or, you may choose to enjoy the atmosphere of the lodge.
Day 7: Departure day. We will have a “goodbye” breakfast together before heading home. You’ll be able to pack a lunch to take along on your trip home. Participants should expect to be “on the road” between by around 10 a.m. Safe travels!
Logistics
Getting There
Clair Tappaan Lodge is located on Donner Pass Road (old US 40), 2.4 miles south of Interstate 80, near the edge of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Lake Tahoe community is 25 miles away. Major airports are located in Reno, Nevada (45 miles east), Sacramento, California (100 miles west), and the San Francisco Bay Area (about 190 miles west).
Although no public transportation to the Lodge exists, there are several ways to get there. The town of Truckee, California, an Amtrak stop, is about 11 miles from the lodge, and offers a taxi to the Lodge. The Sierra Club encourages ride sharing, and the trip leader will provide everyone with a roster of participants in advance, for those wishing to arrange a carpool to the lodge. The leader will provide all participants with detailed driving directions to the lodge
Getting There
Clair Tappaan Lodge is located on Donner Pass Road (old US 40), 2.4 miles south of Interstate 80, near the edge of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Lake Tahoe community is 25 miles away. Major airports are located in Reno, Nevada (45 miles east), Sacramento, California (100 miles west), and the San Francisco Bay Area (about 190 miles west).
Although no public transportation to the Lodge exists, there are several ways to get there. The town of Truckee, California, an Amtrak stop, is about 11 miles from the lodge, and offers a taxi to the Lodge. The Sierra Club encourages ride sharing, and the trip leader will provide everyone with a roster of participants in advance, for those wishing to arrange a carpool to the lodge. The leader will provide all participants with detailed driving directions to the lodge.
Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.
Accommodations and Food
Historic Clair Tappaan Lodge provides a level of comfort in a near-outdoor setting. On the second floor, small, double-occupancy rooms and group rooms -- all with bunk beds -- are amenities that reflect the age, history, and purpose of the building, though not the usual accommodations of a modern lodge facility.
Hot meals and showers allow you to refresh yourself after a day of satisfying service work, and a Wi-Fi connection allows you to stay in touch with the world beyond the mountains, should you desire or need it. A spacious living/group room with an enormous fireplace, a book-filled, quiet library, and an outdoor fire ring add to the special appeal of this rustic setting.
Our hearty, fresh, family-style meals are served at breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is served at 8 a.m. Participants will prepare their sandwich and snack lunches from a selection of items. Vegetarian meals are available on request. Coffee and tea are always available. If you have dietary restrictions or concerns, please contact the trip leader.
A friendly staff cares for the Lodge, yet in keeping with the cooperative spirit of the Sierra Club, each guest contributes by a simple chore that takes about a half-hour each day. Chores could include helping to prepare or serve meals, setting and clearing tables, washing dishes, sweeping floors, and removing/recycling trash. Refrigerators, food storage lockers, free laundry facilities, and a microwave are available.
While every effort will be made to accommodate roommate requests and other rooming preferences, desired rooming arrangements may not always be possible at all lodging facilities due to limited room availability or other factors. Leaders will work with participants to arrive at the most agreeable rooming arrangements possible.
Trip Difficulty
The work projects, under the supervision of the Clair Tappaan Lodge staff, can be moderately strenuous. However, no one will be expected to work beyond his or her comfort level, and everyone will be encouraged to take regular water and rest breaks.
Equipment and Clothing
Bring work boots and heavy leather work-gloves as well as long-sleeved shirts and heavier pants to protect you from rocks, thorns, and sharp twigs. Disposable gloves are useful for painting projects. Bring a sun-shade hat for high-altitude, bright days, and several layers of clothing for the crisp mornings and evenings. The average daytime high in summer is in the upper 70s, but the temperature can drop below freezing at night, so a hat and warm gloves might come in handy. Mountain weather conditions can change fast, and Sierra Nevada is Spanish for "snowy mountains,” so do prepare and bring waterproof jacket, pants, and boots. Once you are accepted as a participant, a full equipment list will be sent with more details.
Bring a camera and binoculars. A small telescope for stargazing would be a welcome addition. If you play a musical instrument, bring it so we can sing along!
References
- Muir, John, My First Summer in the Sierra.
- Farquhar, Francis, History of the Sierra Nevada.
- Powell, Margie, Donner Summit, A Brief History.
- Tahoe National Forest: fs.usda.gov
- Pacific Crest Trail Association: http://www.pcta.org/
Conservation
Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.
Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place. They’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.
Your leaders are Sierra Club volunteers who have dedicated time and energy to the enjoyment and conservation of the outdoors. Please don't hesitate to ask your leaders about conservation concerns and come prepared to share conservation successes and challenges from your local environment with the group.
We will have opportunities throughout our time together to discuss different aspects of resource conservation and learn more about the challenges in preservation and management of the Sierra Nevada and, specifically, issues related to the Tahoe National Forest and Clair Tappaan Lodge area.
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners