Events & Programs - Kelly Place Bed and Breakfast, Cortez, Co.

Road Scholar, formerly known as Elderhostel, the premier educational adventure for older adults, continues to grow at Kelly Place. Chosen as the first off-college-campus Elderhostel site in the nation (1982), Kelly Place continues this tradition with the following detailed program offerings.

In 2010 Elderhostel revised its registration requirements as well as adopting the name, Road Scholar. Adults who are not elderly and are 40 and up are now welcome to enroll in all programs.

Enjoy Mesa Verde Country's red rock canyons and moderate temperatures. McElmo Canyon Research Institute specializes in small educational study groups emphasizing archaeology, Native American arts and culture. Our archaeological preserve includes 25 Anasazi sites, an Anasazi pottery collection, pottery studio and hiking trails into canyon country. Located 10 miles west of Cortez, known as the archaeological center of the US, and 20 miles from Mesa Verde National Park.

2010 Programs

Hiking The Four Corners Region

April 11-17; May 16-22; Sept. 12-18; Oct 24-30

Hike through sculpted red-rock canyons with spectacular mountain views. The canyons and mesas of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park and Hovenweep National Monument are the sites for unique hiking experiences led by archaeologists and naturalists. Explore a 40-acre archaeological preserve with prehistoric "cliff-dweller" ruins, petroglyphs, and hiking trails into canyon country. Discover the natural beauty of a land which was once home to thousands of Ancestral Puebloan people. Enter thousand-year-old dwellings and learn what is known about the ancient civilizations and what is still a mystery.

Photography of the Four Corners:
Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona

June 6-12; Aug 29-Sept 4

Unusual land formations and ancient ruins provide an abundance of captivating images in the Four Corners region. Discover the color and history of four states through the lens of your camera during in-field discussions on composition and technique. In Utah, photograph Valley of the Gods and magnificent desert vistas. Capture the colorful landscapes of Canyon De Chelly in Arizona. Shoot rock formations and ruins in New Mexico’s Bisti Wilderness and Aztec's great kiva. Venture into Colorado to photograph the spectacular cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. Spend a day creating a slide show and exploring the area on your own. Discuss prehistoric civilizations with an archaeologist and learn from Native Americans about their culture and art.

Native American Culture
and
Photography of the Southwest

Oct 10-16

Prehistoric ruins and rugged terrain of the southwest stimulate your imagination for creative expression. Capture images of rock art, ancient pottery, majestic mountains and sculpted red-rock canyons. From the long vistas of rock and sky to close-ups of natural patterns, this unique landscape makes us all want to be photographers. Dwellings of prehistoric Ancestral Puebloans offer images of the past which can be brought to life through your artistic perspective. The program is organized into technical sessions and field trips to Hovenweep NM, Mesa Verde NP, and Cyns of the Ancients. A computer photo lab will be available to upload, view, and write photos to CD. The capstone event is a multimedia presentation of the best of your week's work.

Service: Artifact Preparation And Curation

June 20-26

A thousand years ago, the prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan peoples (Anasazi or "cliff-dwellers") left their dwellings in the canyons and mesas of southwest Colorado. Archaeologists have searched these ruins for clues to the many unanswered questions about their culture. Participants will be guided in the curation of ancient artifacts gathered from archaeological sites. Work will be done at the Anasazi Heritage Center, headquarters of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, and the McElmo Canyon Research Institute. Participants will examine prehistoric pottery and stone tools in the process of curation and other service for the museum. Until the artifactual evidence is creatively analyzed, we have not made the best use of excavations. Learn about both the prehistoric indigenous culture and modern day Native American cultures in the Four Corners region. The capstone event is a visit to Mesa Verde National Park, guided by your expert archaeologist, instilling an even greater appreciation for the work of archaeologists and the craftsmanship of the Ancestral Puebloans. Portions of the costs for this program may qualify as a tax-deductible gift.

The Anasazi, Ute And Navajo:
Southwest Cultures, Past And Present

Nov 7-13

Experience first hand three unique and vastly different cultures: The Anasazi ("cliff-dwellers") disappeared 800 years ago leaving stunning displays of their civilization. Ute and Navajo peoples each possess a rich heritage and today they struggle to keep them intact. Enjoy field trips to Mesa Verde National Park, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Ute Reservation, Hovenweep National Monument, and Anasazi Heritage Center and the scenery of southwest Utah. Additional visits with local Ute and Navajo families, including a traditional Navajo meal. Observe a demonstration of basketweaving by one of the foremost Navajo weavers in her hogan. Study cultural anthropology, Native American arts and ceremonies.

Service: Archaeological Preservation
in the Four Corners

Sept 26-Oct 2

Surveying Prehistoric Puebloan Sites Canyons of the Ancients National Monument has the highest density of recorded archaeological sites in the nation -- more than 6,000 documented so far. Help protect these ancient sites from looting and accidental damage by surveying and mapping their location with professional archaeologists. Before heading into the field, these local experts share their extensive knowledge of prehistoric Puebloan culture and ruins. Hike through the monument’s pristine natural terrain. Find and document new archaeological sites in areas that have never been surveyed. Enjoy a flintknapping demonstration, a presentation of modern-day Native American music and culture by representatives of the Ute and Navajo nations, and visit the Anasazi Heritage Center.

Archaeology, Native American Art:
Southwest Intergenerational Program

July 11-17

The Southwest comes alive during this week of exploring the cultures of prehistoric and modern Native Americans. Learn archaeological excavating and recording techniques working on a 1,000-year-old pueblo. Discover Native American arts and begin take-home projects. Pottery-making involves forming vessels, decorating, and firing them in a wood-fired pit kiln as the prehistoric Pueblo peoples did, from the mud to the finished piece. Learn to spin and weave in the traditional Navajo style, taught by a Navajo artist. A special field trip to Mesa Verde National Park, accompanied by an archaeologist, takes you back in time to wonder at the skills of the ancient cliff-dwellers.

You can enroll in these programs through:

Web Site: www.roadscholar.org

Phone (877)426-8056

Other Programs We Host:

Kelly Place hosts Vision Quests and meditation retreats for regional groups. If you are interested in participating in these, please call Kelly Place for more information.

Additionally we host various school groups and non-profit group fund raisers such as the Relay For Life benefiting the American Cancer Society on June 19th.

To make your reservation today:

Call (970) 565-3125 (local)
Call (800) 745-4885 (toll-free)
Open year-round!