1901 E. South Campus Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84112
1-801-581-6461
Please be informed that our office will be closed for the holiday break starting Friday, December 20th. We will resume operations on Monday, December 30th. Additionally, we will be closed on January 1st in observance of the New Year holiday. For any urgent matters, please email us at register@continue.utah.edu, and we will return your message as soon as we can. Happy Holidays!
March 14-17, 2025
Double Occupancy: $975 per person
Single Occupancy: $1055 per person
Airfare is not included.
Reserve
your spot!
Sign up for Go Learn announcements here
Join our List!
We'll get back to you as soon as possible!
I have a Question
Please join us for a unique and inspiring creative experience that combines elements of a traditional nature photography workshop with those of a Zen meditation retreat. Zen philosophy has much to teach the Western artistic mind about being present in the moment, paying attention, spontaneity, balance, and the interconnection of all things. This program will integrate these principles in the pursuit of creating elegant and expressive images of the natural world. Each day will involve a set of morning and evening photoshoots in some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, including the vistas of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and the banks of the Colorado River. Participants will hone their technical photography skills, including conveying motion, depth of field, astrophotography, and advance digital techniques, in addition to practicing meditation exercises on light, form, and movement. This year’s program will be based out of the SpringHill Suites in Moab. Food and lodging included.
Tour Highlights Include:
Welcome everyone! Our home base for the weekend is the Marriott SpringHill Suites located on the banks of the Colorado River just outside Moab. Our program will begin with an initial trip briefing and introductions, followed by a welcome dinner.
Hotel: SpringHill Suites opens a new window
Meal: D
We will meet this morning before sunrise along the banks of the Colorado River. Our first exercise will be a photographic meditation on motion. Jonathan will introduce a few techniques used to convey motion in still photographs. After breakfast, we will have our first formal lesson on photographic technique. This will include a discussion on the uses of depth of field, shutter speeds, astrophotography, and other advanced techniques. After lunch we will spend part of the early afternoon going through a series of exercises in “mindfulness” and exploring how these techniques can be used in photography. At 5:30pm our shuttle will pick up the group for an evening photoshoot in Arches National Park.
Hotel: SpringHill Suites opens a new window
Meals: B, D
This morning’s photoshoot will be up the historic and scenic Grandstaff Trail. We will apply some of the mindfulness exercises we discussed in an effort to start really seeing the forms and patterns around us. The morning lecture will be on photographic composition and the qualities of natural light. This will include a discussion on the principles of visual communication, perspective, light contrast, and the “magic hour” in outdoor photography. After lunch, we will take a short hike up Courthouse Wash and practice techniques in photographic composition. At 5:30pm our shuttle will pick up the group for an evening photoshoot at the Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park.
Hotel: SpringHill Suites opens a new window
Meals: B, D
On our final morning together we will return once again to the banks of the Colorado River. Our last exercise will be to combine all the elements of our program into one final photo meditation. Following the sunrise photoshoot, we will meet one last time for a trip debrief and conclusion followed by a group breakfast.
Meal: B
Jonathan Duncan has over twenty five years experience working as a professional photojournalist specializing in stories of the natural world and the geography and culture of Buddhist Asia. He serves as the adjunct professor of Adventure Media and Photography at Westminster College, and teaches course on the Geography of Buddha, the Sacred Mountains of the World, and Creativity, Communication & Consciousness through the Osher Institute and Lifelong Learning at the University of Utah. You can view his work at www.alpinevisionmedia.net
We want you to arrive in Moab knowing what to expect. About a month before the trip you’ll meet with your fellow travelers and guide. We’ll talk about what to pack, how to get from place to place, and give you insider tips so that you arrive in Moab ready to take pictures. This is a great way to meet your fellow travelers and get excited about the trip.
About MoabWe chose March because as the days get longer and the red rocks start to warm, we are able to shake off the cold winter and explore Moab before the crowds and the heat arrive. It is a beautiful time of year to catch the sunlight and shadows among it's many vistas.
WeatherMarch in Moab can be cool. The temperature averages 64 degrees during the day and 34 in the evening, and it may rain or snow during the trip. Plan your wardrobe around being physically active, but cool, and make sure to pack so you are ready to layer.
Activity Levels and RestrictionsIn order to fully explore the items on our itinerary, we will be walking and hiking every day. Most of our journey will be on local trails, but we may encounter wet conditions, ice, and steep climbs. Be sure to pack comfortable and capable hiking shoes! This is an Activity Level 2 trip. Learn More about our .
Traveling in a group is enriching and fun. It also requires consideration for everyone’s well-being and for reaching our daily goals set forth in the itinerary. Before registering, we ask all participants to carefully consider the activity. Due to differences in country-specific laws and regulations, many sites visited are not handicap accessible. Go Learn staff can talk to participants in person for assessment and to answer questions. Participants will be responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage through cities and on and off of public transit.
Level 1
At this level of a tour, trip participants will encounter up to three hours of activities. We may walk and stand for large portions of the lectures or excursions. Extensive breaks and adequate time to relax makes this our lowest activity level. Like all Go Learn adventures, active listening and participation is fundamental to learning and exploration.
Level 2
Level 2 requires more stamina for walking and standing. In the course of a day one can expect to reach and/or exceed 5 miles of walking, multiple stairs, and prolonged periods of standing. We will take breaks and a certain standard of comfort will be maintained. While the journey might stay in a hotel in one location, avoiding extensive travel, public transportation and exploring on foot will most likely be the main form of transportation. Happy exhaustion is part of this activity level.
Level 3
Extensive excursions and challenging terrain will be encountered at Level 3. Days with a number of hours on foot is the norm. At this activity level, we may embark on hikes, physically strenuous site visits, and distances reaching and exceeding 10 miles per day. We may be visiting remote locations, areas with poor infrastructure, wild animals, unsafe tap water, or extreme temperatures/weather. Elevators may not be available and you may be required to climb stairs with your luggage. Go Learn will always maintain safe and comfortable conditions, incorporate breaks, sometimes a day off, but this level is as strenuous as it is fun.
March 14-17, 2025
SizeTour is limited to 20 participants
CostDouble Occupancy: $975 per person
Single Occupancy: $1055 per person
See for payment and cancellation details.
A $250 deposit is required upon registration to hold your space. The deposit is fully refundable for cancellations occurring within 2 days after registration. After 2 days it is not refundable. A first payment of 50% of total trip cost is due 31 days after registration. Remaining payment is due 31 days after the first payment has been made. Payment amounts and frequency of payments can be arranged on an individual basis. If registration for a program occurs at or within 62 days prior to the program start, the entire program cost is due. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the brochure is printed and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges.
Payments are refundable up to 4 months prior to the departure date. If the original transaction was made over 6 months ago, you will receive a check in mail to the address listed in your reservation. We advise all travelers to subscribe to cancellation insurance within 15 days of booking the trip (see the insurance information below). Please contact us if you would like to arrange a special payment plan.
We reserve the right to cancel any trip because of inadequate enrollment that makes the trip economically infeasible to operate or because of good-faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If program is canceled prior to departure, Go Learn will provide you with a full refund of monies paid to the University of Utah. If we cancel the trip in progress, you will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the expedition. Participants are encouraged to purchase refundable airline tickets in case of trip cancellation. Airfare and any other costs incurred by participant beyond moneys paid to the University of Utah will not be refundable under any circumstance.
Travelers’ passports must to be valid six (6) months past the return date of the Go Learn experience. Travelers whose passports expire prior to those six month will be unable to board an international flight leaving the US.
Go Learn highly recommends participants to be vaccinated for protecting against COVID-19. We respect each individual’s choices, but need to point out that currently domestic and international travel for unvaccinated people often comes with enormous hurdles, such as quarantine requirements, or exclusion even. Many countries, including the United States, don’t allow unvaccinated travelers to enter their borders. A high number of private and public places will require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and any costs that might occur due to the lack of such proof is the traveler’s responsibility. Likewise, Go Learn will not be able to refund parts of, or entire trip fees if unvaccinated participants are prohibited to partake in parts of, or entire Go Learn itineraries. With each destination having its own rules and requirements, we can talk to each participant regarding any of our programs in detail and consult individually.
In addition to many other factors, Go Learn adheres to University of Utah rules, Department of State recommendations, as well as CDC recommendations for each and every trip destination. Decision to travel will be made on an individual trip basis and payment plans will be established for each individual traveler’s need. An up-dated contract will be established when Go Learn and travelers agreed to the journey taking place.
Traveling in a group is enriching and fun. It also requires consideration for everyone’s well-being and for reaching our daily goals set forth in the itinerary. Before registering, we ask all participants to carefully consider the activity. Due to differences in country-specific laws and regulations, many sites visited are not handicap accessible. Go Learn staff can talk to participants in person for assessment and to answer questions. Participants will be responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage through cities and on and off of public transit.
Level 1 - At this level of a tour, trip participants will encounter up to three hours of activities. We may walk and stand for large portions of the lectures or excursions. Extensive breaks and adequate time to relax makes this our lowest activity level. Like all Go Learn adventures, active listening and participation is fundamental to learning and exploration.
Level 2 - Level 2 requires more stamina for walking and standing. In the course of a day one can expect to reach and/or exceed 5 miles of walking, multiple stairs, and prolonged periods of standing. We will take breaks and a certain standard of comfort will be maintained. While the journey might stay in a hotel in one location, avoiding extensive travel, public transportation and exploring on foot will most likely be the main form of transportation. Happy exhaustion is part of this activity level.
Level 3 - Extensive excursions and challenging terrain will be encountered at Level 3. Days with a number of hours on foot is the norm. At this activity level, we may embark on hikes, physically strenuous site visits, and distances reaching and exceeding 10 miles per day. We may be visiting remote locations, areas with poor infrastructure, wild animals, unsafe tap water, or extreme temperatures/weather. Elevators may not be available and you may be required to climb stairs with your luggage. Go Learn will always maintain safe and comfortable conditions, incorporate breaks, sometimes a day off, but this level is as strenuous as it is fun.
On international trips, Go Learn provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy, CISI. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance.
Go Learn, Continuing Education and the University of Utah and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and ship arrangements and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner's risk entirely. It is understood that the ship's ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the cruise company. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Neither Go Learn, Continuing Education or the University of Utah nor our operators accept liability for any carrier's cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the brochure is printed and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability.
Accommodations and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner); pre-departure information; entrance fees, expeditions, and sightseeing noted as included in the itinerary; all gratuities, unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page; ground transportation during the program.
Air transportation and related fees; activities noted as optional in the itinerary; passport and visa expenses; baggage/ cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, and alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specifically noted as included.
A limited number of single rooms/cabins are available at an extra cost on a first-come, first-served basis. We will assist persons requesting a roommate. Participants will be notified if a suitable roommate is not available, in which case the single rate will be charged.
The itineraries and staff presented in this catalog are subject to modification and change by Go Learn. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but alterations may still occur after final itineraries are sent.
Other Terms and Conditions may apply to some expeditions and will be provided with pre-tour mailings. By registering for a Go Learn program, the participant agrees to the Responsibility statement and the Terms and Conditions herein.