Elementary School Field Trips

Learning in the Elementary Program often goes beyond the classroom walls. Many of our field trips are designed to enhance our science, health and social studies units. Other trips encourage the bonding of friendships between students, staff and parents.

Some of our day trips include:

• Santa Cruz County Fair
• Monterey Bay Aquarium, Moss Landing and Long Marine Labs
• Elkhorn Slough and Ano Nuevo
• Productions at the Henry Mello Center
• The Discovery, Egyptian, Natural History and Tech Museums

As part of our Social Studies program our older elementary grades take longer trips to visit places such as the California Missions, San Francisco and Sacramento for special events and units of study.

Year End Field Trips

It is our tradition to complete the academic year with an outdoor education trip to the Sierras.

Second, Third and Fourth Grades Science Camp Trip

Second through fourth graders go to the Regional Learning Center in the Sierra mountain environment in May. The Center is an outdoor education school that teaches a wide variety of curriculum in the science and social science realm.

One of the main goals of this program is to educate in a real environment with hands-on learning. There are many other kinds of learning and growth on this trip, which include students developing independence, learning about organization, practicing social group living skills, shopping with their own money and practicing good manners and behavior in a new environment. These experiences provide valuable life learning opportunities and help to bond students and build positive memories.

Fifth Grade Camping Trip

This trip is a weeklong excursion into a wilderness area, a tradition at the school since 1983. During our trip to one of these areas students are involved in activities that develop self-and group-awareness, positive social skills and environmental consciousness.

As a group, the students are involved in a variety of activities that emphasize trust, cooperation and mutual respect. Individual students have to depend on the group to successfully complete a challenge, and the group has to work cooperatively to achieve a common goal. All of the challenge activities are introduced in a way that encourages safety, success and fun!