Day 5

We packed up this morning and set off for San Francisco! We stopped briefly in Fairfield and toured the famous Jelly Belly Factory, where students got an inside look at how the company manufactures these confectionary delights. We got to sample many different flavors afterward and had fun daring one another to try the rotten egg and skunk flavors! We have now pitched our tents in a breathtaking campsite that overlooks the San Francisco coastline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Tomorrow, we will wake up early and sail to Alcatraz for our day tour. We will then take in the sights of one of the world's most famous cities as we walk around some historic places and sample some of the food that has made San Francisco famous. Perhaps the most gratifying experience for us - the teachers - is seeing the students so thrilled by experiences they have never had in places they have never been.

What President enjoyed Jelly Beans and what flavor were they?

Day 4 Water Day

We woke up to a beautiful, warm and sunny day.  A perfect day for playing on the river!  Some of us went river rafting.  The photos speak for themselves!:

 

Some of us hung out on the river, swimming and floating:

Some of us went to the pool:

Some of us explored Sutter's Mill:

 

 

All in all a perfect day.  During class council around the fire tonight we shared the one favorite thing that we did today.  Hardly anybody stopped at just one! 

 

Student question of the day:  What day did James Marshall discover gold?



Day 3 Sacramento

Camping With Millennials

Day 3 was spent in Downtown Sacramento.  Although it was Saturday, we spent the morning in school at the Old Sacrament Schoolhouse. We got a taste of what it was like in the late 1800's as a student.  I have a feeling the kids thought they have it good!

It was fun to watch them as they stood up and bowed or curtsied before answering the teacher.  The rules were very rigid and the student and teacher experience was very different than today.  we also learned a bit of history from a schoolboy or girl's point of view.
 After a stop at Candy Heaven where some students enjoyed chocolate covered crickets, we made our way to the park on the Capitol grounds for lunch.

We enjoyed the beautiful weather and each others' company as we waited
for our Capitol tour to begin



The Assembly

Student Question of the day:  What is the significance of the Assembly room being green and the Senate room being red?

The Senate



Day 2 Moaning Cavern

Great Day!  We went to Moaning Cavern.  Kim, Cierra, Prasadini, Emily, Shannon, Trevor, Joseph and Sindhu zip lined.  Beanie, Noah, Martin, Michael, Sam, and Calvin climbed a rock wall and Michael was brave enough to rappel 300 feet into the cavern. 

Here are some photos.  At the bottom is a glimpse of what happens when kids have been cooped up in a car too long!

Student question of the day:  While we were in Moaning Cavern, the guide told us an interesting fact about what would happen if there was an earthquake while we were at the bottom of the cavern.  (By the way we were very close to the little town of San Andreas...famous for a fault)  What do you think would happen?