DragonWeek

Spend a week exploring the great California outdoors. Students hit the road for five days of adventure—ziplining through the trees, white-water rafting, horseback riding, and hiking in state and national parks along the way. Everyone shares in meal planning, cooking, and clean-up, and the week wraps up with a bonfire, barbecue, and plenty of s’mores.

Explore the Bay Area’s legacy of activism and resilience. Students dive into the history of marginalized communities—including queer, disabled, and BIPOC communities—through cultural sites, museums, and walking tours. Highlights include a tour of the Castro, a visit to the Black Panther Museum, and learning about Deaf culture at the San Francisco Public Library. On campus, students deepen their understanding through discussions and projects that connect history with ongoing movements for justice.

Spend five days and four nights immersed in the otherworldly landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park. Students hike among massive boulder outcroppings, explore forests of spiky Joshua trees, and experience the desert’s unique geology and biodiversity. Days are filled with hiking—up to 8 miles at a time—and nights bring unforgettable stargazing in one of the darkest skies in California. The trip begins with a flight to Palm Springs before REI guides transport students to base camp, where the adventure begins. With device-free time, shared tents, and plenty of teamwork, this course offers a true wilderness experience.

Dive into the study of marine life and the ecosystems that sustain it. Students explore the wonders of the ocean and coast through hands-on experiences—visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, going whale watching, tide pooling along the shore, and monitoring the creatures of San Francisco Bay wetlands. Along the way, students learn how to observe, research, and analyze the health of these environments, while also gaining a broader understanding of scientific systems. The course even includes a tour of SLAC labs to connect marine biology to the larger scientific world.

Each year, students in our Senior Elective History class take their learning out into the world with an international trip that brings the past to life. In recent years, students have walked through Vienna’s Belvedere Palace, explored the castles of Ireland and Scotland, and strolled London's historic streets, and discovered the ancient ruins of Athens. Wherever the journey leads, students experience history firsthand by visiting the places, monuments, and museums connected to the people and movements they’ve studied in class.

Learn the essentials of cooking while working alongside a master French chef. Students practice proper knife techniques, prepare simple and nutritious meals in settings that range from farm-to-table kitchens to in-store and private kitchens, and gain practical skills for everyday life. The course also covers nutrition, smart grocery shopping, and strategies for cooking well on a student budget. Along the way, students expand their palates with tastings of diverse cuisines from around the world.

From clay to leather to steel, discover the art of making with your own hands. This maker class is all about working with your hands and trying out new crafts. Students shape wood with power tools, throw clay to create ceramic pieces, hand-stitch their own leatherwork, and pound steel in a blacksmithing class. By exploring these different mediums, they gain practical skills while creating tangible items they can truly call their own.