There is much to be learned beyond the walls of the classroom.
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Each class takes field trips during the course of the school year. Some of these trips may involve an overnight experience. Through these trips, children become more independent and self reliant and discover the necessities and pleasures of working with other children and adults. They also learn academic material that is best taught by visiting a special off-campus site.
The young children begin their field trip experiences with local trips to see how the post office works, or what firemen or policemen do. Or they may visit Connolly Ranch and discover what life is like on a farm. As they get older, they venture further afield. Third graders spend a few nights in Yosemite National Park. Fourth graders visit Fort Ross. By Middle School, students are following up their study of Shakespeare with a trip to Ashland,Oregon to see several plays and venturing to Santa Catalina Island to increase their knowledge of oceanography and marine biology.
Good field trips are not isolated experiences. Classroom units of study lead up to the actual trip and follow-up time in the classroom is devoted to solidifying concepts and understanding. Field trips are often high points of a school year and long-remembered experiences.