4th Grade Students' Overnight Trip in Sonora

For three days, the students in the Koi Class braved the elements at the Sierra Outdoor School in Sonora, California, where they went back in time to the 1850s to learn about life during the California Gold Rush. As part of their Gold Rush experience, the students learned different mining techniques utilized by prospectors in their conquest for gold and developed valuable survival skills. Such skills included how to crush up acorns to make acorn flour the same way the native Me-Wak people did to make nupa (thick acorn soup), and how to adapt to different living conditions and eating habits of others. Immersing themselves in the lifestyle of people living during the California Gold Rush not only enriched the students’ perception of this pivotal event in California history, but also fostered the students’ independence and essential life skills. This adventure is guaranteed to remain in our students’ hearts for years to come.