Providing children with worldly, cultured life experiences can be difficult. Opportunities are limited in a rural community, and when options do present themselves expense and travel can get in the way. This spring, Willits elementary school students from Blosser Lane (grades three through five) will be treated to an intentional, well-rounded curriculum of enriching field trips focused on: Fine Arts, Anthropology, the “Hard Sciences,” Critical Thinking, Stewardship of the Earth, and Dance.
Fine Arts & Anthropology: March 2020
Grace Hudson Museum – Ukiah, California
The museum’s namesake, Grace Carpenter Hudson (1865-1937), grew up in Potter Valley and became a prolific painter in her adulthood. “Beginning in 1891, she began painting her Pomo neighbors, people who inspired her. Hudson would ultimately paint 680 portraits of the Pomo in her lifetime,” according to the Maine Antique Digest.
In addition to many of these paintings, Blosser Lane Elementary School students can look forward to several enriching opportunities while visiting Grace Hudson Museum.
“Metaphor, Myth, and Politics: Art from Native Printmakers” is the primary, traveling exhibit scheduled for the children’s visit. Printmaking is the art of transferring an image to another surface using screen printing, wood blocks, and other tools.
Primary Galleries include the Heart Gallery, showcasing paintings, drawings, and photography by Grace Hudson. The Person Gallery, which displays texts and objects that detail the history of the Hudson Family, and the Stone Gallery presenting over 100 years of Pomo basketry.
Weather permitting, the children will also have the opportunity to enjoy “The Wild Gardens” located on museum grounds along with the Outdoor Classroom. This space is an open-air environment to learn about how plants can influence art and food.
Arts & Science: April 2020
Exploratorium – San Francisco, California
Conceived by renowned Physicist, Frank Oppenheimer, the Exploratorium is a “library of experiments that can be experienced at your own pace,” according to the organization. “We create, experiment, test, and build nearly everything at the Exploratorium ourselves, always looking for the most interesting and important ideas to pursue, often pushing the limits of what’s possible. In this sense, we’re a classic research-and-development organization, constantly creating new activities, websites, events, artworks, exhibits, and more.”
Dozens of hands-on experiments, activities, and exhibits are available to children in several subjects: Arts, Astronomy & Space Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Data, Earth Science, Engineering & Technology, Environmental Science, History, Mathematics, Nature of Science, Perception, Physics, and Social Science.
“Our vision is a world where people think for themselves and can confidently ask questions, question answers, and understand the world around them. We value lifelong learning and teaching, curiosity and inquiry, our community, iteration and evidence, integrity and authenticity, sustainability, and inclusion and respect,” said the Exploritorium, Public Programs.
Earth Science & Dance: May 2020
U.C. Hopland Research & Extension Center – Hopland, California
Nearly 70 years at work, the U.C. Hopland Research & Extension Center has 5,300 acres of oak woodlands and other biomes to steward, and is the University of California’s primary field research facility for agriculture and natural resources in the region.
Research emphasis over the lifetime of the center includes: sheep biology and management; range improvement (particularly emphasizing vegetation management and soil fertility), wildlife science (with particular attention to Columbian black-tailed deer and coyotes), and entomology, parasitology, and disease, with emphasis on species of public health [ticks and insects] and veterinary [viruses] significance. Watershed Studies also take place here. Watersheds are basins or places where water naturally drains and collects. Scientists study why water ends up going to a specific location.
Visiting children can expect to see any of up to 600 plant species, wild and rangeland animals (sheep), Valley or Blue Oak trees, and what it might be like to work in the growing, often low-stress field of Earth Sciences.
Mendocino Ballet – Ukiah, California
The only local dance company that offers performance opportunities for the serious dancer, also features classical and contemporary ballet, and children’s story ballets. Blosser Lane students will be watching a “children’s story” ballet.
The story of choice, “Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding.” Composed by the famous Peter Tchaikovsky, the tale is about a happy wedding visited by fairies, Puss in Boots, and other beloved childhood characters who join in to celebrate. Much of the ballet will be performed by young people, possibly inspiring some in the audience to give dance a try and take to the stage themselves at a later date.
Support for programs like these comes from parents and community members and organizations. To help with further experiential education, contact Blosser Lane Elementary School at (707) 459-3232.
