Reflections on Yosemite

Director of Outdoor Education Pete Carlson and the Class of 2023
Chandler’s dedicated teachers bring true passion and professionalism to their craft in the classroom. With the worst of COVID behind us, they are looking to offer students more enrichment opportunities like field trips and outdoor education to connect outside of the classroom.
Research has demonstrated several positive impacts associated with outdoor education like increased academic achievement, emotional development, and bonding with peers. 

But you don’t have to take our word for it (or even a scientific journal’s word). Listen to some voices from our 8th graders, the Class of 2023, who wrote reflections in their Yosemite blog: 


The memories I made and gained will forever be in my mind. I feel as though not only did I grow more mature, but also became more responsible, I really enjoyed this trip, and I hope I can continue going on life-changing trips like these. -Hansen Liao '23
Last week I went on a school field trip to Yosemite for a week. It was a fantastic experience and I would love to go there again with my family. The trip for me was fun, challenging, adventurous, beautiful, and peaceful. - Raul Ceja '23
On day 4 we decided to go to the Falls. It was a crazy long trip but after winding up the mountains we got led to this beautiful tourist site by the waterfall. The splashing water, and birds chirping felt unreal. As I looked down a cloud of mist covered the bottom of the mountain. It was hours of traveling, but it was definitely worth it in the end. I felt as if it calmed and relaxed me from thinking about anything else other than nature. - Shayla Dalie '23
The last full night of the trip we went into an awesome cave. Once we got to the center and turned all of our lights off, you could not see your hand in front of your face. It was so cool to be in the pure darkness that the cave provided - something that most people do not experience often. Before we got to the cave, we went rock scrambling, which is just climbing over boulders and finding your own route to get to the waterfall. It felt good finding your own way instead of having an adult tell you where to go. 

I had so much fun and I would love to go on another trip with all of my classmates like that. Thank you, Chandler, for an awesome experience. - Austen Vahdat '23 
I felt empty without my phone at first, but during the five days, I learned to enjoy being able to connect with friends, my teachers, and my trail group. I made new friends, learned new skills, learned new things about nature. Yosemite really changed my perspective on nature and will forever be engraved in my mind. - Alexandra Wang '23
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