Each year our 3rd-12th grades participate in our unique Traveling School Program. For one week each spring, our students and teachers take school on the road. Teachers tailor their curriculum to focus on the area, activities, and cultural events that students will get to visit first-hand. Students prepare for this journey through various homework and reading assignments that will help enrich their experience. Read on to learn more about some examples of our traveling school program.

Middle School Traveling School 2011 - Sycan River

In May 2011 the CACO middle school students embarked on an excited canoe adventure down the Sycan River in Southern Oregon. In spite of some unpredictable weather, the students were challenged to navigate the river, handle their own gear, and cook meals together. Months of preparation went into planning for this trip. The students have been learning about the geography and ecology of the area while also honing their canoe and cooking skills.

What CACO Parents Say About Traveling School: "Thank you so much for all your hard work, many hours of prep (plus clean up), and the excellent care you took with the safety of our children! It's been a wonderful weekend listening to our daughter's tales of the week of Traveling School. She came home with many more skills, perspective, and resiliency than she left with. Thank you for providing that opportunity." Check out our Facebook page for more photos of Traveling School.

Middle School Traveling School 2010 - San Francisco

Middle School students became historians, scientists, artists, and scholars as they traveled to the City by the Bay. Students prepared for the journey with specific lessons and units that spanned their curriculum. Activities included a guided tour of the Marine Mammal Center in Fort Barry, a visit to the Marin Headlands Regional Park, and an interpretive tour of Fort Point Historical Park.

Of course, no visit to San Francisco could be without a memorable walk across the stunning Golden Gate Bridge. As the sun set, it was time for a night interpretive tour of Alcatraz. One of the many highlights of the trip was a docent tour of the new de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor. Other fun stops along the way that week included trips to the Steinhart Aquarium, the Museum of Natural History, the Morrison Planetarium, the Bay Model in Sausalito, and a visit to the Exploratorium, including a crawl through the famous tactile dome. The middle school students still had lots of energy, so it was off for a day of rollerblading through Golden Gate Park, a walking tour of Chinatown, and GPS scavenger hunt through the city!