as far as the mind can see Greetings, sixth grade students and families! We are excited to be taking our kids on a new adventure this year: the Ocean Institute's three day Chaparralto Sea program, which takes place in the pristine woodland environment of the Lazy W Ranch and at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California. While more specifics (and forms!) will be headed home in the coming weeks, here is the essential information about our trip: Dates: Students will depart from school on the morning of Wednesday, September 30th and return on the evening of Friday, October 2nd. Location and accommodations: Students will spend Wednesday and Thursday involved in outdoor activities and classes, led by Ocean Institute staff and chaperoned by Francis Parker teachers, at the Lazy W Ranch (located just 15 miles east of San Juan Capistrano in Orange County). We will eat all meals and spend both nights in this safe, rustic, and grouporiented location. On Friday, we will head to the Institute's research center on Dana Point for a day of intertidal exploration and a trip on a research vessel! Here is a brief overview of the program and activities we will experience: At the Lazy W Ranch, students use handson data collection and analysis to study the relationships between living and nonliving components of six unique California ecosystems (riparian, oak woodland, chaparral, intertidal, benthic, and pelagic). Evening activities include a nocturnal investigation and campfire skits and songs. Then, a trip to the Ocean Institute concludes the experience and allows students to explore food webs, water quality, life cycles, and tide pools, along with a trip on our research vessel. Packing Lists, Medical Forms, and Other Information: All of this and more will be shared with students and parents at our 6th Grade Orientation on the morning of Friday, September 4th. In the meantime, if you have any questions about our upcoming trip, please feel free to email 6th Grade Dean Chris McGrath at:
[email protected]. Thank you. We can't wait to see our new sixth grade students and families soon! Warmly, The Sixth Grade Team www.francisparker.org Linda Vista Campus 6501 Linda Vista Road San Diego, CA 92111 858 / 569-7900 Mission Hills Campus 4201 Randolph Street San Diego, CA 92103 619 / 298-9110