Field trips

6th Grade: Shady Creek Outdoor School

Shady Creek Outdoor School is a week-long, in-residence science camp experience. 

The program, dating back to the ’50s, is designed for sixth graders to study natural sciences along with creative writing, art and social sciences.  To quote the camp itself, “The natural environment around Shady Creek is rich and diverse. Students have the opportunity to study in a forest, visit bird blinds to watch wildlife undetected, investigate aquatic life at the creek, meet Shady Creek’s resident injured hawks and owls, explore many beautiful scenic areas, look at plant and animal life, study the stars, and many other subjects.” 

The opportunity is not one to be missed as students often cite the experience as one of the highlights of their three years here at PCMS. This trip is led by Mr. Blaschke and Mrs. Behlke. Please visit ourShady Creek Informational Website for more information about the trip, or visit the Shady Creek Outdoor School Homepage.

7th Grade: Yosemite

Paradise Charter Middle School’s 7th grade will visit one of the most photographed places on the planet. 

In May students will discover why people travel from around the globe to visit this national park. Throughout this trip, students will have the chance to do some gemstone mining and try their skills on an outdoor climbing tower. Next they will walk down deep into Moaning Cavern. The spectacular vertical main chamber is large enough to hold the entire Statue of Liberty. Students will descend on a 100 foot spiral staircase where the history and geology of the cavern are described. Next the class will head to the town of Groveland for a pizza dinner.  

Students will spend the night in a church and get up the next morning for our day trip to YOSEMITE.  In Yosemite there will be a stop at a few famous spots and then the class will go to the Visitor Center.  Everyone will view the granite monoliths El Capitan and Half Dome.  Students will then take a challenging hike that will test their endurance.  

When they are absolutely exhausted, they will finally pile in the cars and head home.  On the way they will stop for dinner at In-N-Out Burger and be back at the school that night.

8th Grade: San Francisco

The last hurrah, led by Mr. Faith.

Eighth graders end their time at PCMS with a three day, two night trip to San Francisco. The home base for our trip is the Hostel at  Fort Mason overlooking the San Francisco Bay. From there almost all of our activities are within walking distance. We take a 3 hour sail around the bay on Seaward, a 60’ three-masted schooner docked in the Marin County town of Sausalito.

Students also visit Alcatraz, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, and experience street artists along The Embarcadero in the evening. Parents serve as chaperones and many treat it as a way to wrap up their time at PCMS as well. This trip is usually a highlight of our students’ time here at PCMS.

The purpose of the trip is to punctuate students’ three years at PCMS with one last relaxing and fun trip a few days before graduation and the beginning of the next leg of their education journey.