Students from Pacific Community Charter School (PCCS) recently completed a multi-day experiential learning trip across the Bay Area, engaging in agricultural education, environmental exploration, and STEM-focused activities.

The trip brought together students from transitional kindergarten through 8th grade for a series of immersive, place-based learning experiences. Middle school students began their journey at Presidio Tunnel Tops, where they participated in geocaching activities before traveling to Hidden Villa. There, they spent two days on a working educational farm learning about sustainable agriculture and building practices, exploring local trails and creeks, and preparing meals together as a community.

The group also attended a STEAM Day game at Oracle Park, where the San Francisco Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5–0, adding excitement to a day that blended science and sports.

Younger students in TK–5th grade began their trip midweek. TK–3rd grade classes visited Redwood Hill Farm, where they toured the creamery and learned about sustainable goat farming. Students brought cheese from the farm back to share at dinner later that evening. Meanwhile, 4th–5th grade students spent the afternoon at Challenge Sonoma, participating in a ropes course designed to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience.

On Thursday, TK-8th grade students continued their exploration with a trip into San Francisco. Second and third graders rode the SMART train to Larkspur Ferry Terminal, gaining firsthand experience with regional public transportation. All students then traveled by ferry into the city, visiting the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and the Exploratorium, deepening their understanding of local food systems and interactive science.

The trip culminated in a Farm to School BBQ dinner at the KOA on Thursday evening. The meal showcased locally sourced ingredients, including lamb burgers and pork sausage from Hidden Villa, beef hamburgers from Coast Cattle, fresh salad from James & Kelly’s Garden, and radishes from Windy Hollow Farm. Additional offerings—such as citrus, pickles, hummus, croutons, and mushrooms—were sourced by the students from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, reinforcing the connection between local agriculture and everyday meals.

“This trip exemplifies PCCS’s commitment to experiential education,” said Jennifer Ketring. “Students not only learned about food, science, and sustainability—they lived it.”

The multi-day journey provided students with meaningful opportunities to connect classroom learning to real-world environments, fostering curiosity, independence, and a deeper appreciation for their local community.

This field study was made possible through generous community support, including funds raised during the school’s Walk-a-thon, where students collectively completed 712 laps—equivalent to 178 miles—around the track at Point Arena High School. Additional funding was provided by the Redwood Coast Education Foundation, the Mendocino County Office of Education Naturalist Program, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture Farm to School Program.