Project Location/Destination: Out of town - Salinas, California
Faculty Leaders: Lori Kloehn & Molly Lemieux
Dates: Sunday, March 12 - Friday, March 17 (Please note project begins on Sunday, March 12)
Cost: $2420
Special Considerations:
See below.
Objective
To explore and interact with both the literature of John Steinbeck and the land in which he wrote it.
Description
Nearly all of American writer John Steinbeck’s works take place in and around Monterey County in California, where Steinbeck was born in 1902. Many students have read Of Mice and Men, which takes place in the Salinas River Valley of Monterey County, also home to the National Steinbeck Center. This trip will explore Steinbeck’s writing in the land that shaped it into the Nobel Prize-winning literature enjoyed in so many high school classrooms today. For much of the trip, students will examine a particular piece of Steinbeck’s in a specific location directly connected to the setting or his writing of it. Students will be given some time to complete reading and written reflection while on the trip, but are also expected to read the short novel Cannery Row prior to arriving in Monterey. In addition, some days will involve physical activities (hiking, biking or kayaking) that allow students to engage in the land that was prominently featured in Steinbeck’s work. Lastly, we will spend time learning about Steinbeck’s conservation efforts and study of marine biology at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Each night, we will engage in lengthy discussion about the literature and land of Steinbeck.
Student Requirements and Expectations
Both prior to and during the trip, students will be expected to read, reflect on, and discuss both Steinbeck’s novel Cannery Row and several of his short stories. It is imperative that students are willing to read a 180-page novel carefully in the months leading up to the trip. Students should also be able and willing to bike, kayak in the ocean, or hike up to seven miles a day. This hiking will vary in intensity, but some of the trails have moderate elevation and require solid footwear. Students should expect to stay in a house (like an Airbnb) as our accommodations.
Special Considerations
Ability to ride a bike - Students are expected to be able to ride a bicycle for extended distances.
Ability to swim - Students are expected to be able to swim in a pool and/or in open water.
Accommodation considerations - Students will be expected to sleep in shared accommodations.
COVID related information - Some venues may require proof of COVID vaccination or negative test. Students are encouraged to travel with this information and provide it, if required. Please contact the project leaders or School Nurse with any questions or concerns.
Expectation for physical activity - This project will require a significant amount of physical exertion and possibly some physical discomfort. Students on this project should be willing to deal with discomfort, at times, in inclement weather. Students are expected to be able to participate fully in all these daily activities.
Food limitations and allergies - Students with food allergies and food sensitivities should understand that there may be times that food options will be limited. In addition, there may be cross contamination risk of allergens, as there will be times where outside food vendors will prepare our meals. Please contact the project leaders or Nurse Jill Yacu with any questions or concerns.
Scheduling (Out-of-Town) - This project will have time commitment outside of the M-F (8-4) typical school week. Please note that there is an expectation that students are able to attend the whole time the project is running.
Supervision during the day - Students might be unsupervised for short periods of time during the course of the day.
Transportation considerations: Students will be transported by Latin School faculty chaperones drivers.
Transportation considerations: Not meeting at Latin: Students may meet faculty leaders or be dismissed from a location other than Latin.