Grade 5 goes on new adventure to Fort Ross

Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School fifth-graders went on a new adventure for their spring trip.

For the first time, students visited Fort Ross, a Russian American settlement from the early 1800s on the coast north of San Francisco. They gardened, fished, created and sold crafts, cooked, took turns doing night watch, successfully churned some delicious butter, and hiked a lot. They also learned about the Kashaya Pomo, the Native Americans who still live in that area, and the effect the Russians had on their tribe.

The experience was part of Santa Catalina’s IEB program (Imagine Explore Become), a collection of overnight, outdoor excursions in grades 4-8.