The SBMS 2018 Fall Expedition
Grade 9 Departure: Monday, October 15, 7:30 am
Grades 6, 7 & 8 Departure: Monday October 15, 8:30 am
All Students Return: Saturday, October 20, 3:00 pm
On the day of our departure, Monday, October 15, your child should arrive at the
upper Sears Parking Lot
in La Cumbre Plaza with a sack lunch and hydration pack or water bottles. All other trip gear (including helmets) should be in their duffel bags to be loaded for transport.
Autumn is here, and once again we will be heading out on our all-school Fall Expedition. The theme of this journey is
Teamwork and Communit
y. The Fall Expedition is an important part of both SBMS tradition and the Outdoor Education program, and it is an opportunity for the new students to bond with our school family and for the older students to develop their roles as mentors and leaders.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to transition from their families at home to a caring and supportive, yet challenging, environment. Even though we are only a few hours away, we want the students to learn to rely on us and each other to help them through any discomforts or homesickness they may experience. Therefore, no cell phones, iPods, smart watches or other electronic devices are allowed.
The daytime weather at this time of year will most likely be warm, but the nights can be quite cold with the coastal fog. Please be sure to pack all of the items on the
SBMS Fall Trip Equipment List
.
To help our students have a positive tenting experience with their partners, students are asked to read and sign the
Student Expedition Agreement
which was created for their safety. The
Student Expedition Agreement
will be discussed with the students at school. Students will choose their tenting partners during homeroom with the guidance and assistance of their teachers. During the second week of October, you will receive an email confirming that tenting partners have been arranged. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your students dean. The
Student Expedition Agreement
is attached. Please make sure your child’s signed agreement is turned into the office by Friday, October 5.
Please do not send bags of candy, cans of soda, or other food with your child. The campgrounds have very active raccoons that will happily eat food stashed in tents or duffel bags. The school will provide students with all of their food while on the trip.
To help keep students’ gear dry and protected, the SBMS Warehouse sells Ortlieb waterproof duffel bags at special SBMS-only prices. We strongly suggest you purchase them as these duffel bags are very durable and will generally last the duration of your child’s time at SBMS. If you choose to use your own duffel bag, please note that the maximum duffel bag size allowed is 5,431 cubic inches (same size of an Ortlieb bag).
The SBMS Warehouse is a school-owned outfitting store that sells trip related clothing and camping equipment to SBMS families. In preparation for our Fall Expedition the Warehouse will be open:
- Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 8:30 am -10 am
- Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9 am -10 am
- Tuesdays 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
- The Warehouse is also open by appointment; please email Erik Edwards at Erik@sbms.org or Erin Finnegan at Erin@sbms.org to schedule an appointment.
Please review the attached
Fall Expedition Health Preparation Form
. If your child takes any medication, please fill out and return the attached
Authorization for Dispensing Medication
form to Lilli in the SBMS office by Friday, October 5. Double check that the office has your child’s medication when departing for the trip. If you will be out of town during our trip, please let the office know how to reach you in case of an emergency.
Parents will also need to sign the
Fall Expedition Waiver
,
which will be available in the SBMS Hub. You will be notified via email when the waiver is available for you to log in to sign it. Please sign by October 5.
ITINERARY & IMPORTANT DATES
- Friday, October 5: Turn in the Student Expedition Agreement and Authorization for
- Dispensing Medication forms to the SBMS office by this date. Fall Expedition Waiver is also due.
- Tuesday, October 9: Bring bikes to school for loading. Racks and rack packs may be left on the bikes.
- Monday, October 15: Grade 9: Arrive at upper Sears Parking Lot at 7:30 am with duffel bags. Grades 6, 7, & 8: Arrive upper Sears Parking Lot at 8:30 am with duffel bags. Drive to New Brighton State Beach near Capitola. Set up camp.
- Tuesday, October 16 - Thursday, October 18: Bike, kayak or explore the Monterey Bay Aquarium in smaller groups.
- Friday, October 19: Ride together through the redwoods in the Forest of the Nisene Marks.
- Saturday, October 20: Shuttle to Goleta Beach. Ride to Goleta Beach to be met by SBMS families. Homecoming is at 3:00 pm. Parents please arrive a by 2:30 pm to pick up your child’s duffel bags.
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you and your family at Homecoming!
Erin Finnegan
Director of the Outdoor Education Program
