Experiential learning is a key component of Eastside Prep’s education. During Spring Adventure week, students see real-world examples of their everyday education, expanding their knowledge base and their comfort zones as they travel the world (either globally or locally), bringing back ideas about their own individuality they would have never learned without taking these steps.

Upper School students choose their own experiences for Spring Adventure week; trips are composed of groups of individuals with similar interests and passions. The wide variety of experiences and opportunities allows students to choose something that will challenge or benefit them in unique ways.

While choices vary each year, a sample of options from our 2010 offerings includes the following experiences, and each year usually sees one or two options from the categories below.

International Opportunities in Spanish-Speaking Countries:

Service and Sustainability in Costa Rica: Students meet and talk with students in Costa Rica, practicing Spanish and doing service work for their school, as part of an on-going partnership with Eastside Prep.

Mexico Cultural Immersion: In this Spanish-speaking only trip, students learn first-hand about a people and their culture through an intimate experience that includes homestays with local families.

Outdoor Adventures:

California Mountaineering Excursion: Mt. Shasta provides the beautiful backdrop for students to challenge themselves, learning technical mountaineering and glacier travel skills before a summiting the 14,179 foot peak.

American Southwest: Students experience the cultural, ecological, and geologic beauty through hikes and visits to areas such as Arches and Bryce Canyon National Park.

College Trip: Los Angeles Area College Tour: Students have a chance to personally visit a wide variety of colleges of universities, including Cal Tech, the Claremont Colleges, Chapman, Occidental, and USC, among others.

Local Experiences:

Seattle Arts Experience: This trip includes hands-on experiences in glass-blowing, clay wheel-throwing, and digital game creating, and music-video recording, as well as trips to local galleries and theatres. This daytime trip allows students to return home at night.

Thespian Week at EPS: Students with a strong interest in theatre remain at EPS for the week to engage in putting together a theatre production.

Community Service Trip: Outdoor service projects and one night of camping allow students a chance to have fun while making the world a better place.