Walden West
Each year in the Fall, Cadwallader’s fifth graders are offered the opportunity to spend one week at Walden West Outdoor Science School, located at Via West in Cupertino. The facility is situated on 55 acres of beautiful oak woodland and is adjacent to Stevens Creek Park in the Cupertino Foothills. Santa Clara County Office of Education has been operating the outdoor school for fifth and sixth grade students since 1950.
During their stay at Walden West, students enjoy learning about the forest, meadow, and stream communities through the use of games and other activities. Qualified naturalists will use their expertise to help children see the interrelationships between plants and animals, as well as the effect we have on the environment. The experience is social, as well as academic. Living 24 hours a day with other students requires your child to cooperate and work together with others toward common goals. Throughout the week, classroom teachers will be available to help students adjust to being away from home. In the end, however, friendships and memories are made that last a lifetime. What greater way to learn than to be immersed in real-life science for one week!
Science Challenge
Last year our Kinder/1st grade students researched, built, and tested penny boats to see which ones could hold the most pennies, 2nd/3rd grade students created ziplines to see who could get the farthest, and upper grade students researched, built and tested House of Cards to see which one could sustain the highest structure. More information about our spring Science Challenge will be on the front of the website or in the principal's weekly newsletter.
