While the Autumnal mood and weather are setting in here in Olympia, we were able to enjoy a last flicker of summer on our class field trip. The trip began by going directly to the Yakima River to float about 10 miles of the canyon with black cliffs and golden hills. It was a very social time where the two boats were together for much of the trip. The converssatin ebbed and flowed as the boats glided around the bends of the river. Some students jumped into the cold waters and Mr. Hand was the only one to fall in. It was a great time to relax in the sunshine and enjoy the company. That evening, we carried our gear over a foot bridge into a campground that was closed to cars for the season (it was known by the Forest Service that we would use this campground). It was a treat to have the whole place to ourselves. We quickly spread out to steak our claims. While some of the boys were throwing rocks at a hornets nest (and being reprimanded by their teacher), the girls were nesting under a large picnic shelter known as "The Castle." The girls were collecting wood for the hearth of their new home with pride and tenacity.
After a very frigid night, the students found a secluded place to quietly reflect upon some of their goals for the year. Some remarked how nice it was to have the tranquil sounds of the stream in the background as they wrote.
During the afternoon, the class went to Central Washington University. Here, we walked around the campus and had dinner at the student union. It was a good time for the students to imagine themselves in the position of being a college bound student.
In the evening, we attended an upper division physics class that dealt with optics and calculus. The professor was a very dynamic speaker. He was asking the "Waldorf kids" questions and asking them to look at light that shone through different gasses. Most students had the courage to venture a question in the large class and it was great to hear the professor shout with enthusiasm! 
After sitting through an hour and a half lecture, we were able to go up on the roof of the science building and look at a super nova, the moons of Jupiter, shooting stars and other cosmic wonders. Students and professors guided us in our gazing and were very kind to us.
After a full evening, we returned to the campground. The following day we wrote some more in our journals and packed up camp. There were many lessons learned that will be helpful for the end of the year trip. It was a great social trip for the class and it was a joy to be around them. Over and above the small challenges they have with each other, they enjoy being around one another. There is no hiding on these trips and their true colors were coming through. Thank you all who made this trip possible, especially John and Sharon!
