USS Midway Museum
A short drive south of Greater Los Angeles brings groups to San Diego, one of the most beautiful and beloved cities in California. In addition to its great climate and beautiful coastline, San Diego enjoys many first-class museums and educational attractions students will love, not the least of which is the USS Midway Museum.
When it launched in 1945, the USS Midway was the largest aircraft carrier in the world, and more than 225,000 sailors served on it before it was decommissioned in 1992. Today it is docked in San Diego, and guests are invited to explore its 60 exhibits and 29 restored aircraft; a self-guided audio tour helps them appreciate the experience of living and working aboard the ship.
The Midway Museum offers several special programs for student groups. Onboard educational workshops use elements of the ship to teach lessons in math, science, social studies and history. Youth groups can also take advantage of opportunities to spend the night in accommodations on the aircraft carrier.
Fun in San Francisco
For students interested in technology, San Francisco is something of a mecca, being the city closest to Silicon Valley. And though there’s plenty of learning for students to do on a visit to the area, there’s also a lot of fun. One of the best places to take groups for exciting experiences is Pier 39, a complex with dining, entertainment, shopping and attractions in the heart of the city’s waterfront.
Groups can choose from a slew of attractions and activities based around Pier 39, such as sailing excursions and sightseeing cruises. The Aquarium of the Bay, on the pier, offers specialized classes and guided tours as well as hands-on experiences with sea stars, sea urchins and leopard sharks.
If you take students to Pier 39, allow time for them to get to know the pod of sea lions that sun themselves on the marina deck. The wild sea lions first appeared in 1989, and now hundreds of the marine mammals can often be found lounging and barking on the deck, much to the delight of visitors.
Nature’s Giants
It’s a long drive — more than five hours — from San Francisco to Redwood National Park in northern California, which is located closer to Eugene, Oregon, than any other major city in the Golden State. But the trek will be well worth it for nature lovers, who will relish the opportunity to spend time among some of the largest trees on earth.
Redwood National Park and an adjacent state park preserve the distinctive old-growth forest that features redwood trees that can grow hundreds of feet into the air. Groups enjoy hikes, photography walks and ranger-led expeditions through the parks, which include lessons about the bears, seabirds and other animals that live in the ecosystem.
Student groups can take advantage of several educational programs in the park. The Redwood Family Coastal Camp is a two-day, one-night backpacking trip along the California Coastal Trail, which connects Redwood national and state parks. Another option, Documentary Explorers Camp, lets young film enthusiasts spend time in the park creating documentaries about its natural wonders.
