Every Montessori classroom has a very important part of its curriculum called Practical Life. At the youngest level, Practical Life means learning how to zip up your jacket or slice an apple. At the Middle School level, Practical Life means learning how to budget, planning for time management needs, shopping for groceries, and getting ready for independence in the 'real world'. Our Middle School students have been busy all year running businesses to earn funds for the big excursion at the end of the year - The Adventure Trip!

This year's Adventure Trip took the children to Seattle! It is entirely planned by our students, who divide into Committees to put the whole trip together. These committees focused on the budget, food, transportation, lodging, and of course - activities. Everything from which flight to book to which hot breakfast spot to make reservations for, was planned by the students. The teachers only get a say on one "secret activity" each year, which the students don't know about until they arrive. (This year's super secret activity was the International Fountain!)

They visited the Museum of Pop Culture and its exhibits on sci-fi, horror films, and video games. They ate tacos and took the ferry to Bainbridge Island for ice cream and board games. They explored Pike Place for crumpets and wandering, then to the Seattle Art Museum. Our group got soaking wet (while having the time of their life) at the International Fountain, explored the underground old city of Seattle, and sat inside aircraft cockpits at the Museum of Flight. It’s a hard life, but some middle schoolers have to live it. In all seriousness, all the work they have put into earning money for the trip, budgeting, planning, booking, and navigating has led to this well-deserved reward. Congrats to them!

Enjoy the photo gallery for a peak inside their fun-filled Adventure Trip!