ESCAPE to the Snow 2017

ESCAPE to the Snow!

Plenty of white snow, blue skies, and smiling faces

Sorry for the delayed update here. Our Communications and Community Relations Department is a little behind on things. We need an intern!

February’s trip to the snow was a memorable one. For the first time in several years, we didn’t have to worry about where to find snow–it was whether or not the snow would actually stop in order for us to get up there! After a solid week of rain, snow, and mudslides over freeways, we ventured east into the Sierras. The closest and most convenient place for us to go is in Cisco Grove, so we were glad to be back there again this year.

We filled a 53-seat charter bus with kids from DeJean, teachers, parents and chaperones. There was a little traffic on the way from the recent weather and freeway closures, but it had mostly cleared by the time we headed home. We got to spend the day under blue skies, and really enjoyed the time there. It was so nice out, we didn’t even bother with hot chocolate!

Plenty of sledding on our trusty plastic discs, as well as the newer inner tubes we invested in last year. Snowmen, snowball fights, and a tamale feast for lunch.

On the way home, we made our usual stops at In’N’Out in Auburn, and the state capitol in Sacramento. It was a full and fantastic day, which just seems to be what we’ve come to expect in the ESCAPE Club!

Check out the video below to see more pictures, videos, smiles, and good times. We’ll be back soon to tell you all about our recent kayaking trip.

Warning: Do NOT click here if you get envious easily. We had an amazing time!

January 27, 2017September 20, 2018

ESCAPE to Ano Nuevo 2017

ESCAPE to Ano Nuevo

A trip to see the elephant seals and Pigeon Point Lighthouse

The sky was blue as we left DeJean Saturday morning. We were grateful for every moment that the inevitable rain delayed its arrival. Just in case, we brought a dozen extra umbrellas as there would be no shelter where we were headed. About 40 of us made our way south down the coast to Ano Nuevo State Reserve, where every year, the elephant seals return from feeding in Hawaii, Alaska, and all over the Pacific.

Ano Nuevo is one of the special places that the seals choose to haul out and compete for females, give birth, and mate for next year’s offspring. We get tickets to take this tour eight weeks in advance, and always feel so fortunate to be this close to the wildlife. It’s definitely a unique experience.

The hike out to the beach is a little more than a mile, and the weather was cool, but not unbearable. It felt like a nice day for a good walk. We saw pups nursing with their moms, alpha males threatening the younger males getting too close to their harems, and lots of sleeping, snorting, and sand flipping. We saw the deserted house/research station out in the distance on Ano Nuevo Island from years past.

Most years, we take time after the hike to walk down to the beach, just south of the Reserve. But this year, storm winds and king tides made the beach not just wet, but even dangerous. We also feared that our other planned destination, Pacifica Pier, would be closed due to the storm. So we wandered up the road a few miles to Pigeon Point Lighthouse. From there, we could safely look down on the huge waves and watch them crash into the shoreline. We caught a little of the history of the lighthouse, and saw the old lamp and lenses. It was a worthy replacement activity for the afternoon.

The gray skies finally relented to raindrops on our way home, but we’d already seen so much, and we counted the day a success. We’re grateful for so many chaperones who showed up to drive our kids, for those who support us financially so we can get so many tickets, and for students brave enough to get out of the house on a gray, rainy day.

And unlike recent years, we don’t have to wonder if there will be snow in the mountains next month! Enjoy the photos and the video, and we’ll see you again soon.

Check out the video if you have a few extra minutes!

December 22, 2016September 20, 2018

ESCAPE to San Francisco 2016

ESCAPE to San Francisco

From San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin. Six stops on a rainy Saturday in December…

We knew it was going to rain, but we were hopeful for a reprieve at some point during the day, as we had our usual list of destinations to hit:

Lombard Street
Palace of Fine Arts
Fort Point
Golden Gate Bridge
Marine Mammal Center
Battery Spencer

Though it didn’t work out exactly the way we’d hoped, we had a great day, and dodged the raindrops as best we could. We did get to see the wild parrots at Lombard Street, which was a special treat. The Palace of Fine Arts was glorious as always, but without much shelter, we didn’t stay long. The torrents continued while we were at Fort Point, but at least we could avoid the rain if we chose.

But the rain continued, and we thought it best to skip the walk on the Golden Gate Bridge. The Marine Mammal Center generously allowed us to eat lunch in their classroom, and then gave us an introduction to all that goes on there. They had just brought in a juvenile elephant seal an hour earlier, which was fortunate for us. It was the only animal we could actually see. In recent years, we’ve seen many, many more animals, but we’ve gone in March, much later in the season.

The kids (and chaperones) persevered, and to buy time in the rain, we visited the Marin Headlands Visitor Center. It’s actually a nice visitor center, and they graciously hosted us for close to an hour. By then, the rain finally gave way to heavy fog. We decided we could try going to Battery Spencer. Though we were just a few hundred yards from the Golden Gate Bridge, we couldn’t see a thing. It did give us a chance to burn off a little energy, running around among the old buildings. By that time though, most of us were pretty cold and damp, and ready for a warm shower and dry clothes.

We decided to call it a day, and returned to Richmond an hour early. But we were pleased with the attitude and the adventurous spirit of the kids. Most of them felt like this was still a major upgrade from sitting by themselves at home on the couch! We’re grateful for a nice group of kids we have this year, and for teacher/chaperones that are supportive, attentive and flexible. And we got to wear our new shirts! Don’t we look good in them?

We filmed a “mannequin challenge” at the Marin Headlands Visitor Center to pass the time in the rain. You can see it at the end of our slideshow video below.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of us at the ESCAPE Club!

Click above to see the video. Our mannequin challenge is at the end.

December 12, 2016September 20, 2018

ESCAPE to Slide Ranch 2016

ESCAPE to Slide Ranch

Goat milking, a trip through the chicken pen, baking from the organic garden, and lots more…

We have come to love our annual trip to Slide Ranch. The students are exposed to so many new experiences, that it’s a bit overwhelming for us to try to document the day.
Our group of 35 kids was broken into four groups, each led by one of the talented Slide Ranch staff. They take the time to learn kids’ names, and really interact personally with them the entire time we’re there. We can’t say enough about their program, and their generosity to us. You can find more about them at www.slideranch.org.

We ended the program sharing a feast of all the things we made: bread, butter, vegetable stir fry, and rhubarb crisp, all on nasturtium leaf plates. So tasty, and we made it all ourselves!