Nawa Academy

The 2010-2011 school year- off to a good start

2010-09-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Like some of our students, I am a newcomer to Nawa Academy. It is an awesome school on a gorgeous rustic, forest campus and I am very impressed by the caliber of the students and staff. These two factors make each day a pleasant experience. My expectation is for an exceptional school year that, in spite of the economy, could be the beginning of a new period of growth for our program and expansion of our facilities.

written by: Dr. Wes Johnston, Asst. Head of School

Nawa Academy welcomes Dr. Wes Johnston

2010-08-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

Nawa Academy welcomes Dr. Wes Johnston as the Assistant Head of School. Dr. Johnston joins us from Maine with 15 years of successful school leadership. His experience includes senior administration at a Maine boarding school for at-risk middle and high school students and, more recently, Head of School for college preparatory schools in both California and Maine. Wes is a Bakersfield, California native. He and his wife Marilyn, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, reared their four children in Maine, the youngest of whom is a 2010 graduate of Cal State University Monterey Bay. A passion for the success of students underlies Dr. Johnston's leadership style and strategic development. He will be mentored by the founders of Nawa Academy in all facets of the organization and will assume operational leadership as the current Head of School, David Hull, focuses his energies on funding and program development.

Nawa Academy had so much to offer me.

2010-08-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Looking back on my experience I can see why Nawa Academy succeeded in preparing me for the next step in life. It was because of its smaller class sizes, hands-on learning, and the ability to learn from my mistakes in a safe environment that I was transformed in to a college-bound young adult. I went from being a troubled student that would cut school on a regular basis with a gpa of 1.76 to graduating with a 3.50 gpa, having been accepted to 100% of the five colleges that I applied too. During my senior year of high school, Nawa provided me with the opportunity to travel the world. It was at this time that I learned more about my self than I have during my previous seventeen years of existence. I learned essential skills that would be needed to thrive in the adult world, like managing my time responsibility and sharpening my decision-making skills- all while getting to see Baja, Vietnam, India, Peru, Chile, the Yucatan, and China. If I could go back to the point where I decided to go back to Nawa Academy, I would do it all again.

written by: Juni Martins, Graduate of the Class of 2010

Hello from Beijing!!!

2010-08-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Well, we survived our 20 hour train ride and arrived in Beijing in fairly good spirits. At this point in the trip, we are tourists and can set our own schedule. So far, we have been to Tiananmen square. Tomorrow, we will be going to the Forbiden City. It will be Demitri's birthday, so we will be going out to celebrate with a nice dinner. I have included some photos from the train and the square. As with all trips, one gets tired at the end and I think we are all looking forward to our return home. But in the end, we will take with us some amazing memories.

Cheers,
Your China Travelers

Experience China - Hello All!!

2010-08-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

Well as we wind down our stay in Yangshuo we have had a chance to reflect on our stay here and find that we have had a amazing experience. We have worked with some delightful children (and a few not so delightful....lol) and we have had some adventures. The bamboo boats on the Liu river, the Yangshuo state park, the cycle tour into the countryside, the water buffalo where we set up a mock campsite, and of course the BBQ's. We end our stay in a hostel in downtown Yangshuo near the famous West street and take the opportunity to shop and relax and prepare ourselves for our upcoming journey to Beijing. I have included a few pictures in this email as just a sample of what we have done I will hopefully be able to put them all on to a CD when I return home. We are looking forward to more adventures and amazing sights, so until then...

Cheers,
Your China Travelers

Hello from Yangshuo China!!

2010-08-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the delay, but we have been very busy with our duties at the camp (and the computer we have access to is in chinese!!!). Well after we arrived in Shenzhen, we spent the night at a nice hotel and then had an opportunity to walk around Shenzhen in the morning before we boarded the bus for Yangshuo. The bus ride was an adventure unto itself...11 hours on a sleeper bus ( imagine sleeping on a ironing board with 40 other people around you on a moving bus...interesting). We arrived in Yangshuo early in the morning and we were taken to our hotel. The Jinxing Hotel is nice and the camp is based out of it. So far we have been giving English lessons and taking trips with the campers. We will be here in Yangshuo until the 23rd then we will be taking the train to Beijing. I will have photos to send shortly, but as I have to go in to town to get reliable internet it may take a few days. All students are in good health but a little tired as we haven't had much chance to get over our jet lag.

Cheers,
Ben

written by: Ben Sundoen, Lead Instructor

Hello from Shenzhen China!!!

2010-08-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

Well after a relatively short flight (13hrs) we landed in Hong Kong, We breezed through customs and immigration. After getting our bearings we hopped aboard the airport express train to begin our adventures on the Hong Kong subway system. Demitri was given the task of navigating us through and did an outstanding job!!! We made it to the Lo Wu / Lo Hou border crossing after using one train and four different subway lines!!!! At Lo Wu / Lo Hou we finally made it into mainland China. It was decided that we would spend the night in Shenzhen ( after 13 hrs in the air an 11hour bus ride did not look appealing ). We grabbed a taxi and headed to our hotel for the night. We are staying at the Shanshui Trends Hotel. It is a nice, clean, comfortable (and cheap) hotel in downtown Shenzhen. On Saturday we will spend the day in Shenzhen then catch our bus to Guilin. Other than all of us being a little rummy from the flight, everyone is in good shape.

More to come
Ben

written by Ben Sundoen, Lead Instructor

Great Challenge- Nawa Summer Adventure School wraps up

2010-08-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

Swift Water Rescue- week of July 21st, 2010

This week the Great Challenge boys spent a 3-day week learning and implementing swift water rescue techniques. First, the group covered swift water terms and practiced throw bags, then got wet and navigated a small rapid in their river position. Day 2 was game time, Brian met the group at the Trinity River and had the group use all the knowledge gained from the previous day. The group did an amazing jop at the river and impressed the staff on how quickly they were able to get through all of the rescue techniques. This included navigating a more extreme rapid both in river position and then on Carlson Boards. Finally, day 3 was river rafting which all the boys were really looking forward to for two reasons; first, for the experience of running rapids and second, because they were finally going to be interacting with the girl's group. The raft day was wonderful and exciting, it also included rock jumping and water fights with the girls. Overall this was an excellent way to end the month and be reflective of the group's work built throughout the past 4 weeks.

Lassen Expedition- Nawa Summer Adventure School wraps up

2010-08-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

Backpacking- last week of July 16, 2010

James' blog- day 1
Due to much snow in Lassen, we had to backpack to Mumford Meadows in the Trinity Alps. It was a somewhat grueling trail with an incline and several creek crossings. At the very beginning of the trip we lost our good friend "Tapatillo" to a nasty fall. He will be missed. It is mildly hot but there is still snow on the ground. The meadow is small and seems to be random and in the middle of nowhere, yet it has its beauty.

Jacob's blog- day 2
This morning we hiked 2 miles uphill the whole way to Lander's Lake. On the way, we crossed a creek and a couple of wet meadows. We needed to refill water so we refilled at the small waterfalls along the way. We eventually arrived at the lake and I thought at last, we made it. The lake was really clear, some people tried to catch some fish. All but one member of our party peaked Red Mountain. It seemed like one could see everything from there. At the very top, I made a cairn. On the way back down, we glissaded down the snow. It was scary at first but I was no longer scared when I finished. The hike back out was really short. It was a hard day of hiking.

Max's blog- day 3
On the 18th we started our hike to Horseshoe Lake around 11 am. We hiked through many different meadows before we reached the climb to the lake. We saw many cool waterfalls and mountain peaks on the trail. When we reached the lake, Juni immediately began fishing. After 10 minutes, Juni pulled in a rainbow trout which inspired everyone to begin fishing. Shortly after, Chris walked toward us carrying a big trout in his hands. A little while later, Bryce caught a goblin trout. After our successful fishing expedition, we hiked back to our campsite in the meadow. We packed up our things and hiked 2 miles down to the trail to where the CCC camp was. That night at camp, we ate our trout which was cooked to be very spicy. It was a very successful day.

Bryce's blog- day 4
Our peak day started with a very hard steep climb up the trail. We then reached a meadow where some of the group did not want to go on. After much deliberation and encouragement, we decided to continue on to Thumb Rock. After about an hour of hiking we scrambled up a very steep hill. We arrived at a pass between some twin peaks. Some people went to the highest peak and others chose to stay and relax in the snowy pass and enjoy the view. Going down the hill was the best part of the day. A jump made it feel like one was flying because it was so steep. We then took a relaxing hike back to camp where we finished our Ramen cooked with bacon that the CCC group gave to us.

James' blog- day 5
The hike out was a whole lot easier than the hike in because it was mostly downhill. Since we had extra time and energy we looked at things that we had missed coming in. In Weaverville, the staff took us to see the movie, "Inception". We all really enjoyed it and thought it was a good movie. We then played a round of partners disc golf. We all are a lot better now than the first time we played. Overall the week was very successful and fun.

Girls on the Go- Nawa Summer Adventure School wraps up

2010-08-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

Rafting on the Trinity River- final week of July 19, 2010

Rafting down the Trinity River is an all around fun experience. It was especially exciting for Maya, Selin, Nicole, and Nate who all popped out of the boat, unintentionally. Maya even got to swim a rapid before she got into an eddy and was picked back up. The girls had a great time trying to sneak up on the boy's boat and splash them, but somehow we always ended up being the ones drenched. The week also involved a lot of training in regards to swift water rescue. A highlight was when Brian showed up and set up a line across a fork of the river where the girls harnessed up and flew across about 50 ft up. What a way to finish up an excellent summer session.

Leanne Newman, Challenge Leader

Lassen Expedition- Nawa Summer Adventure School Continues

2010-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Swift Water Rescue- week of July 10, 2010

Max's blog- day 1
Yesterday we all woke up feeling excited about our swift water rescue training week. We left base camp at 9:30 am heading to our campsite next to the East Fork of the Trinity River. The instructors had us set up some anchors on several trees without telling us why. It turns out they were having us build a slack line to play on at base camp. We left for the river and practiced our rescue swimming for several hours. The river was extremely powerful and lots of fun to swim in. We learned how to use throw bags and barrel role to get past eddie lines. After a fun day on the river we returned to camp and finished with our nightly activities.

Bryce's blog- day 2
Saturday morning we were woken up by the sounds of Nick's guitar. We barely made it up before the third wake up call, narrowly avoiding a grab bag. James and I slowly motivated ourselves to make breakfast, it consisted of a dozen eggs and sausage. Once at the river, we started learning to rescue uncooperative swimmers. We then learned to rescue using a Carlson Board. A Carlson Board is similar to a paddle board but larger with handles on it. To rescue with it, one paddles out to the victim, puts the victim on it and pulls the board back to shore. My favorite thing this week so far has been riding the Carlson Board down the rapids. After a long day at the river, we came back to camp to eat dinner. We decided to make chicken alfredo and it turned out to be much more food than we thought, so we stored the rest for the following day. After dinner, we learned how to put someone into spinal immobilization on a backboard, so they could be transported. Max had to be the victim. It took a while but we got him secured and then walked him around the campsite. We finally finished the whole thing around 10 pm, an hour later than expected. The day had been very tiring and I fell asleep instantly.

James' blog- day 3
Sunday morning we drove down to the Surf wave at Pigeon Point. We watched Brian to figure out how to Surf the river. It was difficult to get inside the wave because one had to jump pretty far to get into it. Then one had to kick a lot more than expected. Nick, Juni, Brian, and Max were the only ones that actually made it into the wave for a ride. Later that day, we set up a zip line in the water for a river crossing under the North Fork Bridge. It was very successful and we got everyone across the river. We also got to use the Carlson Board with the zip line. While we were setting up our zip line at water level, Juni and Brian were setting up a tyrolean about 30 ft over the river. We each got to cross the river. We wore full body harnesses that hooked to the line on two pulleys, then we had to pull ourselves to the other side. It was fun but almost terrifying since it was the first time for most of us. The only person who had a problem crossing was Juni because his pulleys got twisted. We threw him a rope and pulled him across. Over all the day was successful and fun because we tried three new things.

Jacob's blog- day 4
Yesterday we had a really cool day. We went to a Buddhist temple in the morning. It was very peaceful. The shrines were pretty and elaborate, each little detail had a meaning. They had a pond that one could canoe in and look at the frogs and butterflies. We then went to a museum in Weaverville. I thought it was important to know the history. Weaverville was once a mining town with many Chinese immigrants. After, we took a scary drive to the top of Bally Peak to see a fire look out. The view was amazing, one could see everything. There was a lady in the look out monitoring smoke coming from several ridges away, they had been started by lighting strikes. It was basically a house on top of stilts on top of a mountain. Next, we went straight to a swimming hole where everyone had free time. I relaxed while others played on the rope swing and in the kayaks. It was my favorite day of the week.

Max's blog- day 5
On our last day, we woke up at 8:30 am to pack up camp and get ready to return to basecamp. On our way back we stopped at Lee Fong Park to play a round of disc golf. Everyone had improved since the last time we played. After 18 holes we went to Miller's Drive Inn where Chris bought us ice cream. After Miller's, we went back to the park and played some more. Finally, we returned to basecamp early to play paintball against Great Challenge. In the first game, GC beat us but we beat them in the second game. We used a stragety of sending three of us one way while the fourth person went another way in order to surround them. We then mixed up teams and played a variety of games. Everyone had a real fun time. Following paintball we went to the cafeteria and had ice cream. It was a great day filled with many activities.

Girls on the Go- Nawa Summer Adventure School continues

2010-08-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

Backpacking- week of July 12, 2010

The ladies of Girls on the Go showed remarkable improvement in their backpacking capabilites this week. The group left Stewarts Fork Trailhead, in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and hiked about 4.3 miles on Monday to camp at Oak Flat. On day 2, the group hiked another 4.4 miles further in the beautiful and spacious Morris Meadows. The group left most of their gear at camp and hiked another 5 miles up to Emerald Lake, at the base of Thompson Peak. At the lake, the group ate lunch, did their academics for the day and covered some First- Aid curriculum. The hike back to Morris Meadows made a total of 10 miles for the day. The ladies wanted to hike the entire 8.7 miles back to the car on Thursday. They accomplished this distance in the time that it had taken to hike half of it on Monday or Tuesday. On Friday, the group spent some time in Weaverville at the park before heading back to Whiskeytown Lake for a quick dip before returning to basecamp. The group saw rattlesnakes along the trail and deer in and around the meadows. Although no bears were seen, the girls learned to hand their food each night just in case.

Nate, Challenge Leader

Great Challenge- Nawa Summer Adventure School

2010-08-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

Backpacking- week of July 6th, 2010

On Wednesday, July 6, Great Challenge camped at the trail head of the Trinity Alps Wilderness, Sapphire Lake. We started our 4 day journey to Emerald Lake on thursday morning, this was the beginning of a strenous 28 mile roundtrip hike. The trail starts out winding through Ponderosa pines along the Stewarts Fork Creek of the Trinity River.

On day 2, we hiked 10 grueling miles to Portugese Camp, encountering several timber- rattlesnakes, other hikers, and gained 33ooft in elevation. This trail is filled with wildflowers and beauty. All around us was a cathedral of snow filled granite and other igneous rocks. On this day, Alex and Pete saw a black bear. We hiked 2 miles to Emerald Lake and went swimming in the 40 degree alpine lake with crystal clear waters.

On Day 3, we hiked and ate lunch at Morris Meadows and went swimming. All of Great Challenge agreed this was one of the most beautiful adventures they had ever been on.

Lassen Expedition- Nawa Summer Adventure School

2010-08-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

Backpacking in Prarie Creek- week of June 30th, 2010

Max's Coastal Camping Blog.

On Saturday, July 3rd, we woke up at 7:30 am. We drove from Flint Ridge to Redwood State Park to hike 5.3 miles over the course of 2.5 hrs. We saw many cool native plants in the Redwoods that Nick, our Challenge Leader, pointed out. Wild irises and redwood sorels were some of the native plants, sorels tasted very sour. After we arrived and set up camp we went down to the beach to play ultimate frisbee, then we went back to camp and made dinner. We then had gathering and slept at our Miner's Ridge Campsite.

On the 4th of July we visited Fern Canyon. Everyone had hiking boots on except for Nick, Juni, and I. Everyone else had to follow the water crossing, but we made our own trail maneuvering through the stream. While exploring a small underwater cave, I developed a small subungular hematoma. I'm English, so that means a blister under my fingernail. To treat this wound, Nick had to heat up a safety pin and a lighter to melt a small hole through my fingernail to relieve the pressure. He's a good medic. We then hiked back and took care of our nightly activities.

On the 5th of July, I had to wake up 30 minutes early to be able to eat, pack, and be ready to leave on time. This was a tough morning. Jacob, Bryce and James all got grab bags because they did not get up on time. We hiked a total of 3.7 miles to set up camp at Ossagon. Then we went down to the beach to do some bouldering. On the boulders, I peaked many different routes and went as high as the instructors would allow. Nick approached me and asked if I would be the victim for a first aid scenario to train the other campers. I was diagnosed with a dislocated knee cap, multiple bruises, and an impaled pencil through my hand. Bryce was the team leader and choreographed the group's treatment of my situation. After the scenario we returned to camp for our nightly activities and a driftwood fire.

The toughest day of this challenge was on July 6, I had a freak breakfast cooking accident. Some gas leaked out onto the table and surrounding area, Nick noticed the puddle forming and as he went to take care of it, it ignited. As soon as it happened, Nick, Jacob, and I sprung into action to extinguish the flame. Nick contained the fire while Jacob and I were in charge of extinguishing it. I used my high school memorabilia boxers to snuff out the flame. Jacob blew and patted out any remaining flames. Then when we went to empty out the bear bin, we were delayed by two massive elk who were guarding the bear bin. When they got tired of feeding on the grass around the bear bin, we grabbed our things and packed for the grueling 7.6 mile hike. It was full of many ups and downs but after 4 hours, we emerged victorious. We helped ourselves to a massive brunch at the vehicle and played a relaxing round of disc golf in Weaverville. This morning the group members who wanted to join the prestigious Polar Bear Club, got up at 7:30 am and walked down to a swimming hole on Clear Creek. We leaped in one at a time in the frigid water and were deamed members of the Polar Bear Club. There was much rejoicing after that.

Girls on the Go- Nawa Summer Adventure School

2010-08-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

Cave Pit Challenge - Week of July 5th, 2010

What an exciting week! In the past 5 days the girls conquered fears of heights by repelling down a 40 ft cliff at Hedge Creek Falls, pushed themselves athletically by ascending, tested their limits by swimming in 55 degree Castle Lake and learned the ins and outs of setting up systems for rock climbing. The big highlight was spelunking in beautiful Samwell Cave which is north of Redding near Shasta Lake. The girls explored different rooms of the cave and found beautiful like ponds, so perfectly glassy that, one the girls, Deanna didn't see it until her foot was soaking wet. Oops! Deanna, Emily, Selin, and Nicole all braved the 86 ft repel and then ascent into and out of themagestic cave pit. Good work girls. I can't wait for the next week of backpacking in the Trinitys.

Leanne Newman, Challenge Leader

Senior Day

2010-06-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

And the winners are...

Bowling: Steve Galvan @ 150

Cart Racing @ Need 2 Speed: Eduardo Juni Martins

Just In- more pictures from our group in China

2010-05-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Pictures from China

2010-05-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Surf Trip Scheduled

2010-05-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

Brian Stoudnour is busy preparing for the surf trip which is scheduled for May 21-23. The plan is to depart campus on Friday and travel to Crescent City, where the group will go bowling, watch a movie and hang out on the beach around a campfire. The next morning, Brian will take the students surfing for the day, with more bowling, movie and campfire fun that night. The trip will wrap up around noon on Sunday, and will make the scenic drive back to campus.

Mastering the Learning Pyramid in our Learning Lab

2010-05-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Check out this video.

Beijing and Shenyang - Our Final Trip of the Year

2010-05-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Our final trip of the International Academy's 2009-2010 school year will bring us to Northern China where we will immerse ourselves in the ancient and modern day culture of The Middle Kingdom. While in Beijing we will learn about the cult of personality, Mao Zedong, the Ming and Qing dynasties as well as the occurrences at Tiananmen Square in 1989. While in Shenyang we will discover what life is like for ordinary Chinese by visiting their schools (Shenyang No.165 Middle School and Shenyang Zhicheng High School) and homes and will delve further into the history of China by learning about the Manchu Empire. The novel that we will be reading during our stay in China will be, Wild Grass: Three Stories of Change in Modern China.

Friday, May 7th: Arrive in Beijing

Saturday, May 8th: Beijing. Tour Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Sunday, May 9th: Beijing. Visit the Panjiayuan Weekend Market

Monday, May 10th: Beijing. Tour the, "Secret Great Wall"

Tuesday, May 11th: Depart Beijing via train to Shenyang, welcome party with Chinese hosts. Home stay.

Wednesday, May 12th: Shenyang Zhicheng High School. Home stay

Thursday, May 13th: Shenyang Zhicheng High School. Home stay

Friday, May 14th: Shenyang Zhicheng High School, visit Shenyang Jianzhu University/Northeast Yucai School. Home stay

Saturday, May 15th: Visit Shenyang Imperial Palace and Beiling Park. Home stay

Sunday, May 16th: Shenyang No. 165 Middle School, Shenyang Expo. Home stay

Monday, May 17: Shenyang No. 165 Middle School

Tuesday, May 18th: Shenyang No. 165 Middle School

Wednesday, May 19th: Visit Museum of Liaoning Province, Shenyang city

Thursday, May 20th: Shenyang 165 Middle School, Tie Ling Foreign Affairs School, and Shenyang Normal University

Friday, May 21st: Depart Shenyang for Beijing via train

Saturday, May 22nd: Beijing. Visit the Temple of Heaven

Sunday, May 23rd: Beijing

Monday, May 24th: Return to Northern California

Stock Car Races- Great Fun

2010-05-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, five students (Colin, Ben, Gavin, Travis, and Jake) and I drove to the Anderson Raceway to check out the stock car races. Thanks to our staff, David Braund, who got us complimentary passes for the races, we had a great time. There were lots of crashes and one car that flipped over. The students had an excellent time.

written by: Brian Stoudnour, Weekend Supervisor

Paintball Adventure

2010-05-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

We had an excellent day of paintball, as built some structures on a new paintball site here on campus this weekend. We all had a fantastic adventure.

written by: Brian Stoudnour, Weekend Supervisor

Senior Pictures

2010-04-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

Today, five of our students had their senior pictures taken on campus by Morgan Kennedy, a local company in Redding, Ca. She does a superior JOB!!!!

It was windy and cold with a few sprinkles ...BUT... the kids were in great spirits and very cooperative.

Thanks to Morgan Kennedy for your great work.

written by: Dr. Celia Hull, Dean of Students

Yucatan, Mexico Experience- update 2

2010-04-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Yet another culturally enriching International Academy trip comes to a close as the students finish their persuasive essays. We returned to Merida from the coast just 2 days ago and have been focusing on our studies ever since (with the small exception of a taco eating contest followed by a concert last night). We are all looking forward to meeting Maribel´s tio and tia (uncle and aunt) tonight, and having our final meal in Mexico, with them.

The second half of our trip was spent soaking up the sun in and around the Caribbean coastal town of Tulum. Our hostel in Tulum, Lobo Inn, offered bicycles for us to explore the local wonders. Just a 5-minute bike ride from the Lobo Inn were the majestic and beautiful ruins of Tulum. While these ruins were not the most intricate we have seen, due to the weather erosion of the sea, we were not at all disappointed. The Tulum ruins rest at the top of a cliff overlooking what several students said was the most beautiful beach they had ever seen. Of course after all that hiking around the ruins we rode our bikes a bit further and had a nice ocean swim.

The following day we took a much longer bike ride to yet another cenote. Having already seen 5 other cenotes (beautiful caves with pristine water, excellent for swimming in) we were anticipating more of the same, however, this one was much different. We had the entire Cenote Caracol to ourselves and got to swim in and out of a labyrinth of tunnels, stalagmites, stalagmites, and small passageways that would open up into large rooms with various rock formations glistening from the spot lights hitting them. We felt like Indiana Jones!

The Mayan Riviera also has a lot to offer in the way of snorkeling and diving the coral reefs. We set out for a place called Akumal, a beautiful turtle reserve, where we spotted, turtles, a wide variety of colorful fish and some beautiful reefs.

Overall we’ve had a fabulous time and are getting used to the laid back atmosphere here on the Yucatan Peninsula. The weather cooperated with all of our plans and we met many wonderful people on our journey.

See you soon,

Leanne Spradley

IA Teacher

Update from the Yucatan, Mexico

2010-04-21T09:23:00.001-07:00

We have now been in Yucatan, Mexico for 8 days and so far it has been absolutely wonderful. The Yucatan is the most southern region of Mexico with deep Mayan roots and influence and many Mayan ruins to explore. First, we visited Uxmal, which has a main temple which was dedicated to the rain god Chaac Mul. That deity was an important aspect of the Mayan's lives because they were an agriculturally based society and not much rain falls here, except that it's pouring now! One of the more famous rituals that they participated in were human sacrifices which we have learned about, as well as the 2012 phenomena. Today, we went to visit another ruin Chichen-itza, which is one of the "seven wonders of the world" for its main pyramid casts shadows during both equinoxes. We arrived early before the blistering sun could sap the energy from us and the hoards of crowds would take away from what was about to be a great experience. There was the Venus Temple,
Jaguar and Eagle temples as well as the Chaac Mul and skull temples and as you walked around the complex you kept discovering new places to see. Most were in fairly good shape but a few were barely still standing due to the age of the archeological sight (circa 900 A.D.). As you walked around from one site to the next the locals had stands set up and tried to sell you hand-carved masks, painted clay skulls, and hammocks trying to persuade you to buy their items by calling out, "It almost costs a dollar." It was obvious why this place is a man-made "wonder of the world".

Something that struck me as a "natural wonder of the world" were the beautiful cenotes, which are underground caves filled with rich turquoise water. The first time we went to see them we took a long bus ride into seemingly the middle of nowhere. Then we proceded to get onto four-person horse drawn carts that would go further into the Yucatan jungle until we came upon one of three large holes in the ground that our tour lead us to. Some geologists speculate that the meteor that initiated the ice-age landed here smashing through the limestone surface, casting up a cloud of dust, and through time, and lots of rain, created a vast network of underground caves, with hanging vines to climb and dream-like water to swim in. This is where a set of stairs or a steep ladder would lead us to. They were dark except for the sunlight that came in through the entrance and a few places where there were small surface holes and you could see a few cascades of light coming
down and piercing the water turning that part to a light transparent blue color. They're the perfect place to go and relax and escape the constant heat and humidity which hovers around 100 degrees and 100%.

While we were in Merida, the capital of the state, on every Sunday the whole city gets together and sets up artisan and food stands in the main park where they sell 4 peso tacos (just over 30 cents) as well as ice cream, chicarones, and many crafts. There is music playing and they close off the streets and everyone dances in them - including our teachers Whitey and Leanne who are quite talented in Salsa. They even hold political rallies praising past revolutionaries like Emeliano Zapata who we have been studying since we have been here. Mexico tends to get a lot of negative press from the American media but so far, since I have been here, I have felt nothing but a strong sense of community and ancient roots between the people and their state. This truly is a beautiful country and I can't wait for the next 8 days.

Hasta Luego,
Marlie Boe Trutanich

Hola from the Yucatan

2010-04-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

The International Academy has enjoyed their stay in the Yucatan, Mexico. Here are some photos.

More Picts from Spring Rescue Training

2010-04-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Spring Rescue Training = SUCCESS

2010-04-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all those who attended the 2010 Spring Rescue Training. Hosted by Nawa Rescue, it was a fun and challenging 5.5 days with over 67 training hours logged.

"Safety Through Knowledge"

Info. for next year's 2011 Spring Rescue Training: www.nawarescue.com

Snowboard State Championships

2010-03-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our SUSA-Comp. (Snowboard USA- Competitive) members who competed in this week’s state championships for CNISSF, held at Mt. Shasta Ski Park on March 9-11.

Special congratulations goes to Ed Watso who competed in both Giant Slalom and Slalom events. Autumn Sleight and Kevin Quickert both competed in the Slalom race.

The championships draw students from dozens of schools to compete in ski and snowboard events. In total there were more than 200 athletes from across California. These athletes represent some of the best high school age skiers and snowboarders in the state. Nawa Academy represented themselves with class and style.

Thanks to Zack Coleman and Sophie Watso who assisted at the Giant Slalom race as gatekeepers. They worked hard in the thankless but crucial role in the ski/snowboard racing world. There were recognized by other coaches for doing a great job and having good attitudes.

Ed was the top finisher for Nawa and continues to improve his skills and results at races. We are very proud of him; give him a pat on the back for a job well done. Autumn did a great job as well and represented herself well as our only female athlete. Kevin also deserves recognition for riding well.

This week’s competition represents a full season of hard work and commitment by our SUSA team. They have all improved tremendously over the past few months and deserve every minute of this exciting experience. Please take the time to ask about the competition, snowboarding and what it felt like to be representing Nawa Academy at a statewide competition such as this.

Thanks to teachers, staff, administration and parents who have supported us this season. We look forward to our last few weeks of riding. I will pass on pictures from this week and the season ASAP.

Mike Phillips, Head Coach, Snowboard USA

Teaching Position- Seeking Applicants for 2010-2011 School Year

2010-03-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

Nawa Academy seeks a dynamic English/Social Studies/Spanish teacher for its International Academy travel program. Position involves leading and teaching a group of 12 upper high school students on 7 different international trips throughout the year. Trips last 12 - 17 days and are interspersed with 7 - 21+ days off.
Minimum of a Baccalaureate degree in a related subject area and previous high school teaching experience required. Teaching credential preferred. Ability to speak and teach to Spanish 2 required. Strong candidates will have a proven ability of working with small groups and international travel experience.
Email resume and cover letter to Jan Kells, Principal. jan.kells@nawaacademy.org

There is still time! Join our adult Spring Rescue Training

2010-03-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

An opportunity of a lifetime!

Challenge yourself in Nawa Rescue's 21st annual Spring Rescue Training.

Five-and-a-half days filled with quality training in High Angle Rope Rescue, Cave Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, and Outdoor Extrication.

Develop your leadership and problem solving skills during this fun and exciting week.

Contact: Jason Hull, Director of Nawa Rescue, for more information at: jason.hull@nawaacademy.org or 800-358-6292.

www.nawarescue.com

How do you spell SUCCESS??

2010-03-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

J U N I !!!

Juni had applied to four universities. Three of them had already accepted him with merit scholarships. Today he received a letter from the fourth one. Guess what? He was accepted to Saint Mary's College too. Four out of four = 100% sucess.

I am very proud of all the hard work that Juni has done to get where he is now. I am
very grateful to Nawa Academy, all the teachers and staff that have guided him and gave him the tools to become who he is now.... a real winner!

THANK YOU NAWA ACADEMY!!!!

Eli

kNOw Child Left Behind... and what it means at Nawa Academy

2010-03-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

No Child Left Behind legislation has fundamentally changed public schooling in the United States. While the intended legislation was to improve the public educational system, the reality has often been that curriculum has been restricted and standardized, funding for electives and programs have been reduced, and teacher creativity has been stifled. In addition, the consequence of this legislation has led to students being subjected to regular high-stakes standardized testing at the cost of the learning process. As a result, more and more students are being left behind.

At Nawa Academy, we’ve taken the phrase No Child Left Behind more literally, and have developed an approach to education, which we believe fulfills the original spirit of the legislation - Every Student Is Educated.

For the complete write-up, click here.

The Results Are In! 2nd Annual Dinner Auction

2010-03-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce that the

2nd Annual Nawa Academy Dinner Auction

raised a total of $22,721.00.

We are very grateful for the generosity offered by our parents,

Board of Directors,

faculty and staff, friends of Nawa Academy and the local community.

THANK YOU!!

2nd Annual Dinner Auction- Thanks for making it a success

2010-03-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

The 2nd Annual Nawa Academy Dinner Auction held last Saturday at the Holiday Inn in Redding, was a huge success. Mike Boardman, a Redding auctioneer, stirred up excitement with the auction items, including the many gourmet desserts.

Among the five Board Members in attendance, Dr. Dean Edell was the events' Honorary Chairman. The event was sponsored by Dublin Toyota and Reiner Chiropractic. Proceeds from the event will go towards a new dormitory residence on campus.

This success would not have been possible without the hard work of our faculty and staff and our dedicated Parents Club, including the students who volunteered during the event.

Acceptance from Notre Dame Du Namur University

2010-03-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

Juni,

Welcome back home!
I just received a letter from Notre Dame Du Namur University where they
announced your acceptance for the Fall 2011. They are also granting you
a merit scholarship for $45,000..Life is good!

Love

Mom

Our Many Experiences in Chile

2010-02-27T12:50:00.000-08:00

Photos from our Chile Rafting Experience

2010-02-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

Pictures from Parent's Day

2010-02-27T12:13:00.001-08:00

Another successful Parent's Day for Nawa Academy.

Held at the Gaia Hotel in Anderson, parents and administrators joined together for an enjoyable and informative day.

CHILE UPDATE #2

2010-02-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

Hola Padres y Amigos,

It's our last day in Chile and we have been working on our comparison contrast essays that cover a multitude of subjects which are primarily based around the South American politics we have studied thus far. On our last update, Hunter left you with his thoughts regarding our rafting trip in the Pucon area. Our next day the guys experienced a downhill mountain biking odyssey, with Juni's cousin Martin, through the forests, creek beds, meadows and rock gardens that surround the picturesque volcano, Villarica. It was an unbelievable amount of fun. The ladies, on the other hand, chose to take the more scenic route, which brought them to a stunning waterfall and beautiful rolling terrain that was pleasing to the eye. We polished off the day with 2 hrs. of Spanish class and learning about the Hugo Chavez (the President of Venezuela), the Dirty Wars in Argentina, coups in Guatemala and Nicaragua as well as American foreign policy in the region and a multitude of other subjects. We completed the afternoon with our final Spanish class and a traditional Chilean BBQ, called an asado, that was prepared by our hostel manager...It was muy delicioso!

That night we took an over night bus to the islands of Chiloe which are famous for their local island culture and food. It is said that in the bays and harbors there lay mermaids and monsters to destroy weary sailors who do not respect the sea. The highlight of these couple of days was the cultural festival called, Festival de Costumbristas where the islands cultures came a live for three days. With traditional music playing from the live bands, exhibits displaying local fine arts (like ship building) and the aroma of asado overwhelming one’s sense of smell it was easy to become excited with all of the shopping that could be done. Vendors were selling everything from hand woven baskets (made of grass) and wool hats, to chocolates and snail creme (an anti acne lotion). Many of us were buying these items for our family members (not including the snail creme). After all of this shopping one gets hungry and the smell that overwhelmed our senses tasted even better with choclo (corn) y asado de vaqcuno (salty BBQ), ceviche de salmon and empanadas, our grumbling stomachs were satisfied. We departed the next night after a day of academics to arrive in Santiago to write research based papers that will be available to view on Parent's Weekend.

Looking upon our experience here in Chile I must say that it is a special country with unbelievably hospitable people and a diversity of activities rivaled only by a few.

Hasta Luego,
Blanquito (YT)

Nawa Adventure Summer School- Session DATES

2010-02-19T10:23:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for outdoor adventure this summer?

Would you like to earn school credit while having fun?

Then check out the Nawa Adventure Summer School.

SESSION DATES: JUNE 27 - JULY 24, 2010

SESSION LENGTH: 4 WEEKS

This experience is available to students in grades 7-12

Too young? Maybe not. We also offer a summer program for kids ages 10-14. Great for that first time away from home experience.

More info: http://nawa-summer-programs.com

Contact our Admissions Dept. to discuss options. 800-358-6292

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!! This year we had a sweet treat of a party. Marilyn and Sophie dipped delicious strawberries in chocolate for us. Ashely decorated the entire cafe and Dimitri was our personal chef. We decked the cafe with red and white and then put out all the goodies out and waited to see who would come and celebrate with us. Everyone came, including our guests from Bangalore, India. Everyone enjoyed the treats...especially the delicious strawberries and the ice cream bars. A good time was had by all!

written by: April Keck, Program Supervisor

Chile update #1

2010-02-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

By our second day in the metropolitan city of Santiago it seems we have arrived in a paradise compared to the other countries we have visited so far. We went on a free tour around some of the most historic sights around the city. "La Moneda", which is similar to our White House, was one of my favorite buildings for it not only was a government building but it also where former President Salvador Allende died during a military coup in 1973.

After the tour, we went to the Plaza de Armas which, like most of this beautiful city, had gorgeous architecture as old as 1541. It is evident that there are many different European influences in the architecture in Santiago as we walked through the metropolitan streets. After the tour we went and had a lunch of fresh seafood in a local fish market. The next day we went to the Museo de la Memoria y Los Derechos Humanos. This museum is only three weeks old and even though everything is only written in Spanish the point is quite easily conveyed through the interactive and audiovisual exhibits. The museum is dedicated to the 3,000 people that were killed in the coup of 1973. After we left we went to a Pre-Columbian art museum, this exhibit had some of the most beautiful Incan and Mayan artifacts I have ever seen in person including books and magazines. After that, some of the group went and lounged in the evening sun at the large fountain near our hostel and ate fresh delicious plums and peaches. Talk about a good way to start a trip learning firsthand what it means to be Chilean in the present and past.

We arrived to Pucon, a mountain town, after a nine-hour sleeper bus ride, to complete some academics (i.e. reading and questions). When those of us who had finally finished their work finally got outside we were awe struck by the beauty of Pucon's snow capped volcano, Villarica. Yesterday we went to the National Park Huerquehue and went on a 14km hike to a lake called Laguna Verde, the water was a little cold but refreshing.

That brings us to today when we started at 8am and took a bus to the upper portion of the Trankura River to run the class IV section. It was amazing and exhilarating with big waves, cliff jumping and long rapids under the watchful eyes of experienced guides. Then it was off to the hostel for a quick lunch then we went to the best Spanish school in Pucon. After the school we hung out with international travelers until dinner and now it is time to sleep.

Buenos Noches,

Hunter Young, Senior Student in our International Academy

Farewell to our Friends from TISB

2010-02-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

We were sad to see our friends from The International School of Bangalore (TISB) depart yesterday for San Francisco. We look forward to their return in the future.

Photo Gallery of our friends from TISB, India

2010-02-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

Work in Progress

2010-02-17T10:10:00.000-08:00

Sean designs a unique creation for the Art Program.

Quote of the day from Chile

2010-02-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

"today was awesome-went on a hike in the national park. tomorow we raft. I WANT TO LIVE IN CHILE.
its 9 thirty at night rite now and the sun JUST went down. i love it here."

- Juni Martins, senior student, International Academy

Touching Base From Chile

2010-02-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

Hi Steve,

Today we went to a National Park outside of Pucon and took a nice long hike. Here are a few photos of the trip so far.

Leanne

Congratulations!

2010-02-15T16:57:00.000-08:00

Juni you have received your admission to Dominican University. You have also been offered a merit scholarship !!!

Congratulations,

Your proud Mom

Nawa Academy welcomes back The International School in Bangalore

2010-01-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

We are excited to have The International School in Bangalore (TISB) visit us for the second consecutive year this February. We will host 12 students and one teacher from TISB and will follow a very similar itinerary as last year's. The group is scheduled to arrive in San Francisco on February 7th, sightsee for several days, then arrive at our campus on Feb. 11th. They will be with us for five days.

Our students and faculty are looking forward to their arrival. More info. to come.

Our Experience in India

2010-01-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

Our trip first began after the exhilarating 32 hours of traveling via airplane with a layover in the international city of Hong Kong to get to our final destination, Delhi, India. Our first historic landmark that we experienced was the Red Fort, which was our first taste of Mughal (the dynasty that ruled from the 16th to 18^th century) architecture. As we wandered around the various sandstone and marble buildings, each adorned with intricate lattice work, each wall covered with captivating designs and empty cavities where semi precious stones once shone, we could clearly envision how magnificent it must once have been. That same day we also had the pleasure of witnessing our first Mosque, the Jama Masjid, which is the largest in all of India. Our group was captivated by the elaborate ceilings and the never-ending spiral stairs leading to the top of one of the minarets.

While being in India it was essential to learn about one of the greatest influences of India’s past, Mahatma Ghandi. As we first entered the museum dedicated to Mahatma or “Great Soul” in Hindi, it reflected how he had lived his simple but inspiring life. The walls were covered with what seemed like a picture of every stage in Ghandi’s life, with plaques and speeches, important events and accurate accounts of his famous life. While visiting these fascinating spots, we were taxied about in the most nerve racking vehicles we have ever rode in, called rickshaws. These are three wheeled motorcycles with a covered bench in the back with fearless drivers who intricately weave in and out of congested traffic.

After our three nights in Delhi, it was off to the home of the magnificent Taj Mahal, in Agra. Prior to seeing one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”, we visited Itmad-Ud-Daulah, or known as Baby Taj. This nickname is pretty self explanatory, if you didn’t know any better, you would think the Taj Mahal had shrunk and moved. This structure is built completely out of marble and was a stunning sight to behold. The next day, the group was able to visit Agra Fort, our second of the trip, which was elaborate with its gorgeous Mughal architecture. This fort was so fancy that it would surprise anyone to learn it was used as a prison for Shah Jahan for the last eight years of his life (the shah was the man who had the Taj Mahal built and did not see the end result). Saving the best for last, the Taj Mahal was our next stop. While pushing through the many other tourists, it was immediately clear why the Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”. The jaw dropping sights and perfectly symmetrical design of the Taj Mahal had all of us amazed. But, learning the history of why the Taj Mahal was created was more powerful than the sights. The Taj Mahal was built for Shah Jahan’s wife who died while giving birth to the Shah’s 8th child.

Heading out of Agra, we boarded a train that turned out to be 6 ½ hours late because of fog and arrived around 13 hours later for a supposed eight hour endeavor. While traveling on the sleeper train (which is loaded with collapsible bunk beds) we encountered several native Indians who wanted to practice their English and entertain us with their simple sense of humor. This train took us to Khajuraho, where we visited the most interesting temples so far, as they were based on erotic poses seen in the Kama Sutra. Kama Sutra is also known as the India art of making love and one could just only imagine what these 7 temples were depicting. But our guide made this experience an eye opening one, explaining different meanings behind the intricate carvings.

India so far has been a different experience from any other country we have visited. It is rich with kindness and ancient culture.

Namaste,

Emily H.

Emily is a student in our International Academy

Thinking Green and Planting Trees

2010-01-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

On Friday, January 8th, 2010, the biology, earth science, and fire tech classes traveled to the lower Clear Creek area in Redding for the second time for service learning and community service. As a group, our students put forth a great effort and planted over 750 oak trees from acorns. The process involved the fire tech crew clearing the ground surface of turf and debris with other students digging holes to place sprouted acorns (sprout down). They filled each hole with loose dirt and covered it with a protective tube that was secured over the freshly planted acorns with a stake.

During this experience, a Forest Ranger also taught our students how to measure the mass of a tree based on a couple of simple measurements. With special tools and charts the students measured the circumference and the height of the tree. Using these measurements and a graph, the students were able to identify the approximate mass of the tree and thus the carbon content. Due to theories on climate change and carbon emissions, it was important for our students to understand how trees store large quantities of carbon within their structures by filtering the carbon in the air.

This educational service project was a great opportunity to positively affect the local community while offering a unique global perspective on the environment.

written by: Russell Clark, Language Arts Instructor, Nawa Academy

Art Program Update

2010-01-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

The Art Program at Nawa Academy has transformed into something fresh and exciting.

During a time when every dollar is carefully scrutinized, we had to be creative with how to provide our students with a meaningful experience into the world of the arts.

The result is an experience that combines the various elements of artistic expression and appreciation ranging from attending dramatic theater and musical productions to painting and sketching. To date, all of our students have attended a local theater production with more productions to come. Additionally, our students have performed in our annual Talent Show.

Enthusiasm for the Art Program is growing. So far, we have collected over $7,000 in donations. We are also pleased to announce that Troy Hawkins, owner and founder of HawkMan Studios and a founder of the 2^nd Saturday Arthop in Redding, is volunteering his time and talents to teach art to our students in areas such as painting, sketching, pottery, jewelry making, fiber arts, and more. Troy can be found on our campus with a group of interested students each Wednesday night.

Currently, a focus for Troy and our students is creating items that can be entered into the 2^nd Annual Nawa Academy Dinner Auction (scheduled for Saturday, February 27^th). A limited number of tickets for this event are still available.

We are thankful for the support we continue to receive from our parents and the local community of Shasta County.

Preparing to visit India

2010-01-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

India Itinerary

Dates: January 11-28, 2010

Our International Academy trip is scheduled for Northern India. We will expand our perspectives on humanity by first visiting the capital, New Delhi, where we will be introduced to the Mogul Empire as well as the life of Gandhi. We will then travel south to admire yet another "Wonder of the World", the Taj Mahal. Then we're off to some of the most impressive collections of Hindu temples in all of India. Our final destination will include traveling overnight by train to the most spiritual city in the country, where we will participate in cultural immersion activities. Our academics will cover the rise and fall of British influence in India, Gandhi, the basics of Hinduism and Islam, and current political and social events. We will read the novel, Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Monday, 11th: Depart for India

Wednesday, 13th: Arrive in India. Visit the market. Academics.

Thursday, 14th: Experience the life and death of Raj Ghat by visiting the Gandhi Museum. Academics.

Friday, 15th: Tour the Red Fort and Jama Masjid Mosque.

Saturday, 16th: Depart for Agra and visit Akbar's Mausoleum and Red Fort.

Sunday, 17th: Tour the Taj Mahal at sunrise and depart for Khajurahu.

Monday, 18th: Rest and Academics.

Tuesday, 19th: Tour the temples dedicated to Shiva. Academics.

Wednesday, 20th: Venture off to the Tiger Reserve.

Thursday, 21st: Yoga in the morning, academics. Depart for Varanasi via train.

Friday, 22nd: Varanasi. Visit the ghats at the Ganges. Academics.

Saturday, 23rd: Tour Hindu temples and attend a musical performance. Academics.

Sunday, 24th: Participate in a community service project. Academics.

Monday, 25th: Shop at the local market. Depart for Delhi in the evening.

Tuesday, 26th: Write comparative/contrast research paper.

Wednesday, 27th: Finish writing papers and last minute shopping.

Thursday, 28th: Return to California.

posted by: Steve Galvan, Director of International Programs, Nawa Academy

Seniors check out high school class rings

2010-01-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

A representative from Herff Jones Inc. was on campus yesterday. He met with excited seniors about ordering class rings.

- Steve Galvan, Director of International Programs

Exploring Life After High School- Our College Acceptance List

2010-01-05T14:47:00.000-08:00

Our students continue to explore their options and open doors for life after high school. We are proud of their many accomplishments. Below is a updated list of universities and colleges that our students have been accepted to in the past few years.

College Acceptance List

Suffolk University, Massachusetts

Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts

Salem State University, Massachusetts

Northeastern University, Massachusetts

University of Connecticut

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Full Sail University, Florida

DeAnza Community College, California

College of the Siskiyous, California

Humboldt State University, California

California State University-East Bay, California

California State University-Long Beach, California

San Diego State University, California

Domingus Hills University, California

Central Oregon Community College, Oregon

Marymount College, California

Cogswell Polytechnic Institute, California

Butte College, California

Shimer College, Illinois

Marlboro College, Vermont

Hampshire College, Massachusetts

Foothill Community College, California

Chapman University, California

Hawaii Pacific University, Hawaii

California Baptist University, California

California State Chico, California

Lewis & Clark College, Washington

Evergreen State College, Washington

California Lutheran University, California

Montana State University, Montana

Sierra Nevada College, Nevada

American River Community College, California

Monterey Peninsula College, California

Woodland Community College, California

University of Ohio

University of California–Berkeley

University of Southern California

University of Las Vegas-Reno, Nevada

University of the Pacific, California

Southern Oregon University, Oregon

Creighton University, Nebraska

University of San Francisco

Manhattan College, New York

California State University-Fullerton

University of Santa Barbara, California

Center for International Education College, Cebu, Philippines

Holy Names College, California

Texas A & M

California State University–Sacramento

Smith College, Massachusetts

College of the Redwoods, California

Menlo College, California

Shasta Community College, California

St. Mary’s College, California

Dominican College, California

National University-San Diego, California

American University, Washington D.C.

Student article published in redding.com

2010-01-04T11:09:00.000-08:00

"Greetings from the International Academy in Ollantaytambo, Peru. I flew into Peru expecting a Latin American country like Mexico, I was immediately proven wrong.

We took a bus into the heart of the Andes mountains into a village as secluded as possible, which was a three-hour drive on dirt roads."

For the complete article, written by Casey Rhea, as seen in the Record Searchlight/redding.com, visit:

http://www.redding.com/news/2009/dec/27/nawa-students-go-to-peru-to-help-villagers-and/

Casey Rhea, is a senior at Nawa Academy and is in the school's international travel program. So far, his group has traveled to Baja, Mexico; Vietnam, and Peru. Next month, the group will be in India with one of our international partners, The International School of Bangalore.

Need a Change? Consider Mid-Year Enrollment

2009-12-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

We seek students who think outside the box and desire to have a rewarding and challenging educational experience.

If this is you and you would like to consider transferring schools mid-year, check us out:

http://www.nawaacademy.org/Academics/WhichStudentsExcel.html

Spaces are available for mid-year enrollment. Email our Office of Admissions at: info@nawa-academy.com for more information.

Please note that our office will be closed during the holidays and will reopen on January 5, 2010. We will be checking emails during that time.

Gifts, Laughter, and Great Food- Winter Luncheon

2009-12-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

The annual Nawa Academy Winter Luncheon was held on campus on Wednesday, December 16th, in our café. The luncheon featured a delicious meal and a gift exchange with poems and songs. Even old St. Nick himself made an appearance.

Our café was creatively adorned in festive colors and decorations by students Emily, Sophie, Autumn, Demitri, and Jake.

The festivities started with a delicious meal prepared by our chef’s Charelene and Becky. The menu featured prime rib, roast turkey, twice-baked potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, rolls, and cherry tarts for dessert. After everyone was done eating, and to much surprise, a voice could be heard “HO!HO!HO!”…Santa had arrived. The staff then took turns presenting their gifts and a fun song or poem.

This celebration was filled with fun and laughter, as the students got their wish- the well earned Winter break they were after.

Happy Holidays from the Nawa Staff!

written by: Terry Westmoreland

Our Peruvian Experience

2009-12-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Peru,

We are in the last days of our adventures in Peru. Since the last update we left Ollantaytumbo on a journey to Machu Picchu via Santa Theresa. Instead of taking the rediculously expensive Peru rail we dicided to take a six hour bus ride over mountain passes and the low lying jungles. In Santa Theresa we enjoyed the lush scenery and waterfalls while we soaked in the hot springs which was the perfect interlude to our next day, Machu Picchu.

The following day began at 7am with a typical Peruvian breakfeast of fresh bread with butter and jelly which we ate in the car on our one hour, cliff side drive to the hydro electric building, other wise known as "la electrica." Once we arrived we set forth on our five mile hike along the rail road tracks through the beautiful rain forest along the sacred Urabamba River. Three hours later we found ourselves at Aguas Calientes where we met up with a bus which took us up to our final destination of Machu Picchu.

Switch back after Switch back we finally made it to the gates of Machu Picchu. Where we enjoyed a lunch of pan fresca, jamon de pollo, queso, y mayonesa. Refueled from our lunch we were ready to embark on our exploration of the political and spiritual capital of the Incan Empire from 1438-1471. Luckily it started to rain, warding of the hoards of tourists which would have otherwise been grazing all over one of the World Wonders. It seemed like we had the whole place to ourselves in the middle of the afternoon. From the guard's house, which has the most impressive view of the entire complex, we learned about the importance of symbolism in Incan culture. For instance, the condor represented the cosmos, the puma-the earth, and the serpant-the under world which were all evident from our vantage point. As we made our way thorugh the ancient Incan palace which was utilized for agriculture, spiritual getaways and living quarters, we couldnt help but notice the previlence of symbolism that ran rampant through every nook and crany of the Incan architecture. We wrapped up our Machu Picchu expedition adventure with a prayer circle lead by guest instructor Steve (who is an Apache medicine man) leaving some onlookers to stand in amazement and others participating. That day, although laborious, has been the highlight of my International experience thus far.

These last few days in Peru have been used to get cought up on reading Confessions of an Economic Hitman (which is a stupendous read) and any last second Christmas shopping for loved ones back home. We all can't wait to to spend time with our family and friends.

Thanks for Enjoying my Update,

Eduardo "Juni" Martins

Dinner Auction - February 27, 2010

2009-12-15T15:15:00.001-08:00

Stay tuned for more information on the 2nd Annual Nawa Academy Dinner Auction.

Date: February 27, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn Redding
Cost for Dinner: $45.00 per person
Auctioneer: Mike Boardman
Honorary Chairman: Dean Edell, M.D.

Proceeds will go towards building a new campus dormitory.

Silent Auction + Dinner + Live Auction= Good Time!

If you would like to learn more, contact us: info@nawa-academy.com

EdVenture Visits Castle Lake

2009-12-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

We wrapped up the fall portion of our EdVenture outdoor program with a great outing to Castle Lake, where the students practiced snowshoeing. We then headed to the other side of Mt. Shasta to go sledding at Snowman Hill. It was a superb day filled with activity and snow.

written by: Brian Stoudnour, Shift Supervisor, Instructor

Holiday Play - Dead to the Last Drop

2009-12-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

For the past two weekends we have taken our students to a Redding cultural event at the Riverfront Playhouse. The murder mystery comedy was written by a Redding couple and encouraged audience participation. Our students enjoyed the performance- a couple of them even found themselves up on stage when they called for audience volunteers. The play centered around an Italian vineyard in California and comedy ensued as the characters schemed and the plot thickened.

written by: Kalan Redwood, Program Staff

Preparing for the Snowboard Season

2009-12-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

With snow falling on campus our snowboard teams are gearing up for the upcoming season. This weekend we had snowboard tuning clinics. Students are getting excited for what is to come as there is a lot of chatter about expectations and goals. Watch the weather and do your snow dance- it's going to be a great year of snowboarding at Mt. Shasta. Don't forget to come support our racers at weekly events at Mount Shasta Ski Park.

written by: Mike Phillips, SUSA Coach

Hello from Ollantaytambo, Peru

2009-12-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hola,

Greetings from the International Academy in Ollantaytambo, Peru. I flew into Peru expecting a Latin American country like Mexico, I was immediately proven wrong. Today, we took a bus into the heart of the Andes mountains into a village as secluded as possible which was a three hour drive on dirt roads. As I begin to write this I can not think of words to describe the divine beauty of this land. I thought that I had seen the most beautiful places Mother Nature had to offer, but once again I was proven wrong. Driving in the back of a flat-bed truck, ascending the infamous Andes mountains, I could not help but smile at the presence and energy the majestic mountains demand. Giant peaks shadowed the muddy road as sheets of rain stung our faces. I was overwhelmed, too say the least.

The name of this town is "Frio Negro", or Frozen Darkness, located at roughly 13,000 feet and is comprised of no more than 10 or 15 stone structures with thatched roofs. With no electricity or running water, these people live with only the bare essentials. The people who live in these villages can grow little more than potatoes, being as they are one of the only foods on earth that can grow up to 18,000 feet. We brought with us food to share with the local school children like bread, tuna, sugar and treats. The Quechuan students were no older than 10 years old and their skin was caked with dirt, feet worn tough like that of an old man and noses dripping with snot. In freezing cold weather high in the mountains, they wear no more than pants and small jackets and sandals on their feet.

They had not seen gringo´s since the last time Nawa visited them two years ago. There are N.G.O.s that help feed the poor closer to Ollantaytumbo, but this village is too far out of the way to help. So it was up to us. Us boys played soccer, while the girls prepared the meals and enjoyed the company of the indigenous children. We all hear about starving children around the world, but to most Americans it means absolutely nothing. We are all so comforted, with an unprecedented standard of living that is not rivaled anywhere in the world. Until you can experience something like this for yourself, starving children in developing countries won´t mean anything, but an ad on the television. As we left the school, we waved goodbye to the children, knowing that the food we brought them was more than they had had in weeks. Once again, we drove up the mountains, but this time the rain stopped, clouds parted and the sun had come out. Even rainbows painted the ominous Andes peaks. Soon after a condor flew by ( a symbol of the Inca heavens) and again I smiled, as I felt like a good deed had been done, and we were being rewarded. I thought I understood beauty in nature, but now I see nature is beautiful in so many different ways. The Andes were no exception, perfect in their own way; giant, green, lush, and fertile. My words cannot explain the true divinity of this land. I wish that all people had the opportunity to experience all the beauty this world has to offer, in whatever form it may be.

Although this was by far the highlight of our time in Peru, it was only one day. We spent a few days at the beginning of the trip in Cuzco, learning about a modern city built on top of the destroyed culture of the Incas. Ancient Inca ruins, conquistadors, and Spanish classes filled our days. After Cuzco we left to Pisac to an extravagant market filled with the finest goods from the Sacred Valley as well as climbed the 1,500 foot ruins. Tomorrow we go to the world famous Manchu Picchu. Our days are full but are filled with the best Peru has to offer.

Adios Amigos,

Casey Rhea, International Academy student

Use Your Credit Card to Donate

2009-12-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

For your convenience, Nawa Academy is now accepting donations through our secure on-line Donate Now! option under the Giving section of our website or via the link provided below. It's easy and saves time! We gladly accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.

https://www.ustuition.com/donate.php?4

Our Field Trip to China Gardens

2009-12-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

We went to China Gardens in Lower Clear Creek. While we were there, we planted 200 Valley Oaks. We planted them as acorns and seedlings. When the trees grow they will produce carbon. The carbon will be stored in the trees until it either burns or decomposes. We also learned how to measure how much carbon is in a tree. You use a diameter tape to measure around the tree and then you use a clinometer and step back 100 feet and measure how tall it is. I enjoyed walking around and taking pictures of the process of how to plant the trees.

- Sophie W., grade 8

What we did on the field trip was plant Valley Oak trees in China Gardens. We planted trees by digging the dirt and putting a couple of acorns in the hole. I counted how many trees we planted so far and I stopped at 191. That is going to be lots of trees in a couple of years. After lunch break we learned to measure the height of the tree by using the clinometers. I did not know that the height of the tree can be measured by using clinometers. One of my favorite things on the field trip was walking around and taking pictures of the workers planting trees.

- Collin B., grade 10

On Friday, the 4^th of December, we went to China Gardens. There we planted a lot of Valley Oaks starting with acorns. We also learned how to measure the carbon content in a tree. It was cool!

- Unknown

The biology fieldtrip to lower Clear Creek’s China Gardens, was to plant Valley Oak trees. It was part of a government BLM project. The objective was to create an oak forest that would sequester carbon from the atmosphere. We were taught to calculate the amount of carbon in each tree sequestered. By using tools such as diameter tape and clinometers we could determine the biomass and therefore calculate the amount of carbon in a tree.

Adam Lockwood, grade 11

Last Friday we took a class trip to Lower Clear Creek. We planted 191 trees. It was clear, sunny and it was really nice to get off campus and out of the classroom. It was a really nice location and I look forward to returning in January.

James Smith, grade 11

On December 4 quite a few people from biology class and fire tech went to China Gardens at Lower Clear Creek. The weather was beautiful and the groups were active. Of course, Nawa students were not the only people attending. There were to other middle school classes which were really active and polite. The outcome of all the digging, planting and marking was, I believe, 191 planted Valley Oakes. I was super stoked to be a group leader and to see everybody having a good time. I had a blast listening and interacting with the forester who shared a lot of very cool information.

Demetri Lee, grade 11

Experience Peru

2009-12-03T22:56:00.000-08:00

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
Peru Itinerary (December 2-15, 2009)

This trip will take the International Academy into the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley. In Cuzco we will experience a modernizing city built upon both the ruins of an ancient culture and the remains of the Spanish Conquest. Included in our time in Cuzco are language lessons in a Spanish School, visits to cultural and historical sights, and time to explore one of the world’s great cities. From there, we will travel throughout the Sacred Valley, into smaller villages rich in cultural and material history. Highlights will include not only the World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu, but also a traditional Sunday Market, and multiple opportunities to interact with the local Peruvians. We are all looking forward to a truly incredible experience high in the Andes.

Day 1: Depart SFO.
Day 2: Arrive in Cuzco. Visit the plaza, Inca Museum in A.M.. Academics.
Day 3: Spanish school in A.M.. Visit Sacsayhuamian in afternoon.
Day 4: Spanish school in afternoon. Academics.
Day 5: Depart for Pisac and attend the market in the morning. Climb the ruins in the afternoon. Academics.
Day 6: Depart for Ollantaytumbo, visit ruins. Academics.
Day 7: Visit the town of Freezing Darkness.
Day 8: Rest in Ollantaytumbo, Academics
Day 9: Train to Aguas Calientes. Academics.
Day 10: Visit Machu Picchu
Day 11: Depart for Cuzco.
Day 12: Cuzco, academics
Day 13: Depart Cuzco
Day 14: Arrive SFO.

"A ‘Wide Open’ Education" published in anewscafe.com

2009-11-29T09:35:00.000-08:00

"A rustic log cabin is tucked in a meadow, surrounded by majestic oaks and towering pines, secluded by bordering National Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management wilderness. The view from the porch is of the wooded hills that cradle the nearby town of French Gulch and on arrival, visitors are greeted by a friendly, wet-nosed canine named Rowan. The cabin could easily be mistaken for a storybook vacation home and its setting for a mountain Shangri-la, but the cabin is the administrative office for Nawa Academy, and the view from the porch, just a slice of the 556 wooded acres that its students call home."

For the complete story on Nawa Academy, check out the article, written by Adam Mankoski at:

http://anewscafe.com/2009/11/24/a-wide-open-education

Enjoy Fall Break!

2009-11-21T14:51:00.000-08:00

Enjoy your break. Our office will be closed through next week and will reopen on Monday, November 30th.

City of Redding- Thanks us for volunteering

2009-11-21T14:45:00.000-08:00

This letter of appreciation was sent to us by the City of Redding for our participation in helping to make the 7th Annual Halloween Haunt Night & Spooky Lagoon a success last month.

Harvest Feastival and Talent Show

2009-11-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

On an amazing fall day, our students and faculty enjoyed a bounty of delicious food prepared by Chef Charlene and student chef, Jake. After our harvest feastival the students were busy setting up for the Fall Talent Show, which was a huge success. The talent show consisted of comedy, skits, songs, dance, a poetry reading, and a drum performance by Josh and Jake. The first place prize went to drummers Josh and Jake. Nice job to Rachel and Emily for being the talent shows MC's. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success.

An Insightful Field-Trip Into the Logging Industry

2009-11-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

First-year students took a field trip to Stan Leach's property this past Tuesday. Stan and his wife, Bunky, are owners and operators of a family-owned tree farm, which he has operated for over thirty years.

Stan discussed the history of logging in the state of California, and focused specifically on the area around the Nawa Academy campus. He described the benefits of selective harvesting on his property for fire prevention, the current issues surrounding permitting and environmental regulations, and the equipment necessary for such an operation. Stan is a wealth of local knowledge; we appreciated his time with us.

written by: Kelly Weld, Dean

Thanks for a Great Parent's Weekend

2009-11-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

Our annual Nawa Academy Fall Parent's Weekend was held last Friday and Saturday (Halloween weekend). Friday consisted of meetings and workshops for our parents at the Gaia Hotel and included a luncheon. That morning, our parents had the opportunity to introduce themselves to each other, and new parents were able to gain insight and guidance from the experiences of our returning families.

During lunch, our Executive Director, Dave Hull, gave a “school progress report”, which included the announcement of our parents, Darrel Rhea and Nancy Coleman who have worked closely with Pacific Marine Foundation to secure a $5,000 grant to be applied to our new art and music program. The Nawa Parents Club also helped raise $2,038 in additional funds for this program by holding a raffle and collecting donations.

The day ended with the arrival of our students at the Gaia Hotel to meet up with their parents, and a dinner for the families hosted by the Nawa Parents Club.

On Saturday, parents were welcomed to the Nawa Academy campus by a gorgeous fall day, for an “open house” and parent/ teacher conferences. Parents were given the opportunity to talk individually with teachers and deans regarding the progress of their son or daughter. Parents were able to see the projects and assignments that the students have been working on this year. They also had a chance to participate in a few activities such as the parent vs. student paintball game, the Clear Creek zip-line, and a hike to Butterfly Falls (an old growth forest with waterfalls and a wide variety of flora and fauna on campus).

The day ended with a delicious luncheon prepared by our chefs that included chicken catchatori, cheese and butternut raviolis, French bread, wild rice pilaf, green salad, and a fruit dish.

Thanks to everyone for such a wonderful weekend.

written by: Terry Westmoreland, Admissions Dept.

Xin Chao. An Update on Vietnam

2009-11-02T15:38:00.000-08:00

Xin Chao (Hello in Vietnamese),

I am sitting on the same computer that eloquently produced the last update but under different circumstances for these are the final days of our incredible journey to northern Vietnam. I am not speculating about future events or experiences but reflecting on the life changing ones that we had these last few days. When Steve and I had planned this trip all recommendations pointed to the indigenous epicenter of Sapa, a quaint mountain town, nestled in the Tonkinese Alps, which is only a stones-throw away from the Chinese border. When we departed the capital city of Hanoi with a population of 3.4 million, via sleeper train, we were craving a much quieter travel experience than what we have here in Hanoi with the continous movement of humanity at all hours of the day, congested traffic and BLARING horns.

After awaking from a nine hour slumber on a moving bed, also known as a sleeper train, we arrived in Lao Cai, the staging area for numerous rural cities like Sapa and the fabled Dien Bien Phu (the last French strong-hold before releasing their colonial grasp on Vietnam in 1954) as well as cross border travel into China. The eight of us boarded our prearranged micro bus and drove the windy road through the mist over Tram Ton pass (Vietnam's tallest), admiring the mountainous terrain. Upon our arrival to the 36,000 person town, consisting mostly of indigenous people, we were greeted by some of the Motignard hill tribes. The two primary groups are the Black Hmong, who wear black, indigo died, hemp apparel and the Red Xiao wear predominantly red, have shaven hair lines and sport this hat that is something similar to the Twi'lek tribe out of the Star War's saga. Both were there to greet us as soon as our van door opened with, "Hello, how are you?" and "Where you from?" After dealing with the "pusher man" mentality and broken English of the Hanoi street "hustlers" this seemed like a gracious interaction with the locals. Yet as we would soon find out these timid, diminutive mountain people are quite savvy in a free capitalist culture where the dollar/dong rules.

It was after breakfast where our group met the hordes of Hmong and Xiao street peddlers pushing trinkets and textiles that made the the hustlers of the big city seem tame. Common comments were, "Remember me? You say you buy..." With babies strapped to their back, rotten tooth smiles, and dark blue stained hands (from working with the idigo die they use to stain their clothes) it was hard to deny their merchandise. In reality it was overwhelming at times and after the first interaction with them their charm began to dwindle and the realities of a currency driven economy came to light.  With a couple of students, as well as myself, on the rebound from a stomach ailment we trekked up a hill to find an impressive vista that provided a nearly 360 degree view of the area. While there, we were serenated to by a Vietnamese music group who sang us a few songs in their native language alchapelo style which was a beautiful treat to an equally impressive day.

Our next day was spent walking to the local tourist village of Cat Cat which, for many of our students, was a peek into third world living. With half naked children running amuck with snot rolling down their faces and a cough that made someone with emphezyma envious they became prime candidates for beautiful photos. Thatch roofed houses and harvested rice fields seemed to be common place as well as vendors selling their goods from stall that sporadically lined the streets. Upon our arrival to the centerpiece of the tour, a four foot cascading waterfall, the Asian music blaring from the speakers seemed to all of us a bit over the top. But when in a foreign country who are we to judge? We headed to the exit and rode on the back of some scooters the three kilometers back to the entrance of this "indigenous" theme park.

Our next day was the highlight of the trip as Steve had arranged to have a local H'mong woman, June, who was a 17 year old street peddler, take us to her village. With about eight Xiao and H'mong women with us, sporting their traditional wicker basket backpacks, our group hiked up and over a substantial hill and down an open valley to get to her house in a humble village called Zet Chan. Throughout our experience we hadn't seen many H'mong men and soon realized, through conversations with the women and actually viewing, their roles were to cook and take care of the water buffalo at home while the women tried to eek out an existence for the extended family.

When we entered June's rustic hut it was evident that they hadn't much except a plethora of mouths to feed and a roof over their heads. Because we were there to eat lunch and take in as much of the culture as they would allow our group began the initial stages of the immersion process. Following my lead they began to take pictures of the children and show them the pictures they took to the untrained eyes of the two to four year olds. I sat in the wood-fired kitchen with a couple of students watching the family prepare for us a cornucopia of meats and vegetables that would constitute our lunch. After, we then began the six kilometer migration loop trip through the passes, valleys and remote villages that made this trip so unique.

Along the way, we talked with our guides who spoke very good English about life as an indigenous female. It was shocking to hear these women who can speak Vietnamese, their local dialect and English, up to a fifth grade level, explain that they can't read or write. Also, they walk these same 13 kilometers every day to get to and from work and that growing crops (a staple of their heritage) was not being grown using their own hands because, "they have to make money to feed the children." Who said Globalization was a positive contributor to the global community? We then jumped on some motos and drove back to Sapa much to the elation of our students' tired legs.

Our last day was spent at the Sapa market buying more textiles and gifts for family and friends, fraternizing with the locals, smiling and saying goodbye to an area of the world that many of us want to return to some day. The question one has to ask is, will it be better than we remembered or worse? When I asked a beautiful H'mong woman, who was 33 looking like she was 43 due to the over exposure of a hard life and carrying a seven-month baby on her back what she thought about tourism? She sheepishly replied, "Of course I like it. I can buy things."
We are now in Hanoi writing a final paper on the novel we read this trip, Sorrow of War, by Bao Ninh and getting excited to return home to the States.
Until Peru,

yt
Teacher
International Academy

NEWSLETTER- FALL 2009 ISSUE COMPLETE

2009-11-02T13:44:00.000-08:00

Take a moment and enjoy reading our student produced newsletter.

http://www.nawaacademy.org/CurrentInfo/NawaNewsletter.html

Congratulations to Juni!

2009-11-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

LET ALL THE WORLD HEAR!!!!! JUNI MARTINS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED TO MENLO COLLEGE
IN ATHERTON, CA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH,YEAH,YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM THE HAPPIEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW!
I AM SO PROUD OF JUNI AND SOOOOOOOOOO GRATEFUL TO NAWA!!!!

BUT THERE IS MORE GOOD NEWS... THEY ARE ALSO GIVING HIM A $11,000 ACADEMIC GRANT PER YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS FOR HIS GOOD GRADES!

The Dean of Admissions called me to tell me the news. Isn't it wonderful?

I am in heaven and is all because of you guys. You made it possible!!!!

- Eli,
Proud Parent

Learning to Salsa

2009-10-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

Every Tuesday evening in the month of October we have a group of students who don their nicest clothes and load up in the bus for an evening in downtown Redding. First we stop at the coffee shop, with Mocha Frappacinos, Chai Teas, and apple juice (Anat) in hand, we walk right over to the old city hall, a beautiful building downtown. We head upstairs and are greeted by Ron and Faith, our friendly dance instructors. Ron and Faith offer dance lessons in beginning ballroom, Latin and swing. So, everybody finds a partner, some within our group, and some outside (Jake) and we learn to spin and step together. The class lasts for about 2 hours and we have learned a lot. Some are looking forward to showing off their new skills at the talent show and others are looking forward to sweeping the ladies off their feet at the dance clubs, one day.
Leanne Spradley, Weekday Program

Photos from Vietnam

2009-10-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Traveling on the Sapa Train and their hike in Sapa.

Parent's Weekend Is Approaching

2009-10-22T09:59:00.001-07:00

Our fall Parent's Weekend is quickly approaching and we are excited to connect with our parents next Friday and Saturday, October 30-31. The events on Friday will be held at the Gaia Hotel in Anderson, with students connecting with their parents that evening. Saturday is Open House at the Nawa Academy campus and will allow parents to meet with our teachers and deans. So far, we have over 30 parents confirmed to attend Parent's Weekend.

Uncle Ho Says "Hello!"

2009-10-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

Xin chào (Greetings),
The International Academy has been in Vietnam for about one week now. Our trip officially began after we had packed our gear into the infamous Excursion and left Nawa Academy, something we were all a bit reluctant to do after all the driving from the Baja trip. The drive to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) took about 4 hours, and we arrived around 10 PM. Juni’s mother met us there, and wished us all farewell before we went through security. We took a breather and sat down while we waited for our flight, which was to leave for Taipei, Taiwan at 1:30 AM. The flight was a bit cramped for those of us over six feet, but relatively painless, and ended up taking about 13 ½ hours. Most of us slept soundly for the majority of the flight, so we were fairly energized upon landing in Taiwan. We were all impressed with how modern the airport was, and had about two hours to kill before our final flight from Taipei to Noi Bai Airport, in Hanoi, Vietnam. We spent the downtime trying some of our first real asian food, and catching up on some academic reading. The flight to Vietnam was much shorter then the previous one, and took about 3 ½ hours. Jetlag was starting to affect some of us, as we had left the US very early in the morning, and arrived in Taiwan at 6 AM. The time difference is 14 hours, and was a bit disorienting to get used to at first, but everyone adjusted within a day or two.

Upon landing in Hanoi we immediately noticed a huge weather difference we weren’t accustomed to: very high humidity. The temperatures we’ve encountered haven’t been too horribly high, but with Vietnam’s humidity, we’re sweating all the time. It’s similar to the feeling you experience after getting out of a hot shower, but here you can never fully dry off. After we passed through customs and security and collected our bags, we met our Vietnamese contact Hue Hong (Jane), who had flown up from Ho Chi Minh City to help us get settled for the first half of our trip. We were all excited and eager to take in the sights, and already could see how different this country was from our own during the 1 hour drive to our hotel, Asia Palace, located in downtown Hanoi. We were snapping pictures the second we got in the bus, and were astounded to see how the traffic laws here differed from our own. Most of the populace gets around on two wheels, and everyone is very fond of their horns. People don’t drive particularly fast, but they merge constantly, and without warning.

The hotel where we stayed for the first three nights was much nicer than we had anticipated. Here we enjoyed the comforts of free wi-fi internet access, comfortable beds, hot running water, showers, working toilets, and absolutely fantastic air-conditioning, which was a huge bonus for all. We all struggled to keep our eyes open until dinner time, where we really ventured out into the sprawling cityscape that is Hanoi. The streets were packed with people; on the sidewalks, in the shops, and on the road. The traffic was heavy. The locals ride bicycles and motorbikes, with cars and buses speckled in between. The dinner we enjoyed was fantastic, and very cheap, as was most everything when one is wielding the mighty dollar in this country. After dinner, we came back to our hotel, had gathering, and crashed. The next few days were spent wandering the endless streets of Hanoi, trying to get acclimated, doing academics, and bartering for local goods. We also took a city tour, where we explored Ho Chi Minh square, got to see where he died, and toured several museums, temples, and pagodas. Our tour guide Anna was extremely good natured, talkative, and excited about what she was teaching us. We all had a great time.

Another day we visited Ho Loa prison, more commonly known in the states as the Hanoi Hilton, where former presidential candidate John McCain was detained for nearly seven years. It was eye opening for all of us to witness some of the events and places we had heard about growing up, and see what the Vietnamese refer to as the “American War” from their viewpoint firsthand. By the end of our stay in Hanoi, we were already about 120 pages into our novel The Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh, and were ready to see more of Vietnam. We left Hanoi by bus for HaLong Bay at around 9:00 AM on Saturday the 17^th. We arrived at our hotel around noon, which was considerably larger then the last, but not nearly as nice as Asia Palace. The weather in HaLong Bay was much hotter than Hanoi’s, and everyone struggled to keep themselves hydrated. The feel of HaLong Bay was much more centered around tourism, as the bay offers some of the most beautiful views in the world. The area around our hotel was filled with shops and vendors selling cheap, yet overpriced goods to souvenir hungry foreigners. In HaLong we indulged in some quality Vietnamese cuisine, explored the streets, and went on a 4 to 5 hour boat tour with our guide Jane. There we witnessed absolutely mind-blowing views of the bay and had a terrific fresh caught seafood lunch. The next day we had heavy academics, and the day after that were back on a bus to Asia Palace, in Hanoi. Everything continues to go well here. Tomorrow evening we’ll be on an overnight “sleeper” train to Sapa, near the Southern Chinese/Vietnamese border.
Cho den khi cap nhat ke tiep, bye.
(Until next update, bye for now!)

Written by: Ian Burau, student

Vietnam- Our group is doing well

2009-10-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

All going well here. Will be leaving HaLong Bay tomorrow to Hanoi then to Sapa. Will send trip update tomorrow. Have had no Internet here for 3 days due to storm last week. Will email u some pix.

Kids doing great!!

- Steve Galvan, International Program Director

Vietnam Vets Visit Nawa Academy

2009-10-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

Nawa Academy hosted a presentation by two Vietnam War veterans, Terry Fry and Larry Spurlin, who were invited to meet with the International Academy students before their visit to Vietnam on October 13-28, 2009. The rest of the student body also joined the presentation, as they were also very interested to hear about the Vietnam War era. The veterans talked of their experiences while serving in Vietnam, and also took questions from the students. The presentation was very interesting and enjoyed by all.
A big “thank you” to Terry Fry and Larry Spurlin!

Nawa Seniors Attend College Quest

2009-10-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, our seniors attended College Quest, a college information program held at the Redding Convention Center. Over 50 colleges and universities plus military and other pathway schools were present. Our students were able to talk to school admission officers and obtain literature about different programs and campuses. It was a well attended event and our students enjoyed the opportunity to be part of it.

Steve Galvan
Director, International Programs

Thank you Girl's Club for a wonderful baby shower!!

2009-09-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Ladies,

Thank you all so much for putting together such an amazing baby shower for us. The baby blanket you made for our newborn is going to be well loved and used. We enjoyed reading the thoughtful, hand-made cards, decorations, and eating cake with you! Thank you for coming to our home and spoiling our new son today and for all of his tomorrows. Just think, soon he will be exploring the campus with all of you.

Ladies, it was such a pleasure to speak with you today about baby Hull's birthing story. Because of your visit and questions, it has sparked a new passion in me to begin writing his story before too much time passes.

As always, I am thinking of you, cheering for you and looking forward to seeing you again.

Love Serena (and Jason) and baby Hull.

Nawa Academy to accept credit cards

2009-09-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

We are proud to offer a pay by credit card service provided through US Tuition. Parents can now pay all or a portion of tuition, room and board and applicable fees by using a credit card (American Express, Master Card, or Discover). Just access the US Tuition secure pay website or via phone during business hours. The process is easy and very quick. For additional information, please click on the link directly below.

https://www.ustuition.com/process.php?4

Trinity River Cleanup a Success

2009-09-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

We're a little tired in this photo, as we had a very early Saturday morning last week to get to the Trinity River Cleanup briefing on time. But once we got on the water, it was a good time had by all. Along with rafting down a nice stretch of the Trinity River (near Big Flat), we found trash along the sides of the river ranging from Skittles wrappers to three large tires. Our service was rewarded by the Forest Service with an outstanding barbecue and raffle event.

Dorm Rooms Upgrade Complete

2009-09-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that our dorm upgrades are now complete.

To all of you who had a part in making this a reality for our students- THANK YOU!!

That big red truck, mini me and those yellow suits

2009-09-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

Among our elective courses, the Fire Science program is in high demand each year. In this extremely hands-on course, students learn about fire chemistry and behavior, forestry management, wildland firefighting, and much more (of course, learning how to operate the fire engines is always a highlight).

When asked about his program, Ben Sundoen, Fire Chief, said, "Looks like a good start to the year. There are excellent returning students in my program. Our goal is to have an active, interesting and safe year."

First Week of School- off to a great start!

2009-09-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

Our first week back at school has been filled with curiosity, excitement, anticipation and fun. Returning students have been busy catching up with old friends and mentoring those who are new to the Nawa experience.

Orientation day was on Tuesday, where students rotated through various groups, becoming familiar with the schedule and campus expectations. Our principal, Jan Kells, has been pleased with the progress of the first week and how well the student body is settling into classes.

We are all eager for the annual Trinity River Cleanup tomorrow, where our student body will join many other community groups to spend the day picking up litter and river rafting down a scenic stretch of the Trinity River.

A Parent's Testimonial

2009-08-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

"Our son returned from Nawa's Adventure Summer School full of stamina, positive attitude and self-confidence. He also picked up great hobbies such as fishing, rockclimbing, and backpacking. He is now eager to go discover more adventures on his own."

- Myrian Gomez, Parent & Teacher

Great Challenge- Final Entry: Trinity River

2009-07-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Our last week was a great one! We were rafting on the Trinity River. It was exciting and I think it was awesome. I would have loved it if we went down a 2nd time. Now we are all going to be back to our comfy beds and air conditioning.

Written by: Kyle A., Student

Nawa Adventure Summer School

Our Final Week- Lassen Expedition (High School)

2009-07-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

This week wrapped up the Lassen Expedition (high school group), combining vertical activities and white water rafting. The first part of the week we rappelled and climbed near Mt. Shasta, and focused on ascending skills near the shores of Lake Shasta. The students used these skills to lower themselves into the pit at Samwel Cave. After a time of exploration, they ascended up the rope and out of the 86 foot pit.

The culmination of this most adventurous week took place on the Trinity River, offering a capstone experience rafting the Pigeon Point run. This run included rapids like Sailor's Bar, Rock Garden, Fish Tail and Hell's Hole, and offered our students a chance to apply the swiftwater rescue training they gained earlier in the session. Congrats to our students and good luck on your future challenges.

Shine bright and take care.

Mike Phillips and Jeff Myers

Written by: Jeff Myers, Instructor for Lassen Expedition (High School)

Nawa Adventure Summer School

Dorms Upgraded

2009-07-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Our summer construction crew are hard at work to ensure that our dorm cottages are ready for registration on September 7th. Thanks to our Parent's Club, 80% of our dorm rooms are getting a complete overhaul. More updates to follow into August.

Our Final Day- Lassen Expedition Group

2009-07-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

The gentlemen of Lassen Expedition (middle school group) had an excellent day on the river. They worked together to get through the rapids and celebrated their hard work with dinner at Subway. It was a great end to a good, challenging summer.

Written by: Nate Eells, Team Leader, Lassen Expedition Middle School Group

Nawa Adventure Summer School

Girls On The Go- Week 4- Trinity River

2009-07-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

The ladies had a blast this week. We all enjoyed learning swift water rescue on the Trinity River, complete with swimming and relaxing in a beautiful swimming hole. The girls learned to swim through rapids, self-rescue, how to rescue others, and manage a rescue team. They also learned about river dynamics and how to read moving water. We also enjoyed relaxing on the warm rocks in the sun. The last day of our week included rafting- it was an exciting and successful run, thanks to the cooperation and hard work of the girls. Great job to everybody!

Written by: Kristen Hamilton, Instructor of Girls On The Go

Nawa Adventure Summer School

Great Challenge- Week 3: Backpacking In The Redwoods

2009-07-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

We now have another 15 miles of backpacking under our belts. We hiked through lush Redwood stands to finally arrive on the beach. We could have been mistaken for a bluegrass marching band, as we all took our turns on the ukulele. The boys put their skills to use in building tarp shelters as the coastal fog rolled in each evening. We are looking forward to our final challenge of swift water rescue and rafting on the Trinity River next week.

Written by: Colin Franger, Instructor for Great Challenge

Nawa Adventure Summer School

Update from our Base Camp

2009-07-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

Base Camp has been a flurry of activity over the past few weeks. Students have been putting in productive time in the classroom, where our instructors are teaching English, World History, Economics, Algebra, Biology, and other courses.

When not in classes, students have been skating on the half-pipe, swimming and fishing in Clear Creek, taking trips to Whiskeytown Lake, playing paintball, or just relaxing and getting ready for their next week on Challenge.

It's been great to see each team come back onto our campus, full of smiles, and hear the tales of their adventures - rapids, long hikes, gorgeous mountains, or just the inside jokes and stories that evolve in any small group. Most exciting has been to watch as they slowly transform from a group of tentative teenagers to a functioning team.

Basecamp will only be operating for another 10 days, with students finishing up major projects and other academic work in order to receive credit. Transcript and other information will be sent out in the weeks following Camp. Summer Camp can be a great way for a new student to get comfortable with Nawa Academy, and many of our students are expressing interest in attending Nawa Academy in the Fall. We encourage you to contact the Admissions Office, as spaces are filling up quickly for the upcoming school year.

Written by: Jake Weld, Academic Dean & Language Arts Instructor

Nawa Adventure Summer School

Great Challenge- Week 2: Backpacking the Trinities

2009-07-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

This week we hiked until our feet couldn't take anymore. After a week of hiking 28 miles, we had seen alpine meadows, alpine lakes and old-growth forests. There was nothing like playing wiffleball in a stadium made of 8,000 foot granite peaks.

While it's great to be back to hot showers and running water, we are gearing up for our next adventure- hiking through the Redwoods!

Written by: Colin Franger, Instructor of our Great Challenge

Nawa Adventure Summer School