Cascades Academy

🚌 Spring Traveling School continues! Our 4th and 5th graders took their love of hands-on, real-world learning on the road to Salem.

⚖️ From walking behind waterfalls at Silver Falls and touring the Oregon State Capitol — including the rare privilege of stepping onto the House floor — to studying the Bill of Rights through Supreme Court case simulations and tackling the federal budget, every day was packed with rich experiences and meaningful discovery.

🗳️ Students elected a president and vice president, passed a bill into law, climbed old-growth trees reaching 260 feet tall, and explored Oregon's heritage and Indigenous history.

🌱 The whole week was classroom learning coming to life.

✈️ High school students kicked off spring Traveling School with transformative 10-day journeys in Guatemala (12th), Oʻahu (11th), the Everglades & Florida Keys (10th), and the Desert Southwest (9th) — immersive experiences that brought learning to life through adventure, challenge, and cultural connection.

⛰️ From an unforgettable summit of the 13,000-foot Acatenango stratovolcano in Guatemala, to hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back again, observing alligators in the Florida Keys, and paddling outrigger canoes in Oʻahu, students turned the world into their classroom. Throughout their travels, they connected with local experts and community partners who brought each destination to life through place-based learning.

🌱 Beginning in 2nd grade with two nights at Suttle Lake and culminating in these high school adventures, Traveling School is designed to help students discover what they’re capable of — building confidence, resilience, independence, and perspective through meaningful real-world experiences.

🎉 What a night! Our 2nd Annual All-School Arts Night was a joyful celebration of creativity across campus — from Lower and Middle School musical performances to Upper School improv, stunning visual art, and interactive highlights like the silent disco and Glowing Garden.

🎭 At Cascades Academy, the arts are more than a program. They’re an essential part of how students discover their voice, express their ideas, and connect with perspectives beyond their own. It was powerful to see that come to life in so many ways.

👏 Huge thanks to our incredible faculty, staff, and parent volunteers who made the evening possible, to our amazing food trucks
El Patron Hot Mexican Grill, LLC, Noodz N' More, The Pizza Cart, Bontà - Natural Artisan Gelato, Little Fox Cart Company, and to Flip Flop Sounds for donating the silent disco headphones.

🌎 Getting a jumpstart on Earth Day!

🌱 Yesterday, our community came together in stewardship of our land. K–12 Buddy Groups — made up of mixed-grade students, faculty, and staff — spread out across our 45-acre campus to identify and remove invasive cheatgrass, spread native bunchgrass seeds, and pick up trash along the way.

🌲 Experiences like this reflect our commitment to teaching environmental sustainability through hands-on, real-world learning.

🏫 Join us at our PK-6th grade spring admission events to learn how Cascades Academy students are prepared, engaged, and challenged, all while feeling valued and supported by a caring community.

🗓️ Thursday, April 23, 4:45 PM: PK-5th Grade Campus Tour & All-School Arts Night

🗓️ Friday, April 24, 9-10:30 AM: PK-5th Grade Information Session & School Day Tour

🗓️ Friday, May 1, 8:30-10:30 AM: 6th Grade Information Session & School Day Tour

✅ Get all of your questions answered for fall 2026 enrollment.

💫 Learn about programs, meet students and faculty, and explore classrooms.

💰 Tuition assistance is available with $1M+ allocated annually to 35% of students.

🔗 Visit www.cascadesacademy.org/admission to learn more and register.

💡 Interested in our college-prep high school program? Visit www.cascadesacademy.org/upper-school to learn more and schedule a tour.

🏆 The Upper School Robotics team, Mystic Biscuit, capped off their season with a third-place finish at their final competition, advancing deep into elimination rounds after overcoming early challenges and steadily improving their robot’s performance.

🎉 A huge highlight came at the close of the competition when Mystic Biscuit was honored with the Team Sustainability Award. As shared during the presentation:

🌱 "The Team Sustainability Award sponsored by Dow celebrates a team which has developed sustainable practices that focus on a “triple bottom line,” that is: People, Prosperity and Planet, to have a positive impact and achieve long-term continuity.

🍪 This magical team inspires awe and wonder. They demonstrated initiative and entrepreneurship by deciphering how to turn a sweet budgeting idea into an ongoing revenue source. They are a team loaded with big flavor like a batch of homemade cookies.

👏 Congratulations, Team 6465!"

🌟 We can't think of a better award that acknowledges the team's positive, supportive culture that the students have fostered and sustained over the years. What a memorable way to celebrate the team's 10th anniversary -- well done, Mystic Biscuit!

🎭 At Cascades Academy, the performing arts are an essential part of learning. In Middle School, students engage in art, music, or drama each week and dive deeper through drama intensives and theater productions that culminate in meaningful performances for our community.

🌟 Students recently brought The Addams Family to life with a spooky and surprisingly hilarious musical filled with memorable songs, sharp humor, and creative costumes.

👏 Congratulations to the actors and tech crew on a successful show, and thank you to everyone who helps make the performing arts a vibrant part of our school community.

📷 Special thanks to Junior Asa Jansen for the wonderful photos.

👗 Special thanks to BEAT Children's Theatre and Caldera High School Theatre for loaning the wonderful costumes.

☀️ Summer is calling! Cascades Academy camps and programs offer hands-on fun, creativity, and adventure for kids across Central Oregon. Registration is open and many camps fill quickly — sign up today.

CAMP CREATE

Grades K–5
🎭 Nature exploration, mythic drama, photography, engineering cardboard arcades, wizard quests, and wildlife science with Think Wild.

Grades 3–5
🔬 STEAM Camps: hands-on science, engineering, design, and technology projects.

Grades 4–8
⚽ Cascades Academy Soccer Camp: build skills, teamwork, and confidence on the field.

Grades 6–9
🛠️ Advanced STEAM Camps: computer-aided design, manufacturing, robotics, and engineering challenges.

SUMMER OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES

Grades 6-11
🏔️ Outdoor expeditions that build leadership, teamwork, and confidence. Activities include biking, rafting, climbing, hiking, paddling, and environmental exploration, with overnight camping and a multi-day rafting and canoe journey for older students.

👉 Explore camps and register at https://www.cascadesacademy.org/camps

🎬 FOLKTALES: Film Screening & Discussion
🗓️ Thursday, April 9 | 6–8:45 PM
✨ With Emmy-Winning & Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker Rachel Grady

Step into the Arctic wilderness with three teens who leave home, technology, and social media behind to discover themselves at a traditional Norwegian folk high school. Shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards in Documentary Feature, FOLKTALES is a moving story of resilience, friendship, and transformation.

🎤 Rachel Grady will join us on stage after the screening for a Q&A about her award-winning film.

💡 Part of Cascades Academy’s Education Series exploring teen engagement, deeper learning, and meaningful connections in a digital world.

🔗 FREE | Register at https://www.cascadesacademy.org/community/education-series

🎉 Cascades Academy’s Mock Trial team wins the regional championship! Again!

⚖️ For the second year in a row, the team is advancing to the Oregon High School Mock Trial State Competition in Portland later this month. Led by Jan Webb and supported by local attorney volunteers, the Upper School students have been preparing tirelessly for this year’s case — a fictitious murder following a homecoming dance. With a number of 9th graders on the roster, our students are rebuilding and strengthening the program while showing incredible poise and skill in the courtroom. Join us in cheering on our team as they represent Cascades Academy at the state level!