Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning

Trick or Treat! SAEL is so proud to be part of this spooktacular community! Come on by and get a warm drink to wash down all that candy and spider silk 🎃👻🍬☕️🕸️

Happy Howloween from the whole SAEL Crew! 🐺 Have fun and be safe out there wolf pack!

Last week our 11th grade journeyed to Humboldt County for the Voices of Change expedition to learn about advocacy and activism from local tribal members, environmentalists, politicians, teachers, students at CalPoly Humboldt, and the land and water that sustains us. It was an incredible experience for all and were full of new knowledge, understanding, and appreciation. There is so much to learn and we can’t wait to keep exploring with open hearts and spirits of reciprocity! More photos to come!

Come on down to SAEL to check out all the amazing things that are happening at our school and to connect with each other as CREW. All family meeting will take place from 5 to 7. We hope to see you there!

Seniors kicked off their fall learning expedition, “Yearning to Breathe Free: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” by camping, hiking, swimming, writing, and philosophizing up at Sierra Buttes! These amazing students started the year, strong building and being crew together!

Outstanding first day of the SAEL 2025-26 school year! Welcome back to all returning students and welcome in all our new 9th graders, transfer, and exchange students! Today was centered on Crew and all about circles, connection, engagement, and joy. Crew not Passengers!

WE ARE CREW! SAEL staff went on morning fieldwork to our local escape rooms to build and be crew! We all made it out in time and are now prepared to make it through a 180 day long escape room, otherwise known as a school year! Collaboration for the win!

SAEL 9th graders ended the year really crewing it up and rafting on the American River! Congratulations to this outstanding freshman class for finishing their first year of high school!

The sun is setting for SAEL’s class of 2025 as they just returned from their last fieldwork adventure in Santa Cruz! It has been an incredible last four years with this wonderful cohort of students and we’re so proud of them! Next stop: graduation 🧭

Building Bridges Across Generations 2025! Today the 12th grade had their final Celebration of Learning at SAEL where they showcased short films and collections of writing about a local elder. This semester long project partners senior students with local senior citizens to form connections and “build bridges” across the generations. They met each Tuesday for two months at Nevada City CoHousing, facilitating filmed interviews, forming friendships, and creating community. Huge appreciations for our local elders who chose to take this journey with us, for Ms. Beck and Mr. Why for planning and guiding this work, and the students who created such high quality final products. All participants left with bigger hearts, deep appreciation for the experience, and, as one of the elders reflected, “a cup that runneth over”. Every year, this project reminds us all that everyone has a story to tell and how much we can learn when we take the time to listen.

Good Morning SAEL,

Two things to share as many of us continue to dig out from the historic snowfall. Again, no school today, Friday, March 3rd.

If you have the ability there are some members of our community in need of help with snow removal at Olympia Glade Mobile Estates, 918 Pampas Dr in Grass Valley near Grocery Outlet. There are residents whose roofs and carports are caving in due to snow. Many of the residents are elderly folks. There is an urgent need for the snow to be removed before the next storm. I know many are experiencing hardships right now.

Second, The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley wants everyone to know about a unique opportunity today. See the press release for more information.