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It's A Sacramento Field Trip!
Topics: PBVUSD Field Trip, Sacramento, Harvey Hall, Bakersfield, G.A.T.E.
Posted by Liane Mon Mar 17, 2008 09:30:49 PDT
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0 responses 2 comments

The alarm flashes 5am -- on a normal school day, we would cringe at the thought of rising so early, but... it's FIELD TRIP WEDNESDAY!  My daughter and I amazingly bounce out of bed, ready ourselves and make it to the Amtrak Station by 6:30am, even allowing time to pick up friends and Starbucks!  We excitedly join about 60 fellow PBVUSD 5th grade G.A.T.E. students (from 11 different schools), 30 parents, and our fabulous G.A.T.E. instructor/coordinator, Mrs. Kathleen Scrivner,  for a 5 hour trek to Sacramento to visit our state capitol.  Chaperone-experienced parents may instantly ask "why would you put yourself on a train for 5 hours one way with all of those students?"  It was actually terrific!  We had the luxury of our own car, but even better, the kids had the freedom to move around at all times, thus alleviating the stuck-in-the-school-bus-seat syndrome.

The kids soaked up the view of pistachio, almond and citrus trees.  They pointed out the countless farms, oil producing areas, cotton gins, and were well aware of the 8 stops and 9 counties we passed through on our trip.  Long after the educational value soaked in, Nintendo DS's were up and running allowing a peaceful transition for our arrival.  The five hours passed before we knew it, where we would now embark on a 1.1 mile journey by foot to the capitol.  Unbelievably, this felt more like a short jaunt from a Saturday parking spot at Valley Plaza into the mall.  As we ascended on the capitol's lush grounds, we ran into (literally) none other than Bakersfield's Mayor, Mr. Harvey Hall!  He must have felt like Miley Cyrus as we surrounded him with cameras flashing for a priceless photo opportunity.

After a short walk admiring the gorgeous trees scattered throughout the beautiful park, we were escorted through metal-detectors, which may very well have garnered the most excitability from the kids yet.  We were then split into groups, where we were taken on a tour by very knowledgeable guides.  Students were encouraged to ask questions as they were busy photographing both the senate (decorated in red for wealth)and legislature (green).  We were educated on the history of California, including the importance of the gold miner, the grizzly bear and the Goddess Minerva to our state's seal.  The kids were told, above all else, that the biggest voice in this building was that of the people.  One of the groups was even fortunate enough to have been personally greeted by State Assemblywoman, Jean Fuller.  She told the group that while she is in meetings constantly, talking about many laws, the highlight of her day is getting to meet the bright students who are eager to learn about our state.

Some of the group managed to fit in a brief visit to Sacramento's Old Town area before we all boarded the train bound back to Bakersfield.  Again, the five hours sailed by, as the kids chattered on about their favorite statues, politicians, etc., and just how big this building really is!  Decks of cards and neatly-packed snacks took us through the evening, where only the occasional parent could be caught napping.  We were back in Bakersfield by 9:40pm, where we left the train station with the knowledge that memories had been made. 

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Comment From: sunnica

Liane, I just read this in its entirety and wanted to tell you how GREAT it is! You are a fabulous writer! Dang... what a way with words. Love it! Look for this in the next issue! Comment From: dweaver3

What a cool trip and an excellent experience for students! Train rides are fun and it must be so nice to just relax and read on the rides up and back. Pretty cool the group met up with the mayor of Bakersfield!