Jenn Kekuna
The Cleveland Connects Summer Bridge Program spent the day at the Cleveland High School Memorial Forest in July. Teachers Joseph Mingo, Kacey Cambell, Anna Leslie, Jenn Kekuna, and Counselor Chloe Kimiai accompanied almost 50 incoming 9th graders and student helpers to experience the beauty of the outdoors.
The group gathered near Fall City, where they received an introduction to the forest from Alumni Bernie Moskowitz and John Barton. This included a brief history lesson on how the forest came to be and how it is being preserved. The students then gathered around the firepit and worked as a team to build a bonfire, where they later roasted hotdogs and enjoyed burgers from the grill. They ended their visit with self-guided hikes over the various trails and took note of the different types of plants and green spaces they encountered.
Many of our students don’t get to go on trips like this outside of Seattle, so it was a great experience for them. They connected with the Alumni and gathered in a space so special to Cleveland.
The Cleveland Connects Summer Bridge Program is a 3-week program that allows incoming Freshmen to experience what high school is about before returning to school in the Fall. Students get to experience relationship-building, project-based learning, and social-emotional learning. The Bridge program has been available to students since 2012.
