Sophomore Journey to Zion National Park and Las Vegas
Students experience the transformative power of nature by visiting one of the most tremendous and beautiful landscapes in the nation.
JCHS Sophomores continue the four-year journey curriculum with the 10th Grade Journey to Zion National Park: “From the Strip to the Canyons: Discovering Our Authentic Selves in Nature.” They experience not only the joy and community that comes with walking together on trails, but also dive into new challenges: working together as teams to overcome outdoor obstacles, learning to trust senses other than sight, appreciating the stillness and peace that comes with solitude, and embracing the power of “deep silence.”
JCHS works with Zion Mountaineering School (ZMS), a Utah-based outdoor outfitter as the group hikes, rock climbs, and canyoneers through the canyons surrounding Zion National Park. ZMS is a recipient of the Trip-Advisor certificate of excellence, and their guides have eleven years of experience in leading groups through canyon/rock excursions. Their managers are AMGA Certified Rock Guides. ZMS and JCHS Professional Community members guide students through activities designed to develop knowledge and skills, to open the senses, and to form new friendships and foster grade-wide bonding.
In addition, sophomores learn from their classmates’ wisdom through student-led divrei Torah, daily experiences in Tribe Groups and games that they design and lead. The journey asks our sophomores to reflect on the following essential questions: how can nature help us discover our authentic selves? How does a journey help us remove our masks? What power can an inspiring place have in helping us grow and transform?
Journey Blog Entries
List of 8 news stories.
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Sophomore Journey: Taking Off the Masks
The theme of this journey is to “take off our masks”, meaning, to show our true authentic selves. I feel that by the end of this journey, we have all gotten closer together as a grade and have made new or closer bonds with one another.Read More -
Sophomore Journey: The Sense of Accomplishment
Hiking, rock climbing, canyoneering...Sarrah W. '21 reports on the Sophomore Journey experience.Read More -
Sophomore Journey: From Vegas to the Canyon
The sophomores got off to an early start yesterday morning as we all descended to Las Vegas.Read More -
Sophomore Journey: What A Journey!
Despite many first time jitters and fears of heights, we were able to use one another to persevere and to reach our goal!Read More -
Sophomore Journey: Exploring New Spaces
We have done our best to take advantage of the beauty that this amazing national park has to offer.Read More -
Sophomore Journey: From City Lights to Open Skies
Upon leaving the bus, we were greeted with the smell of fresh air and the outdoors. We couldn’t wait to begin this adventure!Read More -
Sophomore Journey: Facing Our Fears
"We cheered each other on and encouraged each other to keep going, to climb higher. ...fear was transformed into fearlessness as bodies disappeared up the side of the wall, so high they were almost out of view..."Read More -
Sophomore Journey: Wolves on the Rocks
Usually, when you’re on a cliff, the scariest moment is when you look down. But today, the most frightening moment was when we looked UP, seeing the gargantuan walls we were expected to scale. Granted, we were not forced to climb, but most of us wanted to say ‘yes’ to the experience!Read More
Follow @UtahChavrutah on Instagram
On the Zion Journey, sophomores are using social media for a special project about space and community. First at JCHS, then in Las Vegas and at Zion canyon, students will work in pairs to take photos that complete prompts--a professional community member in their favorite space, a photobomb of someone else's picture, a sacred space, where you find comfort or solace, a group of people collaborating, something truly authentic, something completely artificial. They then post these images on Instagram with the hashtag #utahchavrutah.
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Evan Wolkenstein
Director of Experiential Education, 10th Grade Journey Leader
415.694.5772 x173
ewolkenstein@jchsofthebay.org
Director of Experiential Education, 10th Grade Journey Leader
415.694.5772 x173
ewolkenstein@jchsofthebay.org
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Current families, please log in to the JCHS Portal and click on the "Grade Journeys" Resource Board for Journeys information, itineraries, packing lists and permission forms.
Follow us online:
- Read blog entries from students and Journey leaders
- Follow JCHSWolves on Snapchat for daily updates.
- Follow @UtahChavrutah on Instagram
- Follow @JCHSJour9 on Instagram
Jewish Community High School of the Bay
1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415.345.9777
The Jewish Community High School of the Bay (JCHS) is a unique college preparatory high school committed to integrating deep learning, universal wisdom, and Jewish values. We empower each student to embrace their Jewish identity, generate empathy and compassion, delight in lifelong education, and improve the world.