Gr. 4 students got an up-close look at California history on the annual trip to Coloma in April. The area is most famous for being the starting point of the California Gold Rush. When they arrived, students were divided into different groups called “towns.”

The trip started with a visit to the Coloma Outdoor Discovery School. “We pretended to be gold miners living along the American River,” said Kristin Giammona, elementary division head. As would-be miners, they fashioned their own shelters, made cornbread and gave themselves nicknames. The group ate dinner, and then enjoyed a hoedown to the sounds of the musical group Slim Pickin’s. The day ended with a campfire by the river, complete with sing-a-longs and skits.

Day two began with a hike along the Monroe Ridge, “which culminated with a spectacular view of the Coloma Valley,” Giammona said. “Along the way we learned about the Native Americans who once lived in the area, the uses of various plants along the trail and the mining history of the area. We played games along the way to break up the hike.” The group gathered around the campfire again that night, where they were joined by Kimberly Shining Star, a Native American woman who told stories and shared a number of songs.

On their final day at Coloma, each town devised ways to save energy and reduce waste. The groups then reconvened during the final meeting of the trip to share their ideas. To cap off the trip, all members of the group dipped their leather pouches (received at the beginning of the trip) into the American River, thus becoming “sourdoughs,” the nickname for prospectors during the California Gold Rush.

Students greatly savored the trip. “I liked the free time before and after breakfast and dinner because my best friends weren’t in my town,” said student Nicolas Bean. “I was able to play with them during free time, and it was like being on vacation with them.” Others, such as Sanju Navar, enjoyed playing prospector: “I liked gold panning because it was fun and interesting. I didn’t find any gold, but it was still interesting.”