MCLAREN HIGH
CALIFORNIA TRIP
The recent STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) trip to California was an awesome learning experience. The trip included five nights in San Francisco with four nights in Los Angeles/Santa Monica.
Whilst in San Francisco we had special access to Google, Tesla and Apple. We visited many STEM-related museums including the Exploratorium with lots of interactive science and engineering exhibits. At the California Academy of Science the group experienced earthquake simulators, the planetarium show, the indoor rainforest and visited Claude, the albino alligator.
We also walked across the marvel of engineering that is the Golden Gate Bridge and had the opportunity to visit Alcatraz, Pier 39 and ride the antique cable-cars.
After a nine-hour bus ride down the Pacific West Coast, we arrived in Santa Monica where our hostel was located on the beach and by the famous pier.
We looked at the moon and Jupiter at the famous Griffith Observatory as the sun set over the Hollywood sign. We visited the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and walked in the footsteps of Marilyn Monroe and other famous names at the Chinese Theatre.
We were lucky enough to play volleyball on the beach before seeing the real Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Centre to end this amazing and unforgettable experience.
By Michael Limonci and Hannah MacCallum