Children's Field Trips and Workshop
"Even children growing up in the Middle East, when asked to draw a house, will draw a pitched roof and chimney, even if they've never seen one outside a book ... That image of a pitched roof has destroyed more forests. I want to teach children to think of houses in the shape of bubbles and rainbows." -Nader Khalili
Our hands-on approach engages children of all ages in learning through interactive exercises and storytelling for a truly fun and educational experience. We provide an introduction to alternative architecture for grades K-12. Cal-Earth's Youth Workshops offer an abridged version of the adult workshops to learn Superadobe building techniques. Join us at Cal-Earth for a day of learning through storytelling, exploration and play.
Children are encouraged to explore and play in, and on, the buildings throughout the site. Because the techniques developed and tested at Cal-Earth are simple, direct, and understood through the hands and senses, children can be full participants and easily gain a thorough understanding of the building methods taught.
Basic Field Trip:
Grades K-12 (approximately 3 hours).
Includes guided tour, discussion, brick arch building instruction and time for exploration of the domes.
$10 per student ($100 minimum).
Mini Youth Workshop:
Grades 3-12 (approximately 5 hours).
Includes all of the above and hands-on instruction in laying Superadobe bag.
$25 per student ($250 minimum).
Full Youth Workshop:
Grades 3-12 (approximately 6 hours).
Includes all of the above and students will also be given instruction and the opportunity to apply mud plaster.
$35 per student ($350 minimum).
Cal-Earth also offers a great environment for teaching a broad range of subjects, including geometry, photography, art, architectural design, poetry, and more. Ask us about customizing a tour to teach your subject using our unique site.
Contact us for more information, or to schedule a field trip for your classroom, homeschool group or youth organization.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: The Children will learn through the life size examples of the Cal-Earth buildings about living in harmony with the environment: How to build and live with only what they find around them in the natural environment, and the principles of how to utilize the natural elements of Earth, Water, Air and Fire, to create a Utopia. How to use earth as building material, wind in wind-catchers, solar energy for glazing buildings and for cooling them, shade for making ice reserve systems, earth and clay as the most precious resource. "Earth is not dirt, it is better than gold".
"Thank you for explaining how we can save the earth by not using only wood for houses ... like the arches and the mud and filling the sand bags thank you for letting us."
BUILDING WITH EARTH: The children learn how to build their home with arches, vaults and domes, using the earth under their feet as the alternative material to timber, steel, or concrete. And how to use the Superblock construction system, adobe techniques and how to make adobe plaster. Because the systems developed and tested at Cal-Earth are simple, direct, and understood through the hands and senses children are our best students. They learn faster than any adults!
"I liked getting in the mud. I liked putting on the plaster."
EMERGENCY HOUSING: The children learn how, with a few bags and a shovel they can build a flood and fire-proof, earthquake and hurricane resistant emergency shelter for themselves, their family and their community in a few hours.
STOPPING DEFORESTATION: The image we all learn to draw as a child is a pitched roof, a square window, and a chimney. If we can change that image to a rainbow arch, half the forests of the world can be saved for future generations.
"I don't want to draw a pitched roof. I love the dome."
