Immersive Course Catalog 2025
INTRODUCTION
That special time of year has arrived again – I am thrilled to introduce to you the 2025 Branson Immersive Course Catalog Once again, we are excited to offer more than thirty courses, which will run from Wednesday, May 28 through Friday, June 6 with a showcase on Monday, June 9, 2025. The signup portal will open on Monday, February 10 at 3 pm, so please plan for some time to read through the offerings, digest all of your options, and choose your personal top twelve.
Thank you!
Jeff Symonds Assistant Head of School for Academics & Dean of Faculty
On behalf of the Branson faculty and staff
COURSE LIST with QUICKLINKS
African Drumming: Developing Emotional Intelligence
The Art of Knitting
Best Buddies: Thoughtful Engagement Through Established Authentic Partnerships
BullsEyes at Branson
The Business and Ethics of NCAA College Sports
California State Parks: Conservation, Culture, and Connection
Citizen Science and Urban Ecology
Creative Writing
Fusion Dance
Guatemala: Language, Culture, and Ecology
Improvisation as a Life Skill
An Introduction to Birding
Journey Through Middle Earth
Just for Kicks: A Story of Sneakers
The Law and its Impact: Essential Supreme Court Cases in US History Mahjong ������
Mindfulness, Meditation, and Movement
Outdoor Leadership in the Birthplace of the Mountain Bike
Puzzlepalooza
A River Runs Through It: Learning to Fly Fish
Roll for Initiative: How to Play D&D
The Romantics
Service Animals and Training Guide Dog Puppies
The Sociology of Housing: “Tiny House” Building and Why They’re Necessary
Tarot as a Tool of Insight: Exploring the Outer Reaches of Inner Space
Taste of Italy: A Culinary and Cultural Journey Through Eight Regions
The “Ultimate” Immersive
Unravel Your Family's Story – An Introduction to Genealogy
What If We Get It Right? A Climate Change Immersive
Woodworking
The World of Money: Understanding, Managing, and Investing
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
African Drumming: Developing Emotional Intelligence
JuanCarlos Arauz, Jaimeo Brown
This course is thoughtfully crafted to immerse you in the rich tradition of West African drumming through a series of percussion activities, exercises, and engaging games Our goal is to provide a unique experience where the power of drumming becomes a means of expression, allowing you to articulate your thoughts, feelings, and ideas through the rhythmic language of instruments Throughout the duration of the class, you will acquire fundamental music skills and expand your musical vocabulary Emphasis will be placed on cultivating leadership qualities such as innovation, adaptability, critical analysis, cross-cultural communication, and teamwork This curriculum introduces an original and refreshing approach to learning, fostering critical thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills Regardless of prior musical experience, all levels are welcome to join this dynamic exploration of West African drumming and its transformative potential. Get ready to embark on a rhythmic journey that not only develops musical proficiency but also nurtures essential life skills.
The Art of Knitting
Percival
Barretto-Ko, Suzanne Fransen, Gretchen Koles, Cécile Lelièvre
Calling all crafters! If you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit – or if you already know and you want to devote some nice, relaxing time to knitting – please join us for this fun immersive. We’ll start from the very beginning and learn how to knit and purl and read patterns, and beginning students will make a beanie hat. We’ll go shopping at our local yarn stores in San Rafael, and you can select the yarn you want to work with. We’ll also travel up to Petaluma for a great field trip to a working farm, where the proprietor raises sheep and llamas and spins and dyes her own yarn, to learn about the process. When you finish your beanie, you can select a second project to get started on. For more experienced knitters, you may choose to work on whatever you’d like, and we’ll be here to help and support you for those challenging dropped stitches and other issues that come up Knitting is so relaxing and fun, and for most people who learn, it becomes a life-long passion, so join us if you feel inspired to learn how to knit!
Best Buddies: Thoughtful Engagement Through Established Authentic Partnerships
Jenny Diaz, Olivia Flemming
Best Buddies is a community engagement program that was established 10 years ago at Branson. The goal is to foster friendships between Branson students and students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently, Branson students host weekly lunches with two schools: Oak Hill and Helix School. This immersive offers the opportunity to spend time at their schools and learn more about their communities. Branson students will work in the classrooms supporting the teachers, designing athletic opportunities, creating art projects, and enjoying each other’s company We will also learn from experts about autism, and we will discuss ways to meaningfully engage with other institutions The Best Buddies immersive is a unique opportunity to genuinely engage in a two-way relationship with other local communities In addition, you will earn Community Engagement hours
BullsEyes at Branson
Alex Escalante, DiAnn Montemayor
Do you want to build upper body strength, refine your focus, or enhance your hand-eye coordination? Whether you’ve hit a bullseye before or have never held a bow and arrow, all skill levels interested in the art of archery are welcome You will learn and practice the fundamentals of archery to improve mental strength and concentration, freeing the mind from everyday distractions by focusing it You will utilize the archery range right here on Branson’s campus, and also visit different archery ranges in the Bay Area (San Rafael, Napa, Oakland, San Francisco, Martinez, Point Reyes: Marin Archery Range, Limantour, Abbotts Lagoon Trail) We will meet with a professional archer to share insights into the practice of archery Join us in continuing to build a new era of archery at Branson!
The Business and Ethics of NCAA College Sports
John Rende
This immersive course will cover several current topics that headline college sports in America today, including: Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Rights; Athlete Compensation; Gender Equality; Recruiting and Transfer Rules; Conference Realignment and Media Rights; and the ethics of Sports Betting in college sports. A fiery debate continues about whether student-athletes should be paid directly for their participation, both directly or through other lucrative avenues, given the revenue generated by major sports like football and basketball.
Furthermore, Title IX compliance ensures equal opportunities for men and women in college sports, but disparities in funding, facilities, and media coverage remain a major concern You will explore these and other hot topics that form many of the headlines in today’s magazines and newspapers We will be discussing these issues and others in a debate format, where role playing from both sides of the issues will spark healthy and open dialogue around topics relevant to Branson students, many of whom may find themselves confronted with such situations in their future college careers The course will also, schedule permitting, involve a day with the San Francisco Giants broadcast team, with a ballgame to follow Guest speakers will also be invited to shed further light on topics covered in class The goal of this hands-on immersive is to explore the exciting world of college sport, across both disciplines and genders, with an open mind and a passion to learn
California State Parks: Conservation, Culture, and Connection
Noelle Anderson, Aaron Bardo
How lucky are we to call California home? Renowned for its extraordinary biological diversity and rich cultural history, our state has preserved over 1 4 million acres of land through its extensive state park system We will alternate between on-campus lessons and all-day field trips to explore California's state parks through historical, socio-political, environmental, and personal perspectives. Field visits will include trips to: Mount Tamalpais State Park (to study the benefits and inequities in accessing green spaces); Angel Island State Park (to study immigration, racial discrimination, and U.S. military history); Tomales Bay State Park (to study forest health, wildfire resilience, and tribal priorities for vegetation management), and more! Join us if you’re excited about spending meaningful time in the great outdoors while exploring ecological conservation, cultural preservation, public health, and California history.
Citizen Science and Urban Ecology
Jill Mankoff, Kindra Scharich
Each day when we gather at Branson, we are simultaneously in the midst of a beautiful, bucolic setting and a 7 1-million-person metropolis – one of the largest urban areas in the US What role do cities play in their ecosystems? How do we balance the needs of living organisms in the midst of this urban environment? What plants and animals thrive in an urban environment and which ones are displaced? Explore these questions through conversations and demonstrations with experts and field trips to relevant sites like the SF/Marin Watershed, Marin Resource Recovery sorting centers, tree watering in San Francisco, and local farms. By providing hands-on experience with street trees, trash and waste management, food and water sources, and other essential aspects of our daily life, students will gain an understanding of urban
ecology and what is required to maintain a healthy and balanced urban ecosystem. Students will also get to learn about the local ecosystem of the Bay Area through field explorations using tools such as iNaturalist
Creative Writing
Neha Kamdar
This is an immersive for rising seniors (and juniors with permission of the instructor) who are interested in pursuing a Creative Writing track through senior year. You will be assigned published fiction and poetry to read for discussion of craft mechanisms. In addition, you will generate your own writing through dedicated writing blocks in the morning, and workshop your material with one another during the afternoon session. The immersive will have time built in for strategies on submitting work for publication and how to think about your senior thesis in Creative Writing. You may choose to work on a collection of poems, and one or more works of short fiction, or both I look forward to inviting a guest poet to work with me on the immersive and am happy to open up the room for longer works of fiction for those who are interested
Fusion Dance
Mahtab Lak, Michael Connors
In this class, we aim to enrich your dance journey by exploring a variety of dance styles and the cultures they represent From Breaking and House Dance to Middle Eastern, Belly Dance, Persian Dance, Freestyling, and choreography, you’ll have the opportunity to delve into diverse styles and discover the rich histories and traditions behind each Enjoy moving your body and connecting through the universal language of dance Each day, we’ll dedicate time to practicing various dance forms, followed by an exploration of their cultural contexts Together, we’ll watch inspiring videos and welcome incredible dance teachers from the Bay Area community, who will share their personal journeys and deepen our understanding of dance culture To conclude the class, those interested will have the opportunity to participate in a performance, showcasing what we’ve learned and celebrating the joy of dance together Whether you’re new to dance or experienced, this immersive experience is all about movement, connection, and discovery.
Guatemala: Language, Culture, and Ecology
Sergio Ovalles, Sabrina Wilson
Guatemala represents a living story of social protest and deep poetry; reality and myth; nostalgia for an uncorrupted past; profound enjoyment of the present; and, above all, a compassionate love for the living, wondrous land and the struggling, hopeful people who inhabit it. On this Global Education immersive program, offered in partnership with Where There Be Dragons, students focus on narratives of human nature relations, impacts on the environment, and indigenous approaches to balance and ecological health as they immerse themselves in local language* and culture. These environmental themes are also related to cultural identity, socio-political trends in Guatemala, colonization and resource extraction, tracing important links between culture and ecology and the interplay between social and natural worlds. Students spend time in San Juan la Laguna, a traditional Tz’utujil Maya highland community, living with local families and working with community-based projects Through cultural immersion, workshops, guest speakers and collaborative hands-on projects, students discover culturally distinct strategies for fostering sustainable land relations Students also learn about the ongoing cycles of conquest and exploitation, and come to appreciate a longer view of history in the Americas, and the ongoing struggles to maintain non dominant cultural ways of life and relationships to land
* Students must have completed Spanish 2 or higher by the time of the trip
Note: Sign-ups for this Global Education immersive trip are closed Participants for this immersive were selected in the fall of 2024, and the course is full
Improvisation as a Life Skill
Lucas
Mobley, Maura Vaughn
Every day, everyone is improvising, whether they realize it or not Every conversation is an opportunity to listen deeply, accept and extend offers, and find ways for humor to work its way in Practicing improvisation in a theater context helps people learn to be better listeners, more engaged coworkers, more impactful public speakers, and, ultimately, more empathetic and trusting human beings! This immersive will be a crash course on improvisation as a craft and will also expand upon the principles of improv, translating them into tangible useful life skills, such as: public speaking, deep listening, and how to communicate emotions effectively If you are interested in learning these amazing skills that will serve you throughout your life, while having a fun and hilarious experience, then we urge you to sign up for the Improv as a Life Skill immersive!
An Introduction to Birding
Alanna Hickey, Katie Jan, Giles Scott
Do you love spending time outdoors in the Bay Area’s most scenic natural spaces? Learning more about local and rare wildlife? Getting off campus for extended stretches of time? Playing high-concept, beautifully-illustrated board games? Doing nature journaling, drawing, and photography? Watching nature documentaries? Using binoculars? This immersive is a way to do all of this and more. We will learn what birding is, why do we do it, and what we can gain from it. We’ll head out on excursions to Point Reyes, Las Gallinas, Phoenix Lake, the Marin Audubon Society, and WildCare. We’ll speak with expert birders, learn how to photograph and artistically represent birds, and more. Birds are so cool – here’s where you figure out why. All the other immersives are for the birds!
Journey Through Middle Earth
Annabel LaBrecque, Matt Lane
What would it be like to wander your way through the War of the Ring? Middle Earth is indeed a fantastical place, but its people, places, problems, and possibilities remain very real to Lord of the Rings lovers. This Lord of the Rings-oriented immersive takes the term to literal task, and invites you to a tour of Middle Earth during the Third Age – the pivotal period historicized in J R R Tolkien’s trilogy We will spend two weeks recreating the realms and relationships central to the War of the Ring, taking primary inspiration from portions of Tolkien’s expansive corpus of fantasy writing, Peter Jackson’s equally epic film trilogy (which we will watch and analyze together), and related research in multiple academic and artistic realms of Middle Earth studies More than just a movie marathon, this journey provides you with a unique opportunity to develop and/or deepen your skills in multiple areas – from reading and reflection to critical analysis and creative thinking Our intellectual journey through Middle Earth will culminate in its literal recreation out in the Academic Quad, where we will collectively – as individual characters and location experts – invite the broader Branson community to explore the peoples and places that make up Middle Earth.
Just for Kicks: A Story of Sneakers
Malik Ali, Neftaley Arceo
Do you have a passion for sneakers? Would you consider yourself a sneaker fanatic or a sneakerhead? Have you ever wanted to know more about the history of sneakers? Then this is the right immersive for you. You will learn about the history of sneakers, and about the different
kinds of technologies that are found in sneakers. As a class, we will also explore how sneakers are made and what goes into their design We will ask students to think about what might influence sneaker designers when they are creating shoes Additionally, we will discuss the cultural influence of sneakers We will have the opportunity to meet guests to gain knowledge on the different aspects of sneakers and sneaker culture The goal at the end of this immersive is for students to design their own sneakers using the information they have learned throughout the course
The Law and its Impact: Essential Supreme Court Cases in US History
Julie Kuo, Jeff Symonds
The Supreme Court is seemingly more in the news than ever these days, and has emerged as a focal point of American political discourse This course gives you a chance to dive into the court’s legacy through a close examination of some of its most famous decisions If you’ve ever wondered how the Supreme Court and its rulings have shaped and impacted our American lives, then join us as we use the High School Law Review’s curriculum to examine a series of essential Supreme Court cases in our nation’s history We will read, study, and discuss several of the most seminal and historic Supreme Court cases, and learn how those decisions have impacted American law and American life.
Mahjong ������
Shujun (Jasmine) Xiang
Love games? Want to learn what it means to stop Chi with Peng? Want to enter a world subculture of enthusiasts? Then the fun game of Mahjong is for you!
This course will unlock the strategies of one of the greatest games in the world:
1 You will develop the teamwork needed to reach the goal of everyone winning
2 You will develop the math, long-term and short-term memory, and introductory Chinese counting and speaking needed to master the game (No need to speak or learn Chinese!)
3 You will develop the ability to take risks and read minds
4 We will also engage in swordplay so that we’re not sitting all the time!
Mahjong is a tile-based game that originated in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world It has become so popular because it integrates so many skills and exciting game play into one event Mahjong is unpredictable and surprising, and commonly played by four players with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols We will learn to recognize the tiles, learn the basic rules of playing Mahjong, and then learn to become formidable Mahjong players, all on Branson’s beautiful, cool, automatic Mahjong tables!
Mindfulness, Meditation, and Movement
Arthur Lee, Paul McCarthy
Develop a deeper sense of awareness, introspection, curiosity, and openness through the millennia-old practices of meditation, mindfulness and yoga Students will learn foundational meditation techniques – breathwork, noting, body scans, visualization, skillful compassion, yoga, martial art, and more – while delving into the historical, scientific, and social underpinnings of the practice No, meditation is not sitting on a cushion in perfect silence to find inner peace ( though that doesn’t sound half bad)! This course will be expansive in practice as we learn directly from local and global experts regarding their distinctive methods Envision yourself adventuring to magnificent meditation centers, training in Yoga and Qigong, fostering connective time with the natural world, and cultivating self-reflection without judgment. By the end of the immersive, students will be equipped with culturally conscious and scientifically backed mindfulness techniques to become more present in our world.
Outdoor Leadership in the Birthplace of the Mountain Bike
Tony Pound, Evan Schnair
Explore the trail networks in the birthplace of mountain biking, and learn outdoor leadership skills that you can apply to your everyday life Mountain biking is a way to access the inaccessible While we explore the trail networks that gave rise to the popular sport of mountain biking, we will also learn outdoor leadership skills – communication, leave no trace, competence, safety and risk management, influence, and goal setting Join us to tune-up your leadership skills while navigating the trails This immersive is open to all levels of cycling experience
Puzzlepalooza
Whitney Livermore, Denisse Melgar, Dave Reiter
Whether you are an experienced puzzler or a puzzling newbie, if you would like to dive into puzzlecraft, this immersive is for you! We will learn about and solve all types of puzzles, including word puzzles, logic puzzles, physical puzzles, video game puzzles, riddles, and more We will learn about the history of puzzles in different cultures, with examples from film and literature. And we will make our own puzzles that will entertain and confound our friends and classmates. Outings will include an Escape Room, a San Francisco Treasure Hunt, and Geocaching. Josh Wardle sold Wordle for $3 million...how much will your puzzle go for?
A River Runs Through It: Learning to Fly Fish
Ashton
Richards, Rich Mazzola (Guest Teacher)
"Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
– Henry David Thoreau
For this course, you might have the good fortune of reeling in a big, beautiful rainbow trout, but that won't be our goal. You will learn how to fly fish, and, more importantly, you'll gain a deep appreciation for why people fly fish. You'll learn the fundamentals of this pastime, with attention to topics such as equipment, knot tying, and casting You'll also explore its history, the environmental factors that nurture it, and its appearance in literature and film Most importantly, you won't just study the art of fly fishing, you'll practice it You'll gain a hands-on appreciation for the artistry of the sport by tying your own flies, practicing various forms of casting (on campus and at local ponds), and taking an overnight trip to the beautiful California wilderness where you can cast a fly you made from scratch out onto the water, hoping it presents so well that a fish below can't resist it And if you have no luck, no worries; we'll also learn the art of telling tall fishing tales
Roll for Initiative: How to Play D&D
Todd Bickel, Henri de Marcellus, Doug Wick
Ever dreamed of wielding magic, slaying monsters, and shaping the fate of the world with your friends? This immersive adventure dives headfirst into the thrilling realm of Role-Playing Games (RPGs), specifically Dungeons & Dragons Here, your imagination is the ultimate weapon We'll break down the core elements of RPGs and unleash your inner storyteller Learn to improvise
witty dialogue as a courageous knight, craft cunning spells as a sly sorceress, or even mastermind intricate plots as the enigmatic Game Master (GM)
Forget stereotypes; RPGs celebrate diversity and foster inclusivity These games are about stepping into new shoes, embracing different perspectives, and forging unforgettable memories with your fellow adventurers – not to mention the creativity and teamwork required to invent strange new worlds, author bizarre and compelling adventures, confront fiendish foes, and escape tricky traps! So, grab your dice are you ready to roll for initiative?
The Romantics
Elizabeth Bejarano
Beauty. Terror. Wilderness. Debauchery. Ghosts. Anarchy. Revolution…Romance!
We’ll plunge into the fathomless depths and drama of the British Romantics, from Blake to Keats, and Mary to Mary (Wollstonecraft to Shelley) If you don’t think you know who these people are, actually, you do You’ve heard of Frankenstein (Romantic); you may have heard, “The child is the father of the man” (Romantic); you’ve seen the meme of the guy staring off into the fog-capped mountains (Romantic); and, um, the old Branson School motto was apparently “Beauty is truth, truth beauty” (Romantic). These ideas – that children are clear-eyed, that man makes monsters, that one must scale a mountain only to submit to the sky, and that you can’t separate reality from appearance – all swirl in a turn-of-the-nineteenth-century cauldron we call Romanticism. The aim of this movement? To cast off the shackles of artifice, face wild nature, and reckon with “things as they are.” In this immersive, we’ll reckon with the body of Romantic literature in English, and then we’ll try out Romantic methods of truth-seeking, or at least the ones appropriate for high school These include: strolling in nature and taking notes about what we see, telling ghost stories, and talking smack about the grand institutional forces that work to calcify our spirit Together we’ll read some poetry, philosophy, and stories, look at pictures, and consider the lilies
Service Animals and Training Guide Dog Puppies
Heather Duncan, Annie Morris
This course explores the role of service animals by learning about various organizations and how they support individuals with diverse needs During the first week, we’ll visit the Dogs for Diabetics campus (East Bay) and Canine Companions (Santa Rosa) Guest speakers, including trainers and service dog users, will also share their expertise The course focuses primarily on Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) and the comprehensive training their puppies receive You’ll
gain hands-on experience with puppies and visit the GDB campus in San Rafael, with the option to attend a graduation ceremony where guide dogs are matched with their handlers The course culminates in an outing to socialize puppies in new environments Completion qualifies you to puppy-sit or raise a GDB puppy
The Sociology of Housing: “Tiny House” Building and Why They’re Necessary
Eric Oldmixon, Hilary Schmitt
Want to dive into the work of constructing a “tiny” house? Curious about architecture, engineering, and the design/build process? Building codes and housing policy? Ever wonder why California is 3 5 million homes behind the need? Join us in finding the answers as you help complete the construction of two tiny homes Along the way, we will explore the many various professions and public careers that play vital roles in shaping the scope of Bay Area housing. Each day will include both hands-on building with a team as well as discussion, expert insights, and project-based research on the complex history of housing in America, and the Bay Area in particular.
Tarot as a Tool of Insight: Exploring the Outer Reaches of Inner Space
Allyson Seal
Are you curious about Tarot and other creative tools for reflection? The cards of the Tarot invite you into a journey of self-exploration and curiosity For this immersive, envision yourself exploring modes of self-expression in vibrant practices that excite you You will learn directly from guest tarot readers, collage your own tarot cards, and learn about the fascinating history behind these special cards. This is a two-week deep dive into creativity, self-inquiry, and exploration. We will investigate historical tools of knowledge, sharing, and creation based on lineage and invite you to do the same, asking how trusting your intuition can be revolutionary and how this trust may subtly question, undermine, or even dismantle what dominant culture values.
Taste of Italy: A Culinary and Cultural Journey Through Eight Regions
Donatella D’Aguanno, Gisella Petrone
This class invites students on a two-week exploration of Italy’s rich heritage You will delve into the unique flavors and traditions of eight Italian regions, uncovering the stories behind iconic dishes like Neapolitan pizza and Sicilian cannoli Through cultural discussions and engaging
activities, students will gain insight into regional ingredients, historical influences, and local customs The course will culminate in the creation of a personalized travel guide that incorporates each student’s insights and discoveries, serving as a toolkit for future explorations of Italy Additionally, students will have the opportunity to attend a special visit to the Italian Consulate in San Francisco, where they will gain insights into modern Italian culture and diplomacy The class will enjoy a delicious lunch in North Beach, San Francisco's Italian neighborhood This immersive course aims to create interest in Italian art, music, and history, offering a dynamic way to experience Italy’s vibrant culture Perfect for curious learners, this journey promises to be a feast for both the mind and the palate
The “Ultimate” Immersive
Carl Ma, Drew Mathieson
Ultimate frisbee, with elements of soccer and football, is one of the fastest growing sports in the US In this immersive, you will develop skills including throwing, catching, and cutting You will also gain an understanding of strategic and cultural elements of the sport, including understanding the rules and the Spirit of the Game Highlights may include clinics run by current elite players; talks by coaches and executives from professional teams; attending a professional game; learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport; and, most importantly, spending time on the turf learning a sport you can play for a lifetime.
Unravel Your Family's Story – An Introduction to Genealogy
Arturo Acevedo, Marisha Rodriguez
Have you ever wondered about your family's history? Are you curious to know where your ancestors came from and what their lives were like? Join us on a journey of discovery as we delve into the fascinating world of genealogy. In this course, you will:
● Uncover your roots: Use powerful online tools to trace your family tree and connect with long-lost relatives.
● Learn from the experts: Watch episodes of "Finding Your Roots" and gain insights from renowned genealogists.
● Challenge the past: Explore the complex history of family and identity, questioning traditional narratives and embracing diversity
Whether you're a seasoned genealogist or just starting your family history journey, this course is for you Let's uncover your story together!
What If We Get It Right? A Climate Change Immersive
Gillian Kneass, Maddie Lesser, Karl Schmidt
When we talk about climate change, it’s often all doom and gloom – but, as Ayana Elizabeth Johnson asks in her recent book: what if we get it right?? In this immersive, we aim to combat climate-doomerism by imagining a world that responds thoughtfully and beautifully to climate change. We’ll learn about climate solutions in various fields – agriculture, architecture, finance, and media, among others – and take field trips to Bay Area organizations that are combating climate change in inspiring and fascinating ways. In the final week of our immersive, we will take a backpacking trip to either the Emigrant Wilderness or Point Reyes National Seashore.
Throughout the whole immersive, we’ll try on adopting climate friendly practices (like trying to be as close to zero waste as possible; or gorging on sustainable, local oysters), and generally reveling in the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Join us to spend two joyful, exciting weeks learning about an extremely important issue!
Woodworking
Talia
Di Manno, Gayatri Ramesh
Do you want to learn how to use tools and build with wood? We will take a practical and creative approach to woodworking/ basic carpentry in this immersive. You will select and execute creative projects from a number of options including: coat rack, garden table, cutting board, cabinet, tablet or phone holder, candle holder, media box, and bird feeder In the process, you will learn how to safely use power tools (saws, drills, etc ) and handheld tools, utilize design technologies, select materials, and apply finishing touches (stains, protective finishes or glosses)
The World of Money: Understanding, Managing, and Investing
David Hanson
This immersive will introduce you to basic financial principles including time value of money, interest, and discount rates, as well as basic financial practices for loans, credit cards, and mortgages. The class will include real-world assignments and examples and a focus on long-term financial planning and investing. The class will also include a fun team competition to generate revenue called “The $5 Challenge ” For those who take and complete this immersive, Branson will help you establish an individual Retirement Account (IRA) and fund the first $250 for that account The class will also include guest speakers and guest teachers
Thank you and congratulations to the many Branson faculty and staff members bringing these classes to life.