Field Studies Stays Closer to Home

For the past several years, Overlake 8th graders have capped off their Middle School experience at Overlake with a trek to Wenatchee for Field Studies. 

However, due to the pandemic the past two year's events have been different. Last year's gathering was canceled all together, so organizers this year wanted to be sure to find a way to create a gathering that was safe yet rewarding for the students.

Led by Kent Renno and Joey Pauley, from the Experiential Education department, along with eighth-grade advisors, Field Studies is a bit of a throwback to earlier times in Overlake's history, with students exploring the 73 acres that exist right here on campus. 

While the location may be different, the traditional activities still continue, like making tie-dye shirts in their advisory colors. 

"Tie-dye is one of those activities that in the end is very personal but also very surprising in the end. The students get to think what it's going to look like and then they see it and it's completely different," explains Sara Baquero-Garcia, Chair of the Social Studies department. "I also see tie-dye with the different colors and patterns as a combination of cultures and ideas."

Baquero-Garcia also says it's a nice souvenir for the students to have to remember this time in Middle School and to think of their particular advisory. 

Field Studies is designed to have some reflection time for the students, as well as a time for them to start thinking of the future in Upper School. To help facilitate that transition, a group of Upper Schoolers were guests at Field Studies to talk to the grade, student-to-student, about what to expect next year.

As a student who joined Overlake in the fifth grade, Cody W. has rubbed shoulders with Upper School students on several occasions over the years. He says the mentoring they provide at Field Studies and other campus functions has prepared him for his transition to high school. "Overlake's focus has been so broad because it's so much more than just classes and homework. Hearing about that from older students is so much more relatable," says Cody who also works as a member of Overlake's Theater Department. "There are so many more offerings with electives and extracurricular activities with an independent schedule. Moving forward, I feel a lot more prepared in making those choices."

Click here to see our photo gallery of the Class of 2025 Field Studies.