This summer, Ridgeview will be adding a new class to its summer school list, Geology. Prior to covid, the school did offer the class but chose to remove it after. This class is one of the few summer school classes that offers college credits as it is a dual enrollment class through Cal State University, of Bakersfield.
The class will be taught by Geology teacher Camille Valadez, who has been a teacher for 9 years. When asked why students should take summer school Geology, she replied, “If you enjoy outdoors and going camping, it’s definitely a better class than the year-round one. But also I really like it because there are so many students that have never been away from their parents and they don’t know how to set up a tent and don’t know how to cook. They are not just learning about Geology but learning life skills and working with each other, communication, collaboration, and all those things.”
The class consists of four weeks of instruction and two weeks of camping. Valadez states, “We get to do cool things like go to the coast and kayak, check out coastal processes, and we do UC campus tours cause they are all incoming seniors…. We also go to Mammoth and check out other cool geological places like hot springs and Mono Lake, and beautiful waterfalls. So it’s a much more field-immersive Geology class. ”
Junior, Shayla Mata, is planning on taking Geology over the summer. Mata decided to take Geology over the summer to get ahead on college credits. Mata states, “Some of the pros of taking it over the summer is that I won’t have to take it during the semester, it’s only four weeks, two weeks of camping.” While taking the class over the summer frees up some space during the year, Mata stresses, “It might take up time because of other duties and summer school classes.”
Another student planning on taking Geology over the summer is Junior, Jared Gonzalez. When asked about why he chose to take Geology over the summer, he states, “I decided to enroll not only to get ahead but to participate in an engaging experience that isn’t offered often!” With many students having impacted schedules and the removal of concurrent enrollment, students are struggling to find ways to free up their schedules and earn college credits. Gonzalez states, “Not only do I gain college credit, but I’m also able to get hands-on experience and learning all while enjoying time with those I know.” Many incoming seniors who are being impacted by concurrent enrollment are having to find other ways to earn college credits, such as taking Dual Enrolled Geology
