The Oxbow School | Overnight at Pinnacles National Park

Inside Oxbow

Overnight at Pinnacles National Park

11/08/15

Last week, a small bunch of OS33 spent a couple days away from campus, camping and hiking through Pinnacles National Park with Alex Keilty, our Science instructor, and Megan Broughton, our Residential Life Advisor. Organized by Sarah S and Grace Ann P, the trip was originally planned for Yosemite but when temperatures there rapidly plummeted in the days leading up to our departure, we quickly changed course for Pinnacles. It could not have been a more incredible place to explore together; whether sleeping under the Milky Way, summiting peaks, or descending into the cold caves.

About three hours south of Oxbow, Pinnacles is an otherworldy ancient volcanic field home to towering spires of rock, talus caves, condors, raccoons (the group is now very adept at driving them away), deer, and flocks wild turkey (bless their poor, bizarre souls). With over 30 miles of trails, we certainly had our pick of beauty and ended up hiking for about 15 miles through the chaparral and spires on Friday after a chilly night at the campgrounds with a breathtakingly clear view of the stars.

We're hoping to integrate similar trips into future semesters with help from student and faculty volunteers (and cooperative weather!).

All photos by Grace Ann P and Ellie J:

Advice I would give to future students is to just do it and come to Oxbow and not overthink it because it will most likely (99.9%) be the best decision you have made in your life.

— Malachi Snyder, Spring 2018

In the year leading up to Oxbow, I became obsessed with the program, I was entranced with reading testimonials and researching interdisciplinary learning styles. When I arrived at Oxbow I was never disappointed, despite my endless expectations. I will forever cherish the time I spent at Oxbow and the connections I made there. Through Oxbow I was able to hone into the ideas I was thinking about, to refine my artistic process and to see the world in a new light every day of my life. I'm not going to say that without Oxbow I wouldn't be the person I am today, but I will say that without Oxbow it would have taken me at least four years to become who I am after one Oxbow semester.

— Phoebe Dubisch, Fall 2018

Our daughter graduated summa cum laude from NYU with a double major in Studio Art and Art History. She is now working for Calvin Klein. She is contemplating getting a law degree and pursuing a career repatriating art objects. She still keeps in touch with several of her Oxbow classmates and they have regular reunions in Manhattan... I would say that Oxbow was the best semester that any of my four children spent in their cumulative 16 years of high school. Our daughter was the right kid, and for the right kid you do a wonderful job. You changed her life. Thank you.

— John Powley, Parent

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