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BY NIGEL SKEET
A New Way To School C A L I FO R N I A A DV E N T U R E AC A D E M Y WHAT DO YOU DO when you feel the public school system may not be the best choice for your child in this new age? What if you want to take back some control of what your children are learning, and have a say in the matter of how your kids are being taught? And what if you happen to live in a part of California that has incredible outdoor recreation in all directions? You start your own adventure school, of course. Being surrounded by some of the best outdoor adventures in the United States, Redding locals Ryan Spitz and Nigel Skeet decided to blend homeschooling with outdoor adventures and pursue the possibility of the adventure activities merging with curriculum, so kids are in school but might not realize it.
They did a little community outreach to see if there would be any interest from other parents and lo and behold, there were many. At the same time, they sought out expert advice from former school superintendent Bryan Caples, the leadership at Simpson University and Providence International. All input was positive, and within a few weeks, California Adventure Academy was born. They partnered with Kevin Crye of Ninja Coalition in Redding and turned the top floor of the Ninja Coalition gym into the California Adventure Academy headquarters and learning center. To have the “school� be inside the Ninja gym lends itself to the notion of the kids being in school but not knowing it.4 continued on page 64
EXPERIENCE OCTOBER 2020
www.EnjoyMagazine.com
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