Upper School Intersession 2025

There is an entire world of biodiversity that is hidden in all types of environments, including at The Nueva School! This is the world of lichens, which are frequently overlooked due to their small size. Lichens are unique composite organisms that appear and function as one organism, but are actually made up of multiple species of fungi, algae, and bacteria. Lichens play important roles in their ecosystems, including support for wildlife. Scientists study lichens for many reasons, including that they are bioindicators of air pollution and have antibacterial/antifungal properties.

We will take a hands-on approach to learning about lichens. The goals of this intersession are to:
- Learn what a lichen is
- Recognize lichens in the wild
- Identify some locally occurring lichens

This intersession will take place outside and in the lab. We will closely observe lichens in their natural environments on The Nueva School property. We will also work in a lab in order to catalyze chemical reactions using lichens, which is an important component of lichen identification. We will learn basic use of dichotomous keys for lichens so that when students leave the intersession, they have foundational tools and knowledge to continue identifying lichens they encounter.

Join us for a look at the art, science, and technology behind pinball. In this session we’ll look at the evolution of pinball, from the early mechanical games to today’s technological marvels. Learn how artists, designers, and engineers collaborate to create a game, and what pinball can tell us about history and culture.

We’ll spend half of this session examining a pinball machine and its components, discussing why pinball was illegal in many states, and how changes in technology and culture can be observed in the design of a pinball machine. In the other half of the session, we’ll be playing pinball machines from different eras to see how the game has changed over time. We’ll also cover some basic pinball strategies you can use to improve your skills!

Biomimicry is the conscious emulation of Life’s genius. It is a design and innovation discipline that brings together science, engineering, design and business. Organizations and change agents around the world learn from nature at multiple scales: products, packaging and materials, processes, and systems like cities. Join this session to learn about biomimicry and "Life’s Principles" — nature’s overarching strategies for good design — and start using them. The session will include a presentation and a team exercise. Teams will apply Life’s Principles to address specific challenges.

Insect evolution offers a wealth of inspiration for human innovations. Learn how the remarkable adaptations of insects and other arthropods are influencing people in fields like medicine, engineering, and architecture. Led by Beetlelady, Dr. Stephanie Dole, this class will be an engaging tour of the amazing solutions nature has come up with and how humans can learn from them. This class will also include hands-on time with live bugs.

Why are humans remains important in archaeology? How can we use the bodies of ancient people to tell us more about their lives - and how can looking at living people today help us understand the way we used to live before technologies like computers and plastic?

There is an entire world of biodiversity that is hidden in all types of environments, including at The Nueva School! This is the world of lichens, which are frequently overlooked due to their small size. Lichens are unique composite organisms that appear and function as one organism, but are actually made up of multiple species of fungi, algae, and bacteria. Lichens play important roles in their ecosystems, including support for wildlife. Scientists study lichens for many reasons, including that they are bioindicators of air pollution and have antibacterial/antifungal properties.

We will take a hands-on approach to learning about lichens. The goals of this intersession are to:
- Learn what a lichen is
- Recognize lichens in the wild
- Identify some locally occurring lichens

This intersession will take place outside and in the lab. We will closely observe lichens in their natural environments on The Nueva School property. We will also work in a lab in order to catalyze chemical reactions using lichens, which is an important component of lichen identification. We will learn basic use of dichotomous keys for lichens so that when students leave the intersession, they have foundational tools and knowledge to continue identifying lichens they encounter.

Join us for a look at the art, science, and technology behind pinball. In this session we’ll look at the evolution of pinball, from the early mechanical games to today’s technological marvels. Learn how artists, designers, and engineers collaborate to create a game, and what pinball can tell us about history and culture.

We’ll spend half of this session examining a pinball machine and its components, discussing why pinball was illegal in many states, and how changes in technology and culture can be observed in the design of a pinball machine. In the other half of the session, we’ll be playing pinball machines from different eras to see how the game has changed over time. We’ll also cover some basic pinball strategies you can use to improve your skills!

Black holes are some of the most extreme objects in the universe. They push the boundaries of our knowledge and hold many unsolved mysteries. Come learn about black holes from "small" to enormous, how we detect them, and explore the frontiers of astrophysics!

Join us for a look at the art, science, and technology behind pinball. In this session we’ll look at the evolution of pinball, from the early mechanical games to today’s technological marvels. Learn how artists, designers, and engineers collaborate to create a game, and what pinball can tell us about history and culture.

We’ll spend half of this session examining a pinball machine and its components, discussing why pinball was illegal in many states, and how changes in technology and culture can be observed in the design of a pinball machine. In the other half of the session, we’ll be playing pinball machines from different eras to see how the game has changed over time. We’ll also cover some basic pinball strategies you can use to improve your skills!

Black holes are some of the most extreme objects in the universe. They push the boundaries of our knowledge and hold many unsolved mysteries. Come learn about black holes from "small" to enormous, how we detect them, and explore the frontiers of astrophysics!

Join us for a look at the art, science, and technology behind pinball. In this session we’ll look at the evolution of pinball, from the early mechanical games to today’s technological marvels. Learn how artists, designers, and engineers collaborate to create a game, and what pinball can tell us about history and culture.

We’ll spend half of this session examining a pinball machine and its components, discussing why pinball was illegal in many states, and how changes in technology and culture can be observed in the design of a pinball machine. In the other half of the session, we’ll be playing pinball machines from different eras to see how the game has changed over time. We’ll also cover some basic pinball strategies you can use to improve your skills!