Upper School Intersession 2025

Live Action Role Playing (LARP), players pretend to be someone else, living in a different time or place, and acting out events that might happen in that world. Many of these games involve battles, and so LARPers use safe, padded props that look like weapons to act out the combat. Unlike in a play where everyone has certain lines to say and the story is set, in LARP, the players each act out a certain person and make their own decisions for that person as the game evolves. Live Action Role Playing is a tremendous teaching tool and capable of dynamic, physically driven learning that transcends the usual boundaries of standard education. Due to the interactive, dramatic, hands on methods used in LARP, teaching is often effortless and fun. This class begins with basic battle training and rules of combat, followed by character creation and entry into the game world of Roekron, a game world continuously run for over two decades in the Bay Area and which currently has leagues all across the region with weekly and monthly meetups. Students will have a character at the end of this class that can be taken and used in any of the other Roekron League events they choose and may continue their story at future events if they wish.

Topics Covered:
- First Five Battle Rules
- Equipment Sets and Weapons
- Armor System of AV
- Basic Spell and Skill Types
- Overview of the Classes
- Character Species
- Character Backstory
- Alignments
- Flow of Events
- Playing a Monster or NPC
- Quests and Role Playing
- Magical Items and Money Cards
- Completing a Mission
- Transfer of Characters to other leagues

Check out these videos to get a sense of what we'll be doing!
Intro (2min)
The Regulars LARPing (SF Chronicle)- 
https://youtu.be/YdnqN-TcBq4

Core Rules-(13min)
The First Five Rules- 
https://youtu.be/K7PVm6rw2H8
Armor Zones- (3min)
https://youtu.be/N67hPOenaHU
Color Tags- (5min)
https://youtu.be/XIbgvo-5nnA

-Bonus Material-
TEDx Talk on LARPing with Kids and Teens- (10min)
https://youtu.be/L6xl-qYRHco

Sebastopol Times Article 2024
(10min read)

Students will learn the techniques of screen printing including screen preparation, using a manual printing press, printing a single color. Students will take their completed T-shirts home as well as their screens. Students will need to have an image ready in advance of class; image specifications to be provided.

Students will learn the fundamentals of stained glass to create a small stained glass suncatcher. In this all-day intensive, students will learn how to:
- use glass cutting tools and glass grinders
- cut specific shapes out of art glass
- choose from a dozen design templates
- choose from a large assortment of colorful art glass
- cut each shape to the pattern
- copper foil each piece
- solder pieces together to complete pattern

Please note, students will be cutting glass and creating lots of shards. Also, they will be using hot soldering irons. Safety protocols will be addressed at the start of class. Safety goggles, bandaids and gloves will be provided. Please note: we will be using leaded solder (tin 60%, lead 40%) and chemicals such are flux and patina.

Students will take home their project at end of seminar.

MIG (metal inert gas) Welding: Get a hands-on crash course in what welding is, how and when to use it, and what you can do with it. Students will learn to cut, prepare, and weld metal autonomously, and will work together to create shop infrastructure to improve the space.

Students will be provided a one-hour orientation tour, and then will help with Farm Chores, Animal Socialization, and general AAH Smile Farm projects including some maintenance of the AAH Smile Farm. Student Volunteers should register in advance on the AAH website: https://www.animalassistedhappiness.org/youth-individual. Animal Assisted Happiness Smile Farm is located at Baylands Park, 999 E Caribbean Drive, Closed toed shoes are required while volunteering. It is recommended that volunteers where long pants and long sleeves; dress in layers for the weather.

This visit will count toward the volunteer orientation and qualify volunteers to help with future AAH Smile Farm visits serving youth with needs and Vocational Education programs.

Students will learn the techniques of screen printing including screen preparation, using a manual printing press, printing a single color. Students will take their completed T-shirts home as well as their screens. Students will need to have an image ready in advance of class; image specifications to be provided.

In this 5 hour intensive, you'll walk away with a solid grasp of the knowledge you need to make jewelry! You'll get lots of practice soldering, shaping, and polishing metal to create little pieces of wearable art!

No experience whatsoever is necessary, but come with some idea of what you want to make, closed-toed shoes, and no flowy sleeves! Or, if you DO have experience from a past Jewelry Intersession or a WoW Workshop, you'll have the freedom to explore techniques you already know, get instruction on anything more advanced, or ask for advice on anything you're working on!

Interested in a shorter, less in-depth course where we'll just cover some basics? Check out the 2.5 hour Intro version of this class!

Students will learn the fundamentals of stained glass to create a small stained glass suncatcher. In this all-day intensive, students will learn how to:
- use glass cutting tools and glass grinders
- cut specific shapes out of art glass
- choose from a dozen design templates
- choose from a large assortment of colorful art glass
- cut each shape to the pattern
- copper foil each piece
- solder pieces together to complete pattern

Please note, students will be cutting glass and creating lots of shards. Also, they will be using hot soldering irons. Safety protocols will be addressed at the start of class. Safety goggles, bandaids and gloves will be provided. Please note: we will be using leaded solder (tin 60%, lead 40%) and chemicals such are flux and patina.

Students will take home their project at end of seminar.

MIG (metal inert gas) Welding: Get a hands-on crash course in what welding is, how and when to use it, and what you can do with it. Students will learn to cut, prepare, and weld metal autonomously, and will work together to create shop infrastructure to improve the space.

You will make a (very) short film in one day. You will come into the session with an idea for a (very) short film. You will learn about the type of shots and framing to tell your story. You will storyboard your film, including thinking about camera placement. You will cover the basics of directing actors. Then, you will shoot your film and come back in the afternoon to edit your film into the final form - including using music and sound to make your film more impactful.

TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas): So you've melted some metal. Now learn the process that took us to outer space! TIG is welding on exotic metals and specialized applications: bicycles, rockets, and racecars — oh my! Get your intro to TIG, with hands-on practice and applied knowledge to begin your own journey into the science of metal. Safety equipment and course materials will be provided.

Students are introduced to the principles of architectural drawing through studio and on-location sessions as we focus on buildings as subjects and their relationship to environmental features. Our emphasis is technical drawing, including floor plans, elevations, sections, site plans, and details. We will also cover 3D Renderings, such as paraline and traditional perspective drawings as we set up in the park and draw subjects from life.
 
Upon completion, students will be able to represent buildings through drawing in a variety of ways. No prior drawing experience is required. All materials will be provided.

In this full-day stand-up comedy writing workshop, high school students will dive deeper into the art of crafting and performing original comedic material. Throughout the day, students will explore advanced techniques in joke writing, comedic timing, and personal storytelling, while developing their unique comedic voice. The morning will focus on brainstorming ideas, understanding different comedy styles, and learning how to turn personal experiences into relatable humor. In the afternoon, students will refine their material through peer feedback, revision, and performance practice. By the end of the day, each participant will have the basis of a stand-up set or comedy sketch ready to perform and the skills to confidently deliver their work in front of an audience.

In this 5 hour intensive, you'll walk away with a solid grasp of the knowledge you need to make jewelry! You'll get lots of practice soldering, shaping, and polishing metal to create little pieces of wearable art!

No experience whatsoever is necessary, but come with some idea of what you want to make, closed-toed shoes, and no flowy sleeves! Or, if you DO have experience from a past Jewelry Intersession or a WoW Workshop, you'll have the freedom to explore techniques you already know, get instruction on anything more advanced, or ask for advice on anything you're working on!

Interested in a shorter, less in-depth course where we'll just cover some basics? Check out the 2.5 hour Intro version of this class!

Dive into the vibrant world of mixed-media printmaking in this immersive full-day workshop. Students will explore the techniques of monoprinting and relief printing, releasing their creativity through hands-on art making.

The class begins with an introduction to monoprinting with gel plates, where students will create unique, one-of-a-kind prints. They'll experiment with layering, texturing, and incorporating natural elements like botanicals, discovering how to develop their own artistic styles.

Next, students will delve into block printing, learning how to carve designs into rubber blocks and produce multiple prints. From carving techniques to ink application and printing methods, students will bring their designs to life on both paper and fabric.

Throughout the day, we'll also explore historical and contemporary examples of printmaking, deepening students’ understanding of the art form’s cultural significance. With demonstrations, creative discussions, and a supportive learning environment, this workshop offers the perfect opportunity for students to explore their creativity and express their unique artistic voices.

TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas): So you've melted some metal. Now learn the process that took us to outer space! TIG is welding on exotic metals and specialized applications: bicycles, rockets, and racecars — oh my! Get your intro to TIG, with hands-on practice and applied knowledge to begin your own journey into the science of metal. Safety equipment and course materials will be provided.