MAP class to explore San Francisco

Instructions, a map, money and wits. These are the only items that the juniors of the Media Arts Program will take with them on their “Amazing Race” trip to San Francisco on April 1.

The trip, modeled after the popular reality show, is planned as a bonding, academic and sightseeing scavenger hunt. Six groups of students will be given a set of clues with different tasks that are worth different amounts of points. The students then will have to race to finish
the most tasks and receive the most points on each assignment.

This is the second year of the field trip. Last year participant senior Alex Chan enjoyed the experience.

“It was really fun, and we got to walk around the entire city of San Francisco,” said Chan.

Tasks on the list include visiting churches and riding the trolley.

While fun is a huge part of this trip, the MAP students are able to relate the trip to their current studies of the 1960s, said MAP teacher Kerry Mohnike.

“We are learning about [San Francisco] and its background and its role in 1960s, as well as other important things such as communities that make up the city,” Mohnike said. “[The MAP teachers] want to give the students a local sense of history.”

This trip is planned for a total of 36 juniors and six chaperones.

“We’re all really excited. Last year, people came back and told us it was really fun,” junior Jocelyn Takahashi said. “Even the teachers said that it was really fun. They also said that they’re going to improve it and make it better and greater.”

As the teams explore San Francisco, students and teachers will get an opportunity to create valuable bonds between each other.

“That was definitely the biggest benefit. You really get to bond with the students in your group and the teacher that comes with us,” Chan said. “It’s also nice to see all of San Francisco. When you go with family, you don’t do much—you eat and shop around. But on this trip, you get to see all the attractions of San Francisco.”