Manzanita School and Institute under the amazing Big Rock at 1717 Old Topanga Canyon Road is opening its doors to the greater community on Saturday, December 1st, for its fifth annual Acorn Festival from 12 – 4pm.
As in years past, this event promises to have a fun, laid-back, community vibe. An event for both adults and kids, Manzanita folks will offer crafts such as making pine-needle baskets, drip-wax candles, acorn art and woodcraft, and Cali Camp volunteers will be on hand with their signature activities such as the zip-line, ropes climb and archery station. Music lovers will get to enjoy an acoustic music jam and sing along around the central hearth with Manzanita parent musicians and singers such as Donna DeLory, Tim O’Gara and Kamakshi Hart.
Get ready to eat well! Manzanita parents and community chefs (Kali Wnuck, Hilary Boynton and Krissy Welch) are preparing a delectable homemade feast of acorn pancakes, vegetarian and meat-lover soups, and gluten-free hot sandwiches and salads. There will also be a bake-sale and hot drinks station loaded with both sinfully sweet options and a healthy, tasty dose of options for those avoiding sugar, gluten or dairy.
As a kindness to the environment, and as a part of the ecoconscious values of the school, it is requested that you bring a ‘mess kit’ of a plate, bowl and utensils for each member of your family. To further support this initiative there will be a $1 charge to use the compostable table service that is available as needed. Bring your own mug and get one hot drink for free!
Now in its fifth year and located under the spectacular “Big Rock” landmark among 21-acres of wild chaparral, Manzanita School and Institute is non-profit co-educational school of 100 students in grades 4-12. Two days of every week are spent entirely outdoors combining academics with a distinctive deep nature connection curriculum.
With its profound environmental focus, daily community-building work in “councils,” and unique interdisciplinary academics, Manzanita provides far more than just excellence in testable standard school skills. It also fosters the qualities of empathy, reverence, commitment to service, vitality, earth stewardship, joyfulness, and quiet awareness in the future leaders of our planet.
For admissions information or to attend an Open House on Sun., Nov. 18th or Dec. 9th from 10a-12p, email Admissions Director, Karen Anderson karen@manzanitaschool.org or call 310-455-9700.
Admittance to Manzanita’s Acorn Festival is free, activities, food and handmade holiday gifts for purchase. Located at 1717 Old Topanga Canyon Road.
By Kamakshi Hart