A Glimpse Into Future Pathways
Rio Dell Elementary School District’s eighth graders stepped into their futures this week with an inspiring visit to College of the Redwoods—a day designed to spark curiosity, expand horizons, and help students see themselves as future scholars, creators, and community builders.
Supported by California’s Community School Implementation Grant, the visit offered a window into the rich college- and career-readiness opportunities available right here on the North Coast. Students were welcomed onto the beautiful, forest-edged campus, where towering redwoods and open green spaces offered a sense of possibility as they set out to explore.
The tour carried them through a variety of learning spaces: classroom buildings buzzing with activity, the impressive auto shop where students hone real-world mechanical skills, and the trail-building program, where CR students and instructors led Rio Dell’s eighth graders along a path currently being restored through hands-on stewardship (see picture below). The day wrapped up in the welding shop, where sparks of creativity fly daily as students learn the craft and precision of metalwork.
This immersive experience helped our eighth graders see that education is not a distant concept—it lives in the workshops, trails, classrooms, and community partnerships all around them. By connecting students early to local training programs and future career pathways, we help strengthen a more resilient, skilled, and sustainable future for our community.
Rio Dell Elementary School District extends deep gratitude to College of the Redwoods and to our Community School partners for helping us open doors, build confidence, and plant seeds of opportunity for every student.