Nurturing an Open Mind: The 2025 Cascades Program in the Upper School

“The 2025 Cascades were an embodiment of our founder’s philosophy that students ‘learn best by doing,’” shared Sarah Smith, Assistant Head of Academics. “Our in-town programs, grounded in a project-based learning approach, gave students the opportunity to collaborate on real tasks with real consequences and outcomes. The creativity and design thinking that resulted is on display across this campus, and it is deeply inspiring to see what a small group of students and faculty can accomplish in a short period of time.”

This year’s Cascades offered Seattle-Based, Overnight, and Leadership and Wilderness courses focused on group collaboration, life skills, hands-on activities, and more. Upper School students selected and ranked their favorite Cascades, some of which were Seattle-based and provided meaningful exchanges with people, places, and organizations within the community. Each Cascade becomes part of the student’s academic portfolio, highlighting their areas of interest, skills they developed, and curricular focus.

“I chose this Cascade because I thought it would be cool to learn about the biology of monsters and how it makes them scary,” shared Upper School student Will W., ’27, regarding the Monsters: Fact or Fiction Cascade. “I especially liked going to the aquarium because we saw lots of different marine life.”

This year, various unique Cascades were introduced, such as Monsters: Fact or Fiction, a STEM-focused Cascade created by Upper School faculty Cecile Meister and Molly Olguín, fusing biology, creative writing, and science.  Each offering listed in the Cascades Program was designed to encourage students to expand their usual interests and make new connections.

"I've had a lot of classes with Ceclie, and I planned to go on a travel trip initially, but because of sports, I decided to take another biology class," shared Cooper W., ’25, regarding Monsters: Fact or Fiction."I loved the aquarium visit. They have this new part across the street that I saw before this Cascade, and it's really cool."

In addition to local STEM-based courses, students were also involved in Media, Visual, and Performance Art Cascades such as The Mindful Naturalist, Art in Motion: Interactive Installations, Scoring the Film: The Art and Process of Composing a Film Score, For the Love of Books, and others. 

“Mindful Naturalist students designed a “Playful Pathway"—a series of stations marked by painted stones around campus for the surrounding community to enjoy,” shared Ali Stewart-Ito, Upper School Health and Wellness Faculty. “Each station invites participants to engage in activities that promote mindfulness, connection, and play.” 

Students learned how best to respond in an emergency, start a business, lead a group, and gain a new life skill in one of the three essential Certification, Business, and Vocational training Cascades: Wilderness First Responder Course, Shark Tank, Blazer Style: Entrepreneurs’ Boot Camp, and the Internship Program. These future-focused courses encouraged students to think independently and build key leadership, planning, and communication skills. 

“I was a co-leader of the Shark Tank Cascade, and they had to produce a business plan which was viewed by a panel of judges,” shared Upper School Dean of Students Sara Fischer. “Seeing the students hold themselves accountable and take full responsibility for these projects was very motivating.”

Through Bush’s exceptional Cascades program, Upper School students immersed themselves in the language, culture, and history of Taiwan, Georgia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Guatemala, and Kenya. During these international overnight Cascades, students learned the importance of cultural and historical preservation, geopolitics, and cultivating community. 

“Students pushed beyond their comfort zones, developed new leadership skills, bonded with one another and their host families, and the overall learning and takeaways surpassed expectations,” Sarah S. said. “From Indonesia to Guatemala, from Georgia to the Sonoran Desert, and everywhere in between, students “experienced education” at its fullest potential and are returning to the Bush School with a wider perspective on the world as well as renewed motivation to invest in and strengthen the community here.”

Each group that traveled internationally posted their thoughts and adventures on interactive blogs, inviting perspectives and bringing back what they learned to the Bush community. 

“This trip was amazing because I learned and experienced a new way of living life,” Trianna L., ’26, shared about Indonesia: Art, Identity, and Justice. “I loved seeing all the different views and sights, and it will forever be in my memories. I liked the different perspective that was brought to me and will take certain experiences with me onward.”

On Friday, January 25, Upper School students shared what they cultivated during their Cascades in a reflective Exhibition of Learning. Those who participated in the Cascades Internship Program presented their experiences at stations in the Multi-Purpose Room. Kinetic Art students showed off their circuit boards, servos, cat homes, ball machines, and helmets with heads-up displays, and in Biomimicry, a group designed insulation out of seaweed inspired by the fur of otters.

“I was drawn to the artistic aspect of this Cascade,” said Ilona H., ’28, regarding Kinetic Art. “I was new to the coding and mechanical aspects, so it was difficult to understand at first, but once we got into the hands-on projects, I eventually got the hang of it.”

    

The success of this year’s Cascades was due to the commitment, drive, and dedication of Bush’s stellar faculty and staff, who displayed their prowess as educators and subject matter experts. Several faculty members were responsible for the seamless execution of the Cascades, including Upper School Experiential Education Program Manager Kristin McInaney, who spearheaded the vision for the program from beginning to end.

“We really crushed it this year,” said Sara F. “Faculty dove deep and came up with an amazing curriculum that engaged the students on and off campus. It was such a healthy balance of leaving campus, coming back, reflecting, and sharing.”

Click here to view photos from Cascades 2025.