Deep Dives: Four Days to Follow Curiosity
What if students got a chance to choose a subject matter and fully commit to it for a full four days?
That’s the idea behind Deep Dives, a completely non-scripted intensive that’s designed to offer students the space and time to explore an interest, lead with curiosity, regardless of where it leads.
Students explored Boise’s history by bike, foraged for fungi, designed products of their choice in The Foundry, learned techniques of jewelry making, engineered giant puppets, experimented with the art of mindfulness, and explored creative writing.
Deep Dives give learners permission to explore a subject in depth, get curious, work with their hands, ask questions, and discover something new along the way.
Boise By Bike
In this deep dive, students will learn about Boise History by Bicycle. We will travel to important buildings and landmarks, interview community members, and do individual research on what has shaped our city into what it is today.
Fungi Foraging
What better way to spend mid-September than foraging for fungi?! We will team up with local mycology experts and take to the local trails and forests. Expect full days outside observing and foraging as well as time behind the microscope.
Industrial Design
Lets explore how products are made in this Deep Dive on Industrial Design. We will work in groups to rapidly bring a functioning product to life, using all the tools available to us in the Foundry.
Jewelry Making
In this deep dive, students will explore the art of jewelry through hands-on projects, collaboration, and guidance from local jewelry makers. Students will learn the basics of designing and creating jewelry while building confidence in their ability to make something from scratch.
This Deep Dive was also taught by One Stone Students, Evangeline and Ava.
GIANT FREAKIN’ PUPPETS
In this deep dive, students will work in groups to make large-scale animal puppets out of recycled or repurposed materials. We’ll pick an inspiring animal, boil that creature down to its essential features, and then blaze through the design and prototyping process. By the end of the week, we’ll have brought to life some giant freakin’ puppets!
The Art of Letting Go: An Experimental Art Journal
“Art is anything you can get away with” - but what if we explored why? In this Deep Dive, you’ll create an experimental art journal that’s part sketchbook, part scrapbook, and part excavation of your own thoughts and ideas. You’ll choose a theme that matters to you: identity, nostalgia, technology, friendships, community, power – whatever feels real in your life. From there you will build pages using unexpected materials and playful techniques. Think ripping, layering, drawing, collaging, scribbling, documenting, and discovering. This experience is not about being “good” at art. Leaning into what feels awkward or imperfect is often where your most interesting ideas take shape. It’s about curiosity, risk taking, and learning to see the world in new ways. We will explore the Boise Art Museum, wander throughout Boise, dig through books and collect textures, collect found objects and stories from daily life; all to use within your sketchbook to reflect your chosen theme.
The Art of Attention
Explore mindfulness and presence through meditation, creative expression, reading, mindful movement, nature, and community outings. Together, we’ll practice slowing down, paying attention, and discovering how deep observation can transform the way we experience everyday life.
