Every spring, Stevenson students step away from traditional classroom settings to dive deep into hands-on learning experiences that connect them to the world beyond campus. X-Term, our signature two-week immersive program, transforms education into adventure, allowing students to pursue passions, develop new skills and discover unexpected interests.
This May, students will choose from almost 30 diverse courses spanning the arts, sciences, outdoor education and cultural exploration. Whether building a wooden canoe by hand, earning SCUBA certification in Monterey Bay, or exploring California’s complicated history along Highway 395, each course emphasizes experiential learning rooted in place and purpose.
What Makes X-Term Different
X-Term isn’t just another elective. It’s an immersive experience where students spend entire days focused on a single course, allowing for depth and continuity impossible during the regular school schedule. Faculty design courses that cross disciplinary lines – science merges with history, art connects with ecology, engineering joins with entrepreneurship.
“X-Term is rooted in the belief that deep learning happens when students step beyond the boundaries of traditional classroom structures,” said Dean of Co-Curricular Education, Erik Olson. “For two weeks, students and teachers work side-by-side to explore a shared topic of genuine curiosity. It cultivates curiosity, resilience, and perspective.”
This Year’s Offerings
The 2026 catalog represents Stevenson’s most diverse and ambitious set of offerings yet.
Students will find expeditions into iconic landscapes like Yosemite and Mount Shasta, STEM-forward opportunities including Formula 1 racing and escape room design, courses rooted in California’s history and ecology, creative explorations from plein-air painting to songwriting, and deeply reflective programs like the Tassajara Zen Buddhist Mountain Retreat.
Several new courses stand out this year. Students can craft a strip-built cedar canoe from raw materials to final launch, build an electric go-kart while exploring the science of Formula 1 racing at Laguna Seca Raceway, or design an original escape room inspired by Monterey Bay ecosystems. Others will explore ethical travel, moving through the world with intention and mindfulness.
Many courses include authentic community engagement, field research, or partnerships with local organizations, reinforcing Stevenson’s belief that California’s Central Coast is an extraordinary extension of the classroom.
A Progression of Experiences
X-Term is intentionally structured to offer age-appropriate challenges. Grade 9 students begin with experiences closer to home that build foundations for future exploration. Grade 10 students participate in courses that leave campus more regularly. Grade 11 students typically enroll in the most immersive and adventurous off-campus experiences.
“Every course, regardless of grade level or location, has been designed to be meaningful and transformative,” Olson noted. “Across their three years in the Upper Division, students engage in a range of experiences that deepen curiosity, strengthen interdisciplinary thinking, and expand their sense of what learning can be.”
Registration Opens Soon
X-Term 2026 runs May 26 through June 4, concluding with a community showcase. Registration opens by grade level starting January 23 for Grade 11, January 29 for Grade 10, and February 6 for Grade 9.
Behind the scenes, faculty have spent months refining courses, strengthening safety plans, and developing hands-on learning activities. During December’s in-service, teaching teams finalized descriptions, confirmed logistics, and worked collaboratively to ensure each experience reflects the best of Stevenson’s academic, creative, and outdoor learning values.
Lasting Impact
Students consistently describe X-Term as one of the most memorable parts of their Stevenson journey. The experience builds confidence and independence, deepens connections with peers and teachers, broadens perspectives, and helps students discover new interests and passions.
“Many students describe at least one X-Term experience as ‘unforgettable’ or ‘transformative,'” said Olson. “Something happens when students leave routine behind for two weeks – they discover abilities, interest and confidence that stay with them long after the experience ends.”
As families review the catalog in the coming weeks, students are encouraged to explore boldly and choose courses that spark genuine interest, whether that means hiking in Yosemite, paddling Monterey Bay, building an escape room, constructing a cedar canoe, or writing fiction beside the ocean.
