A Day of Discovery: PinWheel Event Recap Blog

At Human Migration Institute, we aim to go beyond the classroom and connect our students to the community around them through enrichment activities like our Pinwheel experience. Our recent excursion to Laguna Beach was a powerful example of what happens when students are given the space to explore, ask questions, and connect with the world around them.

Learning Through Exploration

Shaw’s Cove provided a beautiful space for students to explore their curiosity alongside lessons from a marine biologist and beach lifeguards. Students had the opportunity to learn about local marine ecosystems while exploring tide pools, identifying species, and discovering how to safely interact with the environment.

Younger students spent time building sandcastles and playing along the shoreline, while older students explored the tide pools with staff guidance. Throughout the day, students showed excitement, curiosity, and confidence as they engaged with the activities around them.

Building Confidence and Community

One of the most meaningful moments of the excursion came after students reviewed environmental and safety guidelines together as a group with a tidepool biologist and lifeguard. A group of students approached the biologist themselves and asked for a guided tour so they could learn how to observe the animals without disturbing them. The day also invited families to participate in a beach cleanup activity, reinforcing the importance of giving back to the community with care and encouraging students to take pride in protecting the spaces they explored.

Supporting Youth Through Experiences That Matter

Programs like Pinwheel are designed to help newcomer youth build confidence, strengthen community connections, and engage in hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom. During this excursion alone, 17 students from 10 families participated alongside HMI staff and volunteers, creating a day centered on discovery, connection, and belonging.

Reflecting on the experience, HMI Case Manager and event designer Matthew shared: “I’ve enjoyed watching families build language confidence when immersed in real-world educational environments. It’s here they can utilize English skills in a practical setting but maintain the familiar support of Ukrainian friends and colleagues.”

Support for programs like UNSP helps create more opportunities for the whole families and newcomer youth to learn, grow, and thrive together.