Anacapa’s Near Space Probe Soars 111,814 Feet Over California
Student-built, homebrew weather balloon probe returned live video and data during three-hour flight
Ground Crew Photos | In-Flight Photos | In-Flight Video
KEYT 3 TV News Story | AR Newsline Radio Story | Technical Overview Video (Amateur Radio Presentation)
May 7, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Members of the Anacapa Near Space Exploration Club (ANSEC) at Anacapa School are celebrating the weekend success of their second near space probe Anacapa Amateur High-Altitude Balloon 2 (AAHAB-2). The high school team launched … Read more
Human Rights Activist Rebecca Tinsley to Speak at Anacapa
Journalist and humanitarian will share her experiences campaigning for freedom and equality in Africa
May 3, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Anacapa School is extending its Open Breakfast Club series with a special post-season encore event with Rebecca Tinsley on Wednesday, May 9 at 7:50 a.m. on campus at 814 Santa Barbara Street.
Tinsley has spent her career campaigning for human rights in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. She is the founder of the Waging Peace and Network … Read more
Anacapa Club to Launch its Second Near Space Probe
High school students combine homebrew electronics and wireless communications to send back images and data from the edge of space
May 1, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
The Anacapa Near Space Exploration Club (ANSEC) at Anacapa School will reach for the stars once again with its second near space probe, Anacapa Amateur High-Altitude Balloon 2 (AAHAB-2). Last year, the high school club sent a payload of sensors and a camera to 91,122 feet above California’s Central Coast and recovered it … Read more
Anacapa School Students to Perform ‘Carnival!’
Independent school’s performing arts department plans revival of Tony Award-winning musical
April 5, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Anacapa School’s performing arts department will present a musical stage performance of “Carnival!” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12 at Center Stage Theater in the Paseo Nuevo shopping center in downtown Santa Barbara.
Anacapa students have been hard at work this semester perfecting their carnival acts, which include a magician, unicyclists, hula-hooper, sword swallower, snake charmer and … Read more
‘Dolphin Family’ Sculptor Bud Bottoms to Visit Anacapa
Artist and environmental activist will share his story at First Thursday Open Breakfast Club
April 26, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Anacapa School will conclude its 2011-2012 First Thursday Open Breakfast Club series in May with a presentation by famed local artist James “Bud” Bottoms on Thursday, May 3 at 7:50 a.m. on campus at 814 Santa Barbara Street.
Bottoms is a native Californian with a lifetime of experience swimming and diving in the Santa Barbara Channel. He is the … Read more
Pro Surfer Shaun Tomson to Speak at Anacapa School
World champion surfer, author and entrepreneur will share his outlook on life with high school students
March 21, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Anacapa School’s First Thursday Open Breakfast Club continues with a presentation by champion surfer Shaun Tomson on Thursday, April 5 at 7:50 a.m. on campus.
Tomson is the best-selling author of “Surfer’s Code: 12 Simple Lessons for Riding through Life” and award-winning documentary filmmaker of “Bustin’ Down the Door.” He will talk about the influence of positive … Read more
Anacapa School Science Teacher Awarded Stanford Fellowship
Megan Nesland will study effects of climate change
March 20, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Megan Nesland, a science teacher at Anacapa School, was recently awarded the 2012 Stanford University Climate Education Fellowship, in connection with the Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education program (IISME). The fellowship, awarded to one teacher each year, aims to connect science education to current science research and encourage the development of meaningful and relevant science curriculum.
Nesland, a graduate of Stanford’s undergraduate and … Read more
Anacapa to Host “Out of This World” Auction
Fundraiser’s space theme commemorates student-built near space probe
March 2, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Anacapa School will host The 28th Annual Anacapa School Auction: “Out of This World” on campus Sunday, March 11 from 12:30-5:00 p.m. The family event will feature about 300 items ranging from clothing, art and luxury items to gift certificates for food, entertainment and travel.
Items will be sold in both silent and live auction formats. Guests are invited to attend and encouraged to purchase … Read more
‘Jurassic Park III’ Director Joe Johnston to Speak at Anacapa
Anacapa School dad to share his passion for film at First Thursday Open Breakfast Club
February 20, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Academy Award-winning film director and Anacapa parent Joe Johnston will be at Anacapa School at 7:50 a.m. on Thursday, March 1 as part of Anacapa’s First Thursday Open Breakfast Club speaker series.
Johnston is best known for his directing work on such effects-driven hits as “Jumanji,” “Jurassic Park III,” and “Captain America: The First Avenger” as well as … Read more
Anacapa to Host World-Renowned Italian Physicist
January 26, 2012 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Astrophysicist Matteo Cantiello, a postdoctoral fellow with UC Santa Barbara’s Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics will be at Anacapa School at 7:50 a.m. on Thursday morning, February 2 as part of Anacapa’s First Thursday Breakfast Club speaker series. Dr. Cantiello was part of an international team of scientists that recently discovered the fastest-rotating massive star ever recorded. His First Thursday presentation … Read more
Anacapa School Celebrates 30 Years With 30 Service Projects
November 9, 2011 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Students at Anacapa School are giving back to their community not just once, but 30 times! Anacapa students have committed to complete 30 community service projects to celebrate the downtown independent school’s 30th school year. So far, the junior high and high school students have, among other efforts, helped paint the Presidio, participated in the assembly of “The Moving Wall” honoring Vietnam War veterans … Read more
Anacapa students make their choices for Santa Barbara City Council
Anacapa School has a long tradition of encouraging civic engagement in its students. Every two years, Anacapa’s seventh and eighth grade class in American government invites candidates for Santa Barbara’s City Council to make individual presentations to students about their backgrounds, why they’re running, what the important issues are, and their endorsements.
Recently, nine of this year’s ten City Council candidates spoke to the class over a five-week period, and for the first time, two former mayors (Sheila Lodge and … Read more
Anacapa School Summits Clouds Rest
High school tackles rocky summit nearly 10,000 feet above Yosemite
SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 — SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.
The school year is in full swing at Anacapa School’s downtown campus, but the students are still floating from their shared victory high above the wilderness of Yosemite National Park. Soon after daybreak on September 14, the students and faculty from the small independent school packed their daypacks and started on the strenuous 15-mile round-trip hike up 2,000 feet of elevation to the … Read more
Anacapa’s Near Space Balloon Launch is a Success
Students capture photos and environmental data from 90,000 feet above Earth’s surface
- See more photos in the Facebook album.
- Letter of congratulations to ANSEC crew from teacher Levi Maaia
- Download a pdf of the students’ PowerPoint flight summary with environmental data.
Media Coverage
- S.B. News-Press: Students explore atmosphere with balloon-equipped camera
- S.B. Independent: Anacapa School Skirts the Stratosphere
- KCLU Public Radio: Lance Orozco’s radio feature story
- S.B. EdHat: Anacapa School’s Launch a Success
- Noozhawk: Anacapa School Project Soars to
Anacapa School Students Plan ‘Space’ Mission
High school to launch high altitude balloon experiment into near space
May 12, 2011 — Santa Barbara, Calif.
While NASA may be winding down its Space Shuttle program, Anacapa School is starting up its own space program in Downtown Santa Barbara. Four Anacapa School students plan to spend a weekend releasing Anacapa’s Amateur High Altitude Balloon 1 (AAHAB-1) high into the skies above the Central Coast to touch the edges of space and return home safely.
The project is the … Read more