Fall 2016
This year’s Institute will begin with a 5-day trip to “Steinbeck Country.” This curriculum-led expedition will take place from Thursday, October 6th, through Monday, October 10th. The trip will include doing archival work at the National Steinbeck Center (a rare privilege), spending time at the Stanford Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, and visiting a number of literary centers of gravity, such as the Robinson Jeffers Tor House in Carmel. See more details below.
Spring 2017
The SYI scholars will attempt to publish academic and creative work with the program director’s assistance along with the mentorship of Susan Shillinglaw, director of the National Steinbeck Center and author of several Steinbeck-related texts, including the introductions to Cannery Row and Of Mice and Men for Penguin Classics. Additional local excursions related to the themes found in Steinbeck’s texts are planned.
Itinerary for the October 6th – 10th trip:
(subject to change if necessary)
- Day 1 – Thursday, October 6: Head to San Luis Obispo
- Early morning departure from Santa Monica
- Breakfast and visit at UCLA to learn more about archival/field research in the humanities and also how science and humanities interrelate.
- Lunch in Santa Barbara and stop at Shell Beach
- Arrive in San Luis Obispo; eat and explore the world famous Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market
- Steinbeck Film Night at the hotel
- Day 2 – Friday, October 7: SLO to Salinas to Pacific Grove
- Depart for the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas; Presentation by Susan Shillinglaw, Director of the NSC; Archival work with Lisa C. Josephs, Archivist at the NSC
- Lunch at The Steinbeck House–Steinbeck’s birthplace and boyhood home, now a charming restaurant
- Drive through the “Pastures of Heaven” — the Corral de Tierra Valley between Salinas and the Monterey Peninsula
- Dinner at the Earthbound Farm’s Organic Cafe in Carmel ; Catered by Earthbound Executive Chef, Sarah Lacasse; Presentation by Janna Jo Williams
- Evening discussion to close the first night in Pacific Grove
- Day 3 – Saturday, October 8: Monterey
- Breakfast at Pavel’s Backerei
- Ecopoetry and nature walk at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- Tour of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House (watch the introduction video on the right)
- Lunch at Carmel River State Beach
- Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Walking tour of Steinbeck’s Cannery Row with Tim Thomas from Monterey Waterfront & Cannery Row Tours, including a visit to the Pacific Biological Laboratories (Ed Ricketts’ Lab)
- Sunset at Carmel Beach
- Dinner at Passionfish; Presentation by owners, Ted & Cindy Walter
- Day 4 – Sunday, October 9: Monterey
- Early morning whale-watching excursion in the Monterey Bay
- Lunch at Gianni’s Pizza
- Side trip to a local’s favorite, Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
- Private themed dinner, “The Pastures of Heaven,” at Tarpy’s Roadhouse
- Day 5 – Monday, October 10: Back to Santa Monica
- Breakfast at First Awakenings
- Tour of the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University
- Squid dissection at the Gilly Lab of the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University with Dr. William Gilly
- Final project debriefing at the Harold A. Miller Library at Hopkins Marine Station
- Lunch at Firestone Grill in San Luis Obispo
- Return to Santa Monica in time for dinner with family
Steinbeck Youth Institute 