There’s never a shortage of things for students to do on weekends: hiking to the top of nearby Twin Peaks for a magnificent view of the Ojai Valley, boarding an early morning van to go surfing, cheering on their peers at an interscholastic game or playing in one, practicing or participating in a horse show or gymkhana competition, or taking a Thacher bus into Los Angeles for a performance of some sort, or to Santa Barbara for dinner and a movie.

Thacher’s Indoor Committee, made up of student representatives and faculty members, plans regular weekend events throughout the year. These include dances, movies nights, coffee houses, talent shows, volleyball and 4-square tournaments, even line-dancing lessons. Over the course of the year, each dormitory plans and hosts an Open House, inviting students and faculty of both genders to come and socialize. Every Saturday night, the Head of School and his family open their home to all students, offering Ping-Pong and foosball, board games and seasonal crafts—and an endless parade of chocolate chip cookies warm from the oven.

Students also head off campus for trips to museums and other cultural events in or around Los Angeles, or for a weekend camping in the nearby Los Padres National Forest or at the beach. Weekend events provide a fun, relaxing balance for the hard work of the school week.