ELITE CLUBS
GRADES TK-12
Elite Academic Academy is excited to offer exciting clubs for students!
#BeElite Podcast Club
Grades TK-12
The #BeElite Podcast was created to shine the spotlight on the Elite Academic Academy students and their talents. Students interview guests on a regular basis and upload episodes to YouTube. Students learn first-hand the behind the scenes skills of a podcast such as editing, creating taglines, intro and exit music, and preparing interview questions. Students also learn and practice communication skills by conducting interviews, social media marketing posts and promoting their podcast!
Interested in joining?
Contact Mr. Smith at [email protected]

Meetings are Thursdays at 2:00 p.m., which alternate between meetings and episode recordings.
- Season 2 Episode 1: It’s a New School Year
- Season 2 Episode 2: Music
- Season 2 Episode 3: Anti-Bullying
- Season 2 Episode 4: Happy 2nd Birthday
- Season 2 Episode 5: Winter Holiday
- Season 2 Episode 6: Pali Institute
- Season 2 Episode 7: National Lego Day!
- Season 2 Episode 8: CTE Marketing Teacher
- Season 2 Episode 9: eSports
- Season 2 Episode 10: Elite Student and Author Maliya Davis
- Season 2 Episode 11: All About Pets!
- Season 2 Episode 12: All About Life Preparedness
- Season 2 Episode 13 – Minecraft
There are so many different roles in the #BeElitePodcast Club! Some of these roles include:
- Interviewers: Conduct interviews, develop and ask questions, etc.
- Graphic Design: Create artwork needed for media channels for podcast- like an album cover
- Film Editing: Edit videos, add music and graphics as needed.
- Social Media Marketing: Place and promote episodes, learn best practices, etc.
Students brainstorm the topics, creating an underlining theme for each month’s podcast episodes. Student interests drive the Podcast episodes and students are able to express their opinions, thoughts, and knowledge during the episodes. Students also have the ability to practice real work industry skills while involved in the Be Elite Podcast!
For more information, contact Podcast Advisor Mr. Smith at [email protected].

Meet Nolan Smith, Elite’s Marketing Instructor
Nolan Smith is the Marketing Instructor for Elite Academic Academy’s CTE Marketing pathway. Smith has worked in marketing and public relations for over 10 years, working in a variety of industry sectors: from education, healthcare, utilities, pop culture and more. A longtime reporter, Smith has worked on both sides of public relations, having worked with a number of print and online publications. Smith has worked in a charter school setting since 2002, working with schools across Southern California. He holds an AA degree in Liberal Arts, a BA degree in Creative Writing and a CTE credential in Marketing and Arts/Entertainment.

Quest Crew Club
Grades TK-12
Do you love nature and adventure? Check out our Quest Crew Club. Students in the Quest Crew participate in webinars, nature hikes, surfing, sailing, scavenger hunts, travel opportunities partnered with EF Tours, and other fun outdoor activities! Students are able to explore the beauty of nature while experiencing fresh air, sunshine, snow, exercise, and socialization!
Interested in joining?
Contact Mr. Olson at [email protected]
Pathway: Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation.
The Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation pathway integrates various facets of the hospitality industry: lodging, travel, and tourism; event planning; theme parks, attractions, and exhibitions; and recreation. Students engaged in this pathway have broad experiences related to the specific industry segments, including industry awareness; organizational management; customer service; sales and marketing; facilities management; lodging; travel destinations; and reservations, ticketing, and itineraries.
The Adventure courses offers students the unique opportunity to take elective courses to satisfy high school graduation requirements, while still allowing students to meet A-G course requirements for college. This means that students not only will have a high school transcript ready for college applications, but also the REAL WORLD experiences, certifications, internships, and applications needed for college and career. By combining academics with Career Technical Education courses, students meet college and career readiness!
Sample occupations associated with this pathway:
- Guest Services Agent
- Director of Conference Services
- Certified Meeting/Event Planner
- Eco-tourism Director
- Sailing Captain or Crew – Charters/Day-sails
- Hiking/Adventure/Mountaineering Guide
- Action Sports Instructor
- International Travel Tour Guide
- Search and Rescue/Wilderness Responder
- Action Sports Photographer/Videographer
- EMT
- National Parks Ranger
- Tourism Coordinator
Born in the Cascade Mountains and raised in the Rockies, I’ve spent most of my time in the great outdoors. I have over 10 years of outdoor education experience that has stretched from captaining sailboats to spelunking. As a youth, I earned my Eagle Scout and set out to travel the ‘Backbone of the World’, so far visiting every country from Alaska to the equator and climbing many mountains along the way. My career focus has been primarily on adventure sports, such as windsurfing to backcountry skiing, with emphasis towards designing gear and developing tools necessary to endure the elements. I currently hold a Career Technical Education CTE Credential in Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation, and look forward to teaching Elite students to be college and career ready! I strive to instill a sense of respect, leadership and understanding in youth through meaningful and educational experiences.

What field trip opportunities, besides long trips, are available to students?
Some include:
- PALI Institute – Wilderness Skills Outing
- Mountain & Sea Adventures – White’s Landing Catalina Island Camp
- Devil’s Punchbowl – Nature Area
- Silverwood Lake – Paddlesports Weekend
- Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center – Ecology and Biology Learning Center
- San Antonio Ski Hut – Mountain-top Excursion
I’ve never been camping, but interested. Will I be behind other students?
Regardless of your skillset, we will get you up to speed and give you the information and knowledge to run with the rest of the pack. Besides, outdoor recreation is so much more than camping! We strive to expose students to a variety of outdoor experiences and encourage independent growth in the disciplines that students show an aptitude.
I don’t have much gear, if any. How will I get the appropriate tools and resources to participate in activities?
Building your quiver of equipment takes time and resources, but you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy the outdoors. We strive to make the outdoors accessible to everyone and focus on outings that don’t require families to spend excessive amounts of money. We have partnered with outdoor manufacturers to offer top-notch gear at affordable prices so you can start building a gear-bank. However, hygiene is very important and we suggest that you outfit yourself with a few items that are best kept to yourself: clothing, sleeping bags, personal care products, cutlery and dinner/cookware.
The CreativeSpace
All Ages
Calling all drawing-lovers, imagination-masters, and future innovators! The Elite CreativeSpace is the perfect place to refine your artistic abilities through live drawing studios and hands-on workshops. This interactive club is centered on introducing students to several artistic processes, from drawing to painting to sculpture. Our instructor, Mr. Olson, leads our students through each media in sequential lessons that are designed to empower students in their artistic pursuits. Students can attend this club purely out of interest; no grade or attendance is given but consistent participation is always appreciated and celebrated. Those that choose to enroll have the opportunity to receive an exclusive package of CreativeSpace materials for club participation! The CreativeSpace meets bi-weekly at 10:00 am on Wednesdays – you won’t want to miss a meeting! Fill out this Club Enrollment form in order to receive a list of materials that will be needed.
Interested in joining?
Contact Mr. Olson at [email protected]
