On Saturday, September 2, Monterey Bay Region went on a tour to Rancho Cielo vocational school, the second one this year, after the first tour on Thursday, February 7. The first tour was so popular that a second tour was set up. The group of 19 cars met at Chile’s in Seaside and checked in with Ted Voigt, who set up the tour. From there we headed north in two groups to Highway 156 and Castroville Blvd, then through the back roads of north Monterey County until we got to Old Stage Road and Old Natividad Road.
Rancho Cielo is in a new, modern building off of Old Stage Road. We were met by Joe DeRuosi, Senior Director, and Christopher Almarez, CTE Program Coordinator. Christopher led us on a tour of the facility, beginning with the construction program, where the students built the award-winning ADU that won first prize in the 2023 Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. Next was the welding classroom, which has multiple welding booths. From there we went to the automotive workshop, which has two lifts and an outside tent. Finally we visited the ag tech workshop, which has two pristine 50’s Cadillacs and a ’57 Buick that were donated to the school to be auctioned off, as well as Rancho Cielo founder Judge John Phillips’ MG roadster that the students restored.
Next we went outside to the upper parking lot where the ADU is set up. It has been moved from the location on the parking lot where it was in February, and is not yet ready for tours at this time.
Then it was time for lunch. The Culinary School was ready for us, and we were welcomed by students who had come to the school on a Saturday to prepare a lunch for us. The menu had a choice of a mixed green salad with free-range chicken or a classic cheeseburger with French fries, and a dessert of angel food cake with summer berries and Chantilly Cream. Iced tea and lemonade were both available from the bar.
Judge John Phillips spoke to us after we ate about the history of Rancho Cielo, and how it was built through community involvement of the local businesses. Christopher had told us about the Natividad Boys’ Ranch that used to be there, that closed after 10 years, and the beginnings of Rancho Cielo when Judge Phillips was trying to come up with an alternative for young people who needed support to finish school and learn a trade. The school is now celebrating it’s 25th anniversary, with over 200 students, and an anniversary celebration is scheduled for October 25th. After Judge Phillips finished, Ted Voigt spoke up expressing how impressed we all were, and handed Judge Phillips a donation from Monterey Bay Region. With the event over, we all made our own way home.
Click on any image above to view the PHOTO GALLERY. Thanks to Vega and Steve for sharing their photos.
