Bosch Baháʼí School
Bosch Baháʼí School is one of three major centers of Baháʼí learning in the United States, all permanent schools of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States. It is located near Santa Cruz, California. The other two schools are the Louhelen Baháʼí School in Michigan and Green Acre Baháʼí School in Maine.
History
The original Baha'i School property was purchased on October 26, 1901 by John Bosch as his residence in Geyserville, California. John Bosch became a Baha'i in 1905 and married Louise Sophie Stapfer on January 19, 1914. Their home, of 35 acres (140,000 m2), became a Baha'i School by the 1920s.[1]
The National Spiritual Assembly became aware during the 1950s that the property would be required by the government for the expanded Redwood Highway which cut through the property. The current property is located in the Bonny Doon area of Santa Cruz, California and was purchased as a replacement for the Geyserville Baha'i School. The new school was dedicated and named John and Louise Bosch Baha'i School on July 13, 1974. At the new school's dedication they named a redwood grove in memory of Hand of the Cause of God, Leroy Ioas, which was originally done at the old school. William Sears as well as a member of The Universal House of Justice, Mr. Amoz Gibson, were in attendance at the dedication.[1]
Bosch Baha'i School campus comprises 80 acres (320,000 m2). The property is used mainly for Baha'i programs but is frequently leased out to other organizations and parties. The property includes a dining hall, classrooms, a pool, more than 20 cabins, a pond, and nature trails.[2]
The school campus was in the path of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire that started on August 16, 2020. The school lost several cabins but the main buildings including the administration building, library, lodge, and Martha Root Hall did not sustain much damage as a result of the fire. [3]