Los Niños is a biannual tradition at Cate School that involves students and faculty venturing down to Mexicali to engage with the communities on the border between the United States and Mexico. The spaces on the roster are highly coveted, with people “frantically… try[ing] to gain a spot”(Kate McCoy ‘25). Some participants will make it automatically, with a “speedy sign-up”(Kate), while a lucky few will make it off the waitlist. Once the roster is solidified, the group embarks on the seven-hour trip to the Mexican-American border.
On the afternoon of November 30th, the first trip of the year departed, and after a lengthy journey, the group crossed the border on foot. Jasper Shelmerdine ’26 described the crossing as “exciting” and “eye-opening” in reference to the countless people who make the tiresome journey every day.
Kate described the moments following the crossing: "Once everyone had safely crossed the border, the bus took us to where we would stay. We were then welcomed by the trip coordinator on the Mexicali side, Alonso.” The group then settled into their rooms and participated in bonding activities, which consisted of “laughter between cards, charades, and chats about everyday life”(Kate).
As Jasper described, the second day of the trip was full of “laborious yet consistently rewarding work.” The group worked at a school for kids with disabilities, where they mixed cement powder with shovels and dug a trench where tires were to be placed, creating a fence to enclose the plants and provide a walkway. The most rewarding part of the time at the school, in the eyes of Jasper, was the “opportunity to speak to the friendly young students who attended this school.”
After a brief lunch, the group headed to a women’s and children’s migrant shelter. Kate appreciated “how tightly bonded this community was because they were all so welcoming and eager to play games with us Cate students.” One migrant woman’s impression stuck with Kate because of her “vulnerability.” Kate recounted her story, noting the “domestic violence she faced alongside her daughter and granddaughter.” She described the “hardships and challenges the woman was facing due to her granddaughter’s father’s reoccurring threats and abuse towards her daughter and eventually herself.” The courage she had to leave home with her daughter and granddaughter in search of a safer life in the United States was, according to Jasper, “inspiring.”
On the final day, Jasper remembered the “noise as the group awoke with the sun rose.” The day consisted of more labor at La Ladrillera, where the group was introduced to a few young students at the local kindergarten. Kate remembered the “laughs that filled the air as paint splattered and more cement was mixed.” This time, the cement extended the playground for the children’s enjoyment.
After lunch with a local family, the group “worked with bees, learning how to handle the stinging creatures and harvest their honey”(Jasper). According to Jasper, the trip's “grand finale” was a soccer match, hyped up by Fernando Baldocchi ’24, an active participant in the Los Niños program. However, “unsurprisingly, the Cate students lost miserably”(Kate).
On the last night, a final dinner was shared, and Kate remembered “walking down a dimly lit street, arm in arm, to a restaurant to celebrate the people that were met, the experiences that had, and the communal learning.”
The following day, the “arduous” trip across the border was made once again, and the “Yukon ride back to the Mesa was used to reflect and catch up on some much-needed rest”(Kate).
According to Fritz Veltman ‘24, who participated in another trip to Los Niños in the spring, “the itinerary is largely similar regardless of the timing during the academic year.” To all Cate students, Kate and Jasper both “urge you to engage with this “incredible experience."
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