Bosch Bahá'í School
Encyclopedia
Bosch Bahá'í School is one of three major centers of Bahá'í
learning in the United States, all permanent schools of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. It is located near located near Santa Cruz, California
. The other two schools are the Louhelen Bahá'í School
in Michigan
and Green Acre Bahá'í School
in Maine
.
. John Bosch became a Baha’i in 1905 and married Louise Sophie Stapfer on January 19, 1914. Their home, of 35 acres (141,640.1 m²), became a Baha’i School by the 1920’s.
The National Spiritual Assembly became aware during the 1950’s 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.
Bosch Baha’i School campus comprises 80 acres (323,748.8 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.
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
learning in the United States, all permanent schools of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. It is located near located near Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. The other two schools are the Louhelen Bahá'í School
Louhelen Bahá'í School
Louhelen Bahá'í School is one of three leading institutions owned by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. The others are Green Acre Bahá'í School and Bosch Bahá'í School....
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Green Acre Bahá'í School
Green Acre
Green Acre is a conference facility in Eliot, Maine, in the United States. It was founded by Sarah Farmer in 1894. The name Green Acre came from poet John Greenleaf Whittier, a personal friend of the Farmer family....
in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
History
The original Baha’i School property was purchased on October 26, 1901 by John Bosch as his residence in Geyserville, CaliforniaGeyserville, California
Geyserville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, USA. Located in the Wine Country, it is noted by tourists for its restaurants, bed and breakfast inns, and wineries...
. John Bosch became a Baha’i in 1905 and married Louise Sophie Stapfer on January 19, 1914. Their home, of 35 acres (141,640.1 m²), became a Baha’i School by the 1920’s.
The National Spiritual Assembly became aware during the 1950’s 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
Bonny Doon, California
Bonny Doon is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California. Bonny Doon sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Bonny Doon's population was 2,678....
area of Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
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
Leroy Ioas
Leroy C Ioas was a Hand of the Cause of the Bahá'í Faith. His parents declared themselves Bahá'ís in 1898 and took Ioas to meet `Abdu'l-Bahá during the latter’s travels in the United States in 1912...
, which was originally done at the old school. William Sears
William Sears (Bahá'í)
William Sears was a Hand of the Cause of God, writer and a popular television and radio personality. In 2010, he was honored at the Dawn Breakers International Film Festival for achieving excellence as a professional media personality.-Personal life:Sears was married twice and had two children...
as well as a member of The Universal House of Justice, Mr. Amoz Gibson, were in attendance at the dedication.
Bosch Baha’i School campus comprises 80 acres (323,748.8 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.