We have loaded the buses at the ferry terminal. Our ETA for AEW is 5:00 PM.
We can't wait to tell you all how many whales we saw on the way home!
Good morning, Spartan families!
It's hard to believe that our final morning at Toyon Bay is already here!
The students have packed a lot into these past few days, and we still have one more busy morning ahead. We started the day with breakfast before getting to work on our dorm rooms. Students are cleaning, packing their bags, and making sure their rooms are ready for the next group of campers.
Before we head home, we'll also finish up our remaining CIMI classes. Over the past few days, students have had the opportunity to explore several different areas of marine science through hands-on labs and activities. They've learned about the fish found around Catalina Island, explored the biology of sharks, and even had the chance to touch live sharks and rays. They've also investigated the different types of algae and their importance to marine ecosystems.
In other classes, students used digital microscopes to examine live plankton samples collected right here at Toyon Bay, learning about the tiny organisms that play such an important role in the ocean food web. They also explored marine invertebrates through hands-on experiences with touch tanks and aquariums, getting up close with everything from sea stars and sea urchins to other fascinating marine animals. Through their oceanography activities, students had the opportunity to learn more about the ocean and how scientists study it.
It has been an incredible opportunity for students to learn about marine science while actually being surrounded by the ocean and the organisms they are studying. These are the kinds of experiences that make learning memorable!
There is always something a little bittersweet about the last morning of a trip. Everyone is excited to head home and see their families, but it's also hard to say goodbye to the CIMI educators, the new experiences, and the friendships made along the way.
After our final activities, we will make our way to the ferry terminal. Our ferry is scheduled to leave Catalina at approximately 11:30 a.m., and we'll begin our journey back to Long Beach.
We will update the blog once we're back on the mainland with our estimated arrival time at AE Wright. Please plan on being there at 4:30 PM.
For now, the students have one more morning to soak up the Toyon Bay experience before we head home. It's been a wonderful few days filled with learning, adventure, new experiences, and memories that will hopefully last a long time.
See you soon, Spartan families!
Good evening, Spartan families.
What a day!
Our second day at Toyon Bay was packed from beginning to end with marine science, adventure, and plenty of time for students to enjoy being together.
Students continued rotating through their CIMI classes, getting hands-on experience with the marine life and environments they have been studying. They have been asking great questions and becoming much more comfortable with the idea that at CIMI, the ocean really is the classroom!
This afternoon was especially exciting because it was time for our LAST snorkel of the trip. After making it through yesterday's orientation snorkel, students were much more confident with their wetsuits, masks, and snorkels. Today, they were able to spend less time getting comfortable with their gear and more time focusing on everything they could see beneath the surface.
After snorkeling, students had some time to enjoy the beach. They played games, spent time with friends, and took advantage of one of Toyon Bay's favorite features: the floating dock! There was plenty of laughter, cheering, and encouragement as students challenged themselves to take the leap into the water.
And the day still wasn't over!
Tonight, the two groups will switch activities from last night. Half of the students will participate in a squid dissection, while the other half will head out on an astronomy night hike. Both are classic CIMI experiences, and we're excited for everyone to get a chance to enjoy them.
It has been another incredibly full day at Toyon Bay. By the time students crawl into their beds tonight, they will have certainly earned a good night's sleep!
Tomorrow morning, we'll enjoy breakfast, finish our remaining classes, clean up our dorms, and get ready for our ferry ride back to Long Beach. Our ferry is scheduled to leave Catalina at approximately 11:30 a.m.
It is hard to believe our Catalina adventure is almost over. We've packed so much learning, exploring, and fun into just a few days!
Good night from Toyon Bay!
Good morning, Spartan families!
We are already off and running on Day Two here at Toyon Bay.
After yesterday’s long travel day, the students were up and ready for another full day of learning and adventure. Some of us kicked off the morning with a very early 5:45 a.m. wake-up call for the Sunrise Shrine Hill Hike. We had quite a crowd join us this morning! Approximately 75–85 students braved the early wake-up to watch a spectacular sunrise over the Pacific Ocean. Many students shared that it was their very first time watching the sunrise, which made the experience even more special.
After the hike, everyone enjoyed a much-deserved buffet breakfast before heading out with their CIMI educators for our first round of marine science classes.
Today, students will rotate through their different classes and get hands-on experience with the marine environment. One of the best things about CIMI is that students aren't just sitting and listening to lessons. They are touching, observing, investigating, asking questions, and learning directly from the organisms and environments around them. It's a pretty amazing way to bring science to life!
We also have a busy afternoon ahead, including our LAST snorkel of the trip. After yesterday's orientation snorkel, students are already becoming more comfortable with their gear and being in the water. We're excited to see how much more confident they feel today and what new things they discover beneath the surface.
Students will also have some time to enjoy the beach and take advantage of one of the most popular features at Toyon Bay: the floating dock. I'm sure that will be a big hit!
There is still plenty of learning, exploring, and fun ahead of us today. We'll check back in this evening with another update. Until then, we're soaking up every minute of our time here on Catalina Island!
Good evening, Spartan families!
What a day! We started bright and early this morning at A.E. Wright and made our way to Long Beach for our ferry ride to Catalina Island. After an early wake-up, a long bus ride, and the excitement of finally seeing the island from the ferry, our students were ready to begin their Catalina adventure!
The ferry ride gave everyone a chance to relax, enjoy the ocean views, and get excited about what was waiting for us at the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI). Once we arrived at Toyon Bay, we had lunch at camp and then jumped right into our orientation.
Our orientation meeting introduced students to CIMI, our schedule for the next few days, and, most importantly, how to stay safe while learning and exploring the marine environment. The students were also introduced to the expectations for living and learning together at camp.
After orientation, it was time to move into the dorms and get settled. There was plenty of excitement as students figured out their rooms, unpacked their bags, and started making themselves at home in Toyon Bay.
And then came one of the most exciting parts of the day: our orientation snorkel! For many of our students, this was their first time snorkeling, and they did an incredible job.
They learned how to use their snorkel equipment, practiced getting comfortable in the water, and began exploring the underwater world right outside Toyon Bay. It was the perfect introduction to what this trip is all about: getting out of the classroom and learning by experiencing the ocean firsthand.
Then it was time for our first buffet dinner! After a long day of travel, everyone was ready for a good meal. Dinner gave students another chance to spend time with their friends before heading into their first classes. Tonight was a spaghetti night, and the students loved piling their plates high with pasta!
Tonight, half of our students got to experience one of CIMI’s classic activities: a squid dissection! They had the chance to get up close and personal with a squid, explore its anatomy, and connect what they’ve been learning in marine science class to a real-life marine organism. Definitely a hands-on learning experience!
Meanwhile, the other half of our students headed out for a nighttime adventure and an astronomy lesson! With fairly clear skies tonight, they had a great opportunity to spot constellations, learn how to identify them, and hear some of the fascinating stories and mythology behind how they got their names.
A little science, a little adventure, and lots of learning along the way.
It has been a long and very full day, but the students are settling in and already getting a taste of the adventures ahead. We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Good night from Toyon Bay, Spartan families!
Just a reminder that we are taking pictures, but they are uploading one at a time and VERY slowly in the chaperone lounge. Please be patient. Any that we can't upload at camp, we will do back on the mainland.
AND WE ARE OFF!!!! Next stop, Long Beach to catch our ferry!