IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Check in at AEW: Monday, November 4th at 6:00 AM

Look for signs because chaperones will be by the lunch tables. DO NOT PARK IN THE FRONT PARKING LOT.

Two items must be in each students hand at check-in:

1. Sack lunch for Monday

2. Heavy, thick, winter weather jacket

Return to AEW: Wednesday, November 6th around 4:30 PM               

Please check the Catalina Blog for updates regarding pick up. Please do not call the school!

Check back here (the blog) before I call!

Emergency Numbers

CIMI - Catalina Island Marine Institute at Toyon Bay

• We will be departing from and arriving at the Catalina Express Terminal at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. We will be ferried to Toyon Bay, Catalina on Catalina Classics Cruises. 

  • (562) 495-3566

• CIMI’s Emergency Number: (310) 510-1622, staffed 8-5 pm

Wednesday, November 6th

AM

9:10 AM

Good morning Spartans! The students have already cleaned up, checked out of their rooms and had breakfast. They are currently participating in their last activities of camp. Some groups are having their last snorkel and some are finishing up their labs. I just had my wrap up meeting with CIMI and as of right now the Catalina Classic Cruise ferry is cleared to cross to begin transporting students here and to then transport us home. I can see from my weather alerts that it is really windy at home. We do not have any wind here on the island. The swell across the channel is 3.5 feet by every 14 second period - which means that it is safe to cross. If something changes we will post about it. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE SCHOOL. We do not have direct contact with them. Remember, NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS. 

PM

3:45 PM

Hello mainland! We just finished loading the bus and are on the road. the ETA is 5:15 PM.

Tuesday, November 5th

AM

9:00 AM

What a busy morning we had! About half of the group joined Ms. Miller, Ms. Trupp, Mrs. Paik, and Mrs. Servin-West for the sunrise Shrine Loop hike at 5:30 AM for a 6:17 AM sunrise. It was a miraculous sunrise and a great way to start the day! Stay tuned for lots of photos. We just finished breakfast and our mandatory fire drill. Now the rest of our students are participating in their orientation snorkel and the other groups are attending some labs. Check back later for photos and more updates. As always, that you for your patience in waiting for updates and photos to be posted. I know the AEW office appreciates it when families check the blog before they call.

PM

9:45 PM

Another whirlwind day today! After our busy morning our students went to some lab classes and then snorkeled. Some of the lab classes that they participate in are algae, sharks, and invertebrates. In these classes they get to learn more about the topic and touch them! So fun! Students were able to walk along the beach and collect sea glass. In the afternoon some groups snorkeled and jumped off the floating dock. A few of our groups were able to see leopard sharks in the wild. Our night program was a squid dissection where most of the students participated. They learned about the life cycle of the squid and had fun learning about the parts of the squid. They are now all fast asleep because tomorrow we have to clean our rooms, check out, and participate in our last labs or snorkel session. All before 11:00 AM!

Monday, November 4th

AM

8:45 AM

We have made it to the Long Beach port. We will be boarding the ferry at 9 and departing at 9:30. Remember, NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!

PM

1:28 PM

We arrived to CIMI around 11:30 today. We had some bumpy water, but everyone seems to be fine (aka no vomiting!) Our students ate lunch, met their CIMI instructors and are now on a tour of camp. This afternoon some of our students will participate in the orientation snorkel class and some will be participating in some classes. 

9:45 PM

What a fantastic first day we had at CIMI! After our groups participated in the orientation snorkel and some lab classes, we had free time, dinner, store time, and our night astronomy hike. We were able to see Jupiter, the Milky Way Galaxy, and a few shooting stars. After our long day, the students fell quickly asleep. Tomorrow some of us will wake up early to participate in the sunrise hike. Check back tomorrow for more updates and pictures. Speaking of pictures, just a reminder that loading photos takes much longer than updating the blog.  Anything that doesn't get posted on the island will be posted once we return to the mainland. Thank you in advance for your patience! 

7th grade Catalina Important Dates

Trip Application: Monday, 8/26/24 – Friday, 8/30/22. Due by 3:30 pm on 8/30!

Trip Date: Monday, 11/4/24 - Wednesday, 11/6/24

Cost: $

Payment Due: Friday, TBD by 3:30 pm

Parent Meeting: Wednesday, TBD, 7:00 PM via Zoom

Student Meetings: AE Wright Gym - Thursday, TBD and Thursday, TBD