EARTH SCIENCES:

CATALINA ISLAND FIELD STUDIES

OUR TRIP TO CIMI (Catalina Island Marine Institute) at Toyon Bay, Catalina Island, CA.

Catalina Island is an excellent location for the study of life, earth, and physical sciences. Its immediate proximity to one of the greatest kelp forest habitats in the world makes it uniquely suited as an outdoor classroom. These underwater gardens are among the most beautiful and biologically diverse in the world. This was a great science adventure that reinforces the studies begun at school.

The weekend is a three-day, two-night program that consista of a series of half-day activities that include snorkeling, boating, marine biology, labs, hiking, ichthyology, and ocean / island ecology. In the labs, research groups of 12-15 students study plankton, identification and classification of marine algae, fish and shark morphology, physical oceanography, and identification and classification of invertebrates.

The students receive a complete orientation on safety and the facilities by trained CIMI instructors. The instructors all have program related college degrees and are trained in water safety. Other activities include, an astronomy hike and a marshmellow roast around and evening campfire, a squid dissection and consumption, 'watch the sunrise' hikes, and the camp store.

Pictures of camp activities and algae projects