Grade 8: Catalina Island
Overview
Though only twenty-two miles across the Catalina Channel from Long Beach, Catalina Island is a world away from the hectic pace of southern California. Outdoor education on Catalina is a journey into California's pastoral yesterdays, with pristine beaches, quiet coves, and abundant marine flora and fauna. The island is an excellent outdoor classroom and a quiet retreat site.
The Naturalists at Large's learning center, at White’s Landing, is a gateway to Catalina’s interior and positioned on the island’s most expansive sandy beach. The site offers excellent snorkeling and kayaking opportunities. The site is linked to the interior of the island by trails leading to spectacular
overlooks and vistas.
Educational Overview
The program offers excellent opportunities for marine science, and has an on site lab to investigate marine fauna and flora. Snorkeling in provided equipment gives students the ability to observe the wildlife in its natural environment. In addition, Catalina is a great place to study an island ecosystem. The site has excellent access to the island’s unique flora and fauna. Human impact on these fragile ecosystems is also a part of the Naturalists at Large program.
As with all Naturalists at Large programs, the academic and co-curricula goals complement science curriculum.
Students will discover the unique natural and human history of the area, learn new outdoor skills (snorkeling, kayaking), develop group cooperation through shared experiences, enhance leadership abilities, and learn basic outdoor skills. Evening activities include an astronomy program, games, and night snorkeling for the adventurous.
The Naturalists at Large program is designed to give the students a "sense of place". This is accomplished by introducing them to the natural and cultural history of the island and surrounding area while they explore the trails, study the various habitats, and live in the area for up to five days.
Naturalists at Large instructors work with their groups to teach basic outdoor skills, conduct education activities on the island trails and near-shore waters. In addition, the students are constantly encouraged to solve problems posed by the Naturalist at Large instructors, comprised of both intellectual problems and well thought-out and well-executed physical problems (i.e. initiative activities). Students are always with a naturalist-instructor, and a school chaperon.