Catalina Island Field Trip Information Packet Field trip date: March 24-26, 2017

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1 Catalina Island Field Trip Information Packet Field trip date: March 24-26, 2017 GENERAL INFORMATION: Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) is located twenty-one miles from southern California s mainland. CIMI is a non-profit, privately run, educational opportunity of a lifetime. Nine Greenspun faculty chaperones and six CIMI instructors will supervise the students. We will take 90 GJHS students. TRAVEL SCHEDULE: Depart Henderson, NV at 3 A.M., March 24, 2017 Arrive CIMI at NOON Depart CIMI Sunday at 11 A.M., March 26, 2017 Arrive Henderson, NV at 8 P.M., March 26, 2017 CIMI PROGRAM INCLUDES: Marine and island ecology: identification/behavior/anatomy of plants, invertebrates & vertebrates native to area, marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecology, natural selection, origin and history of island, physical oceanography, biogeography, environmental awareness, plankton studies, astronomy lectures and viewing, nature hikes, hands-on investigations, lab work, tide-pooling, snorkel dives FEES: Tuition, transportation, insurance, fees, and t-shirt: $ Food stipend for return trip at Barstow Station: _ $ TOTAL COST FOR THE FIELD TRIP: $ *Note: Optional costs include the night snorkel ($5.00 extra, payable to CIMI instructors at the institute), and the CIMI gift shop (both cash only!) $170 deposit will be accepted no earlier than November 7, $200 balance due by Jan. 27, 2017, or your spot will be forfeited to the next person on the waiting list! Only cash, money orders, or on-line payments at the greenspunjhs.com webstore are accepted. Remaining balance may be paid any time prior to January 27, Keep all receipts, please! This is your proof of payment received! ABSOLUTELY NO refunds will be given after February 1, 2017! ELIGIBILITY: Eligibility will be based on academic and behavioral criteria. (Absolutely NO F/D/U s on report card during any nine-week grading period!) Suspension automatically disqualifies applicant! Attendance is required at the following meetings from 2:00 P.M. until 2:30 P.M. in the Little Theater: o Report card day (date TBA) o March 23, 2017 TRIP COORDINATORS: Ms. Litzenberg mklitzenberg@interact.ccsd.net Mr. Slocum acslocum@interact.ccsd.net

2 GJHS CATALINA ISLAND MARINE INSTITUTE FULL ITINERARY March 24-26, 2017 March 24 (Fri) 2:45 AM 3:00 AM Meet in front of Greenspun JHS 3:00 AM Depart Greenspun JHS via buses for Catalina Express Terminal in Long Beach, CA 9:30 AM Depart Terminal via Ferry for Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) Noon 2:00PM Arrive CIMI, Eat sack lunch, Orientation, Check in rooms 2:00 PM 5:00 PM Afternoon Program schedule (Plankton, Invertebrates, mini-hike) 6:00 PM Dinner (CIMI Dining Hall) 6:30 PM 7:30 PM Open Recreation 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Evening session (Creatures of the Night) 9:30 PM Lights out March 25 (Sat) 7:30AM Breakfast (CIMI Dining Hall) 9:00 11:30 AM Morning session (Orientation Snorkel) Noon Lunch (CIMI Dining Hall) 1:00 PM 2:00 PM Open Recreation 2:00 PM -5:00 PM Afternoon Session (Fish, Shark, Algae) 6:00 PM Dinner (CIMI Dining Hall) 7:30 PM 9:00 PM Evening Session (Night Snorkel optional or Squid dissection) 9:00 PM 10:00 PM Campfire 10:00 PM Lights out March 26 (Sun) 7:30 AM Breakfast (CIMI dining room) 8:00 AM 9:00 AM Clear and Clean dorm rooms 9:00 AM 11:30 AM Morning Session (Climbing Wall initiatives) Noon Depart CIMI via ferry to Long Beach (There will be box lunches on board ferry) 2:30 PM Arrive Long Beach 3:00 PM Depart Long Beach via buses for Greenspun JHS (We will stop for dinner enroute) 8:00 PM Arrive Greenspun JHS

3 Frequently Asked Questions How long is the ferry ride? The boat takes approximately 2 hours to arrive on the island. Total travel time can vary with weather conditions, number of passengers, and the ferry s final destinations. Am I going to get seasick? The crossing to the island is typically calm. However, some students do experience seasickness. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to get approved for seasickness medication on your medical form. You can help avoid motion sickness by getting out into the fresh air, looking at the horizon, and by drinking ginger ale. What is the typical island weather like? Daytime temperatures average degrees and nighttime averages degrees. Our rainy season begins in December and runs through March. Our average rainfall is 13 inches. What do you do if it rains? It rains infrequently on the island. During those rainy days, we try to continue with program as planned. We are able to snorkel in the rain. Hey, you re getting wet anyway, right? If the rain does not permit the scheduled program, we always have fun and exciting alternatives planned. What is the water temperature? Winter water temperature ranges from degrees. The water warms throughout the year to a maximum of 72 degrees in September. How will I keep warm in the ocean? CIMI is able to equip every student and adult in wetsuits that help keep them warm during their snorkels while also providing flotation. Do I need to know how to swim to go snorkeling? We frequently have non-swimmers participate in every aspect of the program. Our wetsuits help students to float. Every instructor and chaperone carries boogie boards to assist students having difficulty swimming. Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear? You can bring your own gear if you choose to. CIMI will provide students with all of the necessary gear to snorkel: mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, booties, and hood. Some students may be provided snorkel weight belts during the basic and ecology snorkels at the discretion of their instructor. Can I snorkel with glasses? Contact lenses? No, you cannot snorkel with glasses. However, we are able to equip students with prescription masks in lieu of their glasses. Whether or not you choose to snorkel in contacts is up to you and your eye care provider. Our staff members often snorkel in their contact lenses without any issues. Do you serve vegetarian alternatives? We provide a vegetarian option at every meal. We also have a salad bar at both lunch and dinner. How do you deal with a severe food allergy? We deal with food allergies every day. The best course of action is to communicate with the facility director, who will coordinate with the food service director. If there are any further concerns or questions, we will contact you for clarification. As always, the earlier we know about your severe food allergies, the better we can serve your

4 specific needs. Can I call my child at camp? Can my child call home? We request that you call your child only in the case of an emergency. Incoming parent phone calls can be a challenge because students are busy in program from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Students are only allowed to call home with the knowledge and consent of their head teacher. Can I get cell phone reception? The majority of people will not be able to get reception. Everyone s cell phone plan is different, so cell phone reception is very hit-and-miss. Do you have a nurse or doctor on site? We do not have a nurse or doctor in the facility. Our staff holds certifications in first aid, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, and Lifeguarding. We can also transport students to our local clinic in Avalon. Why is it necessary for the chaperones to supervise the kids both inside and outside the dorms and around camp at free time? Adult leaders are our greatest allies and an integral part of our program. By having the chaperones care for the students during non-programming time, our staff is able to prepare for the next activity and address other camp needs. Can I participate if I have asthma? Students with asthma participate in our program all the time. It is critical for students with asthma to bring their inhaler with them to every program, including water programs such as snorkeling and kayaking. Without their inhaler, participation in the program may be limited. How many chaperones are going on the trip? Greenspun is sending 8 certified teachers and one school administrator, for a total of 9 adults. Unfortunately, we are unable to bring parent chaperones due to the remote location of the institute and the fact that our accommodations are strictly limited. Can parents visit their kids? We do not allow parental visits due to the remote location of our facilities. Do you have medical forms in other languages? We have Student Health Forms in PDF format in both English and Spanish. Do you have wireless internet? At Toyon, the teacher s lounge and the lower portion of the campus have wireless Internet. Due to the limited bandwidth on Catalina, the internet is only available to our adult leaders but not to our students. Do you provide pillows? No, we do not provide pillows. Where can I get more information about the institute and the programs it offers? Please visit the CIMI website at and the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) channel on Youtube.

5 soft duffle bag sleeping bag backpack pillow What to bring healthy breakfast snack to eat on the bus on the way cash money for the optional night snorkel ($5), and the gift shop 2 t-shirts (plus your GJHS CIMI shirt!) 1 sweatshirt 1 pair of jeans 2 pairs of shorts flip flops swimsuit pajamas undies 3 pairs of socks 2 large towels hiking shoes toothbrush soap shampoo deodorant brush or comb sun screen Ziploc bag rain gear sun hat flashlight plastic bag for wet clothes sunglasses watch water bottle inexpensive camera (or underwater camera) motion sickness medication deck of cards prescription medications in a Ziploc bag with written dosage instructions (give to Ms. Litzenberg) asthma inhaler ( required for snorkel and hikes) cell phone (to contact your parents on the way home) Packing List hard suitcases What NOT to bring GUM! (to protect the island habitat) sunflower seeds (to protect the island habitat) junk food (can exacerbate seasickness) glass bottles video games, ipods, etc. excessive amount of money hair dryers or curling irons (the cabin electrical system cannot handle these devices) GUM! Seriously, please don't bring gum. Write your name on everything! ORANGE yarn must be attached to all bags and pillows! (to identify our school's belongings on the boat)