Tag: caeli

Island Packers

Island Packers is the concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, providing transportation to the islands from the Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors. They offer Floating Classroom programs to K-12 students, focusing on the unique resources and environmental challenges impacting these offshore islands and the waters surrounding them. Their programs can be tailored to meet the educational goals of the instructors in both science and social science topics, and include subjects like introduced species, endemism, geology, marine resources, Native American inhabitants, human impact, and environmental stewardship. 

Anacapa Island K-12 Education – This true oceanic island offers 360-degree views of the ocean, and East Anacapa is known for its abundant bird population and seasonal wildflowers. Its remote location makes it a perfect spot to cover science and social science themes. 

What makes this destination unique?  East Anacapa Island is one of the most popular destinations for first time visitors to the Channel Islands. This small, rugged island is big on the sights and sounds of a remote island wilderness. Surrounded by sheer cliffs, the top of the island is an ancient wave cut terrace. Anacapa offers spectacular panoramic views from everywhere you journey. The surrounding kelp forests highlight the rich marine resources present in the area. Sometimes you will see dolphins or whales right from the trail. There are always sea lions and seabirds present. From mid-April through June, you can expect to see the nesting activity of Western Gulls and their chicks. Anacapa island also offers a rich cultural history, including the last lighthouse built on the California coast. There are several archaeological sites documenting the presence of the Chumash people.Prisoners Harbor, Santa Cruz Island K-12 Education – Mature students and/or smaller groups may want to consider the Pelican Trail hike at Prisoners Harbor. This trail is considered one of the most diverse hikes on the islands. Trail highlights include lush native vegetation and spectacular vistas. Education themes are similar to those described for Scorpion Ranch with an emphasis on restoration and conservation. (Requires special permission and release forms to visit The Nature Conservancy property).

What makes this destination unique? Prisoners Harbor is located where the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) boundaries meet, giving unique access to the Pelican Bay Trail. This trail offers beautiful vistas that overlook the Santa Barbara Channel and all its rich marine diversity. It also traverses several different vegetation habitats, providing the best opportunity to see the most diversity of endemic species of any trail on Santa Cruz. This vegetation provides habitat for many bird species as well, including the endemic Island Scrub Jay, which is found nowhere else in the world. The Harbor area still houses an old ranch storage building and an archaeological site that offer a window into the rich cultural past of this island.

Scorpion Ranch K-12 Education – Located on the east end of the largest island off the California Coast, Scorpion Ranch is a unique location to study science themes such as native and endemic organisms, introduced species, geology, and the marine environment. Scorpion Ranch has a long and interesting history of human activities including the site of one of the largest Chumash villages on the Channel Islands. 

What makes this destination unique? East Santa Cruz Island is rich with cultural history and feels like a step back in time. Old ranch buildings still stand just off the main beach. One building has been converted into a Visitor’s Center. Prior to the ranching era, the Chumash people inhabited this same valley. There are archaeological sites as well as current activities that document their connection to this place they know as “Limuw.” As the largest island in California, there is great diversity in the geology and topography. Starting at the cobblestone beach, moving up to wave cut terraces, and continuing to mountainous peaks. Besides the beautiful vistas that overlook the Santa Barbara Channel and all its rich marine diversity. The island is host to a very unique habitat of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. It is fairly common to see the endemic Santa Cruz Island Fox along the trails at Scorpion.

Wildlife and Whales K-12 Education – This is a non-island landing excursion that focuses on the natural history of this unique marine region, and the various types of wildlife that depend on a healthy ocean. Within the waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, over 35 species of marine mammals have been identified. Throughout the year it is possible to see Common Dolphin, Risso’s Dolphin, Minke Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Pacific White Sided Dolphin, Dall’s Porpoise , Humpback Whales, and an occasional pod of Orca. Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions are also common around the harbor breakwaters and Anacapa Island. The islands and surrounding waters are also habitat for at least 60 species of seabirds. Some of the more common sightings of seabirds include Western Gulls, California Brown Pelicans, and several species of cormorants and shearwaters. 

What will students experience? There is always an opportunity to see wildlife in route to the islands. They will brake to see whales and dolphins! Once ashore, students will have a lunch break. After lunch they will take a guided hike with their naturalist. Their naturalists are trained on the unique natural and cultural resources found in Channel Islands National Park and have a large repertoire of activities to reinforce the information they present. Anacapa Island possible science themes include adaptation, habitats, native and endemic organisms. As well as introduced species, research and restoration, marine ecology, and geology. Social science themes may include Native American inhabitants, explorers, and shipwrecks. All trips can be tailored to meet your curriculum goals and objectives. Financial assistance is available

South Yuba River Citizens League

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) is a grassroots organization founded in 1983. They are the leading voice for the protection and restoration of the Yuba River watershed. Their goals focus on river and forest restoration and educating and mobilizing their communities to be good stewards of their environment. To achieve their goals, SYRCL has developed into a vibrant community organization with over 3,500 members and 1,000 volunteers.  SYRCL’s River Restoration team is leading the effort to rehabilitate the lower Yuba River for salmon, steelhead, riparian habitat, and wildlife. The Meadow Restoration team is assessing and restoring meadows because of their hydrological and ecological importance as they sequester carbon, act as natural firebreaks, and as important habitat for wildlife. The Forest Health team works with the U.S. Forest Service, private land owners, and other nonprofits to plan and implement projects that address forest health and to prepare for catastrophic fires.

The River Education programs integrate science into the curriculum to provide educational opportunities that inspire life-long stewards of the Yuba River watershed. Using a variety of educational tools, they teach students of all ages from their community, as well as surrounding areas, lessons about watershed health, Yuba salmon, climate change, water conservation, meadow restoration, and scientific monitoring. They strive to empower, engage, and collaborate with local youth and learning communities, and create linkages between the River Education program and other areas of SYRCL’s work. The Salmon Expeditions are an amazing opportunity for students and families to adventure down the Yuba River to see spawning salmon. Experienced river rafting guides offer different options to get wet and learn about the salmon life cycle, local ecology, and human impacts on these fish.

The Youth Outdoor Leadership Opportunity (YOLO) is a free, five-day summer science expedition in mid-June for local 9th-12th graders to engage in local climate action and watershed restoration efforts. Surrounded by the gorgeous Sierra Mountains, students get a chance to learn about ecology and build skills in real time. They conduct hands-on field work and meadow restoration research, collect necessary data, connect with teammates to discuss important environmental justice issues, hone leadership skills, and explore the beautiful landscapes of the North Yuba Watershed.

The High School Water Quality Project offers opportunities for high school students to become trained in water quality monitoring practices, collecting water quality data, analyzing and interpreting the data, and learning river etiquette to become River Ambassadors. SYRCL recently held their annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. This school program presents film programming for over 3,000 students for their local community and neighboring counties. They curate age-appropriate, engaging, and inspiring content for TK-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12th grade film screenings.

Each student audience gets their very own film festival. In years past, students have had the opportunity to see their films on the big screen – TK-8th graders at the Del Oro Theatre and High Schoolers at school sites. An important part of the school program, the Wild & Scenic education team creates film-specific, standards-based curriculum for participating educators from local elementary, middle, and high schools for further classroom enrichment. The Wild & Scenic education team offers a wide array of low-cost programs for audiences throughout the community.