Channel Islands National Park: Sea Kayaking Expedition
Recommended group size: 12 to 45
Standard size of trail group: 12 participants
Course Overview
Boojum's Channel Islands National Park outdoor education experience offers a high-quality, custom-designed group experience in an unforgettable location. Join Boojum's experienced staff in this magical course area a world away from the California mainland for the learning adventure of a lifetime!
Boojum's Channel Islands sea kayaking experience offers an exploration of coastal ecology, island biogeography, and a stunning landscape that's a powerful, memorable educational experience for all. Supported by Boojum's experienced guides and faculty, participants learn about themselves, each other and the natural world in a truly unique and remarkable location.
Sample Activities
Activities offered vary by specific location and may include the following:- Sea kayaking by rookeries, sandy shores and cliffs
- Guided natural history and ecology hikes
- Explorations of sea arches by kayak
- Lessons in biology, geology, weather, and marine science
- Team-building initiatives and group development challenges
- Journal writing & creative assignments
- Service learning projects
- Early morning sunrise hikes, stretch circles or yoga
- Small group presentations
- Exploration of native & endemic species
- Free time, recreation and fun games
- Environmental awareness games & lessons
- Classes in outdoor survival skills, cultural history, native plant use, and many more
- Campfires with skits, songs, stories, and s'mores
- Town Hall environmental resource use discussion
- Astronomy observation and lessons
- Native American myths and stories
- Council meeting & group topical discussions
- Talent show and coffeehouse
- Night-hikes focusing on nocturnal animal adaptations
Learning activities are presented in a variety of formats throughout the program and are experiential in nature. Lessons are planned to be stimulating and challenging. Instructors give participants the tools to promote personal discovery and self-direction in learning. A thoughtfully developed progression of hands-on learning, structured lessons, experiential outdoor activities, and free time is provided to maximize learning and craft a positive, memorable experience.
Sample Goals for the course:
- To build character, confidence, and life skills through outdoor adventure activities.
- To foster responsible environmental citizenship and ecological sustainability in the lives of program participants.
- To facilitate group cohesion, teamwork skills, and positive group development.
- To learn outdoor science, including natural history and ecology, tied to state science standards.
- To develop communication and problem-solving skills, independence and leadership skills.
- To teach specific outdoor skills, field science topics or other areas requested by the client.
- To have fun!
Sample Itinerary (five-day program):
All students and school field staff meet Boojum staff at Ventura Harbor on the mainland. Students and school field staff will be greeted by the Boojum Course Director and receive a general overview of the program which includes course rules, expectations of conduct, and Boojum staff introductions. The group will embark with on a one-hour cruise to Scorpion Bay on Santa Cruz Island, during which sightings of seals, whales or dolphins are common. On the island, students and school field staff are divided into learning teams and begin to establish goals for the course. On first day of the program the students will begin with team building activities to set the stage for the course and group development. Students begin learning outdoor living skills, including low impact camping techniques, cooking skills and personal and group risk management in the outdoors. Topics covered on the first day may include:
- Overview of itinerary and setting learning goals
- Safety awareness and risk management
- Camping, paddling and hiking techniques
- Checking of student equipment
- Introduction to low impact camping skills
- Introduction to island geology, ecology and natural history
At the end of the day students will cook dinner with the camping kitchen equipment. The day ends with an evening program.
Participants begin hiking or kayaking sessions following breakfast. Kayak sessions start with instruction on paddling techniques and risk management from trained guides, who will accompany the groups on the expedition as naturalists and primary instructors while on the water. The variety and length of water activities will progress with the students' interests, comfort levels, and abilities. The highlight of the kayaking trip is exploration of magnificent bluffs and arches along the island cliffs. Lunch will be enjoyed in a nearby harbor or cove. Groups who are hiking explore the island's unique ecology and scenic views from one of many ridge-top and canyon bottom trails. We look for the Island Fox and other special Santa Cruz Island species. Other activities may include tide-pooling and beach-combing experiences. A certain amount of free time is offered. An evening program rounds out each day.
Day Five
The final day includes last hiking, beach exploration, intertidal zone studies, or sea kayaking. Participants pack up camp and bring equipment to the dock for ferry transport to the mainland. A review of the program's significant learning moments may be held. A favorite activity is the "Boojum relay," a fun review game where participants go over the course's environmental and social lessons while completing an obstacle course. The last moments of the program are spent in large and small groups bringing closure to the experience. The ferry transports participants across the water and back to Ventura Harbor for pickup.