9th Grade: 9 p.m. Tuesday, September 22 to 5 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2009

As you probably know, we have a tradition of a ninth grade trip early in the school year to the Channel Islands. The islands are a tremendous educational and recreational asset right in our own backyard. This year we are spending three days aboard the Vision exploring San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz Islands.

Our ninth graders have already begun various research projects to better understand the issues facing these islands and their relationship to many larger, global issues facing our world. In addition to studying endemic species, geology, navigation, marine biology and island history, students will be conducting research activities examining marine ecosystems and reserves.

We will board the Vision at the Sea Landing in the Santa Barbara harbor at 9:00 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 22. Come aboard to visit and check out the boat. However by 9:30 pm, we need to have all of our gear stored and parents departed, so we can begin whipping our crew into shape. We have kayaks to load, decks to swab, and “walking the plank” protocol to establish. We will sleep on the boat in the harbor that night and leave for the islands about 3:00 am. We will return to Sea Landing by 5:00 pm on Friday, Sept. 25.

An equipment list is available below and as a printable PDF. Please pack as compactly as possible since there is a minimum of space on the boat. Pack your clothes and sleeping bag in one duffel. Have your wetsuit, snorkel gear, etc. in another bag that will be stored in a different place and may get wet.

If you are prone to seasickness and have your own remedy or any other medications we need to dispense, please inform Whit in writing by the evening of Sunday, Sept 20. Don’t forget to bring it on the trip.

Please feel free to call Brian or the office with any questions you may have.

Thanks so much!

EQUIPMENT LIST
(You are ninth graders. You know the drill.)
(Click here for printable PDF.)

Required
• Sleeping bag
• Water bottle
• Daypack
• Personal toiletries
• Towel
• Underwear
• Rain jacket and pants – great for skiff rides and channel crossings!
• 2 sets of warm clothes, tops and bottoms (one set may get wet)
• (Fleece or capilene-type material recommended. It can be foggy & wet!)
• Pajamas
• 2 - 3 tee-shirts (1 synthetic recommended)
• At least one pair shorts
• Wool hat (beanie) / sun hat
• Sneakers or light hiking boots for island hiking
• Socks
• Island Reader, workbook, & research materials with pens and pencils

For Kayaking
• Swim suit (quick dry nylon shorts for guys, swimsuit with quick dry nylon shorts for girls.)
• Quick dry tee-shirt / rash guard (could be same as capeline or poly-pro)
• Windbreaker (you can use rain jacket)
• Personal first aid kit
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, and sun hat (there can be a lot of glare off the water)
• Tevas (something with heel strap/support) or booties
(Flip-flops/sandals without straps are NOT OK! – old shoes that can get wet are fine.)

You can bring a pair of flip-flops, Ugg’s, slippers, etc. for evenings on the boat.
If you bring cotton for active wear–it may not dry.

Optional, but highly recommended
• Wet suit (borrow one from a friend, share, ask Brian)
• Rash guard
• Flippers, mask, snorkel (these can be rented from the Sea Landing prior to Sunday evening)
• Bike gloves for kayak caving (cheap ones that you can get saltwater on)
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Headlamp/ flashlight – preferably waterproof
• Fishing gear
• Journal, book, art supplies – pens, watercolors, paper
• Personal pillow (bunk pillows with new covers provided on boat)

It is possible to rent flippers, masks, and snorkels from Sea Landing (963-3564), but you must do it prior to the trip. It is also possible to rent fishing gear from Sea Landing prior to the trip or you can bring your own. There will be plenty of opportunities to fish. Thanks!