Santa Cruz II - 2018

I had a good time at this camp! - Matisse

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# islandofthebluedolphins

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# islandofthebluedolphins High Adventure, Leadership, Outdoors Girl Scouts Greater Los Angeles Session 2

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preface

Imagine waking up on an island just off the coast of California, cooking your own breakfast, then heading to the ocean to kayak and discover sea caves—and that’s just the beginning of your day.

Hundreds of GSGLA Girl Scouts have experienced the trip of a lifetime as part of our Island of the Blue Dolphins (IBD) program, a high-adventure specialty camp. Not only did the girls put their outdoor knowledge to the test, they also exercised their leadership skills and connected with other Girl Scouts in a remote, wild location.

The result: Memories and lessons they’ll never forget.

One recent camper, Abigail K., noted that in addition to kayaking, the girls “went snorkeling, and went for a night hike where we got to see constellations and even planets. That was my favorite part of the entire camp because of the beauty and the memories.” Her mom, Barbara, accompanied the girls on the trip and adds, “Some of the girls were nervous to kayak the third day… but most decided to go and came back saying how much fun they had in the caves. I believe the leadership makes all the difference in an organization like Girl Scouts.”

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foreword

I was so pleased to bring back Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Island of the Blue Dolphins camp for the summer of 2018. This trip is unlike any other camp that we have at GSGLA. The Girls get a chance to do primitive camping while also using their leadership skills. I introduced the G.I.R.L. Leadership qualities into the Leadership component of the camp. All the Girl Scouts that attended identified as either a Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk Taker or Leader! As you look through the book you will see pictures that exemplify these ideals.

Seeing the Leaders lead the hikes that averaged over 11 miles a day, especially the 2 night hikes we took. The stars were so beautiful.

Special shout outs to the followingBarbara Kelly and Michelle Roberts (who came all the way from GS Utah). They brought an extra “experience� component to the trip. Both were able to talk with the girls about various Leadership opportunities they should watch out for.

A few memories I have are the followingThe Go-Getters up and out of their tents to start breakfast and get us all going.

McKenna Riley and the Santa Barbara Adventure Company All the Kayak Guides-Iona, Elise, Kaitlin, Ben and Kyle.

The Innovators were great at figuring out our semiprepared meals and how best to finish preparing them.

I liked watching the Risk Takers take us out on the Kayaks and move us through the sea caves.

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I hope you enjoy this memory book from your trip to Santa Cruz Island July 11-14, 2018.

e p e p a s s i Mel

By the Numbers Wednesday - 11.45 miles walked, set up camp and 1 night hike Thursday - 11.28 miles walked, 4 miles of kayaking and 1 starry night hike.

Friday - 13.49 miles walked, - 12 miles Kayaking, - talked with Ranger Sean as part of the Badge work and a presentation by John Gherini great-great-greatgrandson of Santa Cruz Island ranch owner Justinian Caire. The girls were so engaged with both Ranger Sean and Mr. Gherini.

The girls earned the following badges - Cadettes -Primitive Camper - Senior-Adventure Camper - Ambassador-Survival Camper

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g.i.r.l. adventures come & see our a weekend of fun

July 11

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July 13

July 14

- Check into boat docks at Ventura Harbor.

- Orientation talk by Melissa Pepe - Load all gear onto the boat - Board Island Packers boat - Saw dolphins from boat - Disembark at Santa Cruz Island - Fireman chain to pass all camping gear down the narrow dock to shore - Lunch on the rocky beach - Carry all gear to group campsite (¾ mile from beach) - Walk back to beach for swim test, rock stacking, bug catching, etc.

- Dinner of Hamburgers and beans - Hike up a hill for sunset views and a fantastic night hike - “Island S’mores” back in camp (chocolate, graham cracker, marshmallow fluff)

- Breakfast pancakes and Lil’ Smokies - Make sack lunches - Get outfitted for kayaking (helmet, life jacket, paddling jacket or wetsuit) - Carry kayaks into water - Kayaking - Some girls and adults back to beach, other girls continue kayaking to private beach - Back to shore for lunch - Picnic lunch at picnic tables - Some girls back to tents - Other girls Snorkling, lanyard making, napping on the beach - Back to camp for Chili and cornbread in a Frito bag - After dinner night hike to Cavern Point. Great sunset views and pictures.

- Everyone enjoys vanilla wafers back at camp before going to bed

- Breakfast eggs, go-gurts and oatmeal Make sack lunches Melissa is still looking for her shoe Kayaking to Potato Harbor Some girls and Barb stayed back and hiked - Potato Harbor swimming and lunch - Some girls back to tents - Other girls Snorkling, lanyard making, napping, - Back to camp for Burritos - Ranger Sean accepts invite to our camp and talks with the girls about being a National Park Ranger.

- Everyone goes to the talk given

by John Gherini, great-great-great grandson of Justiane Caire, original rancher on Santa Cruz Island.

- “Island S’mores” on the beach - After dinner night hike with Melissa an Barb. Everyone laughs so hard!

Other girls go back to camp

- Breakfast pancakes, Lil’ Smokies, eggs - Made sack lunches - Break camp-Melissa is still looking for her shoe - Hike all gear out to the pier - While waiting on the pier, a man walks up with Melissa’s shoe. He had found it in the water while kayaking.

- Some girls work on Jr. Ranger program, other girls go to the visitor center - Some girls go snorkeling and swimming - Loaded boat - Boarded boat, while boarding some girls sworn in as Jr. Rangers and we all took a picture with John Gherini - Saw a whale off in the distance while traveling back to Ventura - Unload the boat - Parents pick up at boat docks

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Ventura harbor My mom woke me up at 4:00am and by 4:30am my whole Girl Scout troop was at my house and beginning our three hour road trip to Ventura.

- MADELINE

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island packers

On the way to the island we saw a variety of animals including sea lions and dolphins. We noticed that the water behind the boat is lighter because there is more air in it. Once we got to the island we saw how the water was very clear and we learned about some of the animals on the island. - JESSICA

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The boat ride was fun, but my hair kept getting messed up. - MADELINE

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On the boat ride we saw a pod of dolphins which was awesome. – ALINA

I enjoyed the boat ride and swimming in the ocean. – BROOKE

On the boat ride over we saw dolphins and other sea creatures! – RILEY

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rocky beach

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campsite life

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We learned about the island with the Ranger and it was so cool!! I learned a lot! – RILEY

We had dinner and then talked to a ranger for the park. To follow that up we also listened to the presentation given by a person/owner/rancher on the island.

- JESSICA

I don’t eat chili, but Melissa’s chili was amazing. - BARB

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The view of the ocean after the sunset on our night hike was breathtaking! – NICOLE Girl Scouts 25

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come & see us

island walking We had a great time on our night hike! We got to walk on the cliffs and bluffs and watch the sunset.

We can see so many stars at night and Mars is the brightest it has been in 15 years! Definitely things you can’t see in the city. – SKYLAR

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The sunsets against the ocean and mountains were one of the most beautiful that I had seen.

- ABIGAIL KELLY That evening we went on a hike to watch the sunset. The hike was 11 miles, there and back, so I brought a light chair.

I am glad I brought the chair because we had to wait 25 minutes for the sunset.- MADELINE I loved the hike, but I thought it was a bit long. That might just be the lazy in me talking.

-VIOLET Evelyn broke her shoe - JAE Hiked four miles, found closed road. - EMMA

nature hike

We hiked 11.34 miles.

- MATISSE

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sunset hike

After the kayaking, we went to the beach, had dinner, and started on a hike. We went up to a point where we could see the sunset and when we came down half the girls went on another hike and the others went to the pier. I went on the hike where we look at the starts and there different constellations. We also laughed at the funny remarks and questionable quotes that were made. - JESSICA

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night-time fun

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ocean paddling First day, we went kayaking for the first time in caves and around the island. We went into a variety of caves that all had their special features and quirks. Some are how caves looked like animals, others were special because they were huge and went deep inside the mountain. Next day, we went on an 8 mile kayak to Potato Harbor, where the water was very clear and you could see a variety of sea life. We also visited caves on the ride. - JESSICA

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kelpand

caves

We went kayaking on this day. It was hard but harbor was super cool. - ALINA

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Some of us saw a big stingray and it was awesome because it was in the wild.

– HAZEL

We saw many stars and bioluminescent things in the sea. – EVELYN

I saw J singing Moana and I joined her.

Also I saw a bunch of fish, sea urchins and sea anemone. – SIERRA

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green room We went on a canoe trip and saw many caves.

There was a beautiful cave where the light made the water turn blue. We stopped at a beach to play and Hazel, Jessica and I jumped off a three foot cliff.

-MADELINE

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The kayaking to Potato Harbor was tough, but it was an amazing experience that I will never forget. –SKYLAR We went on a super long kayak to Potato Harbor. It was exhausting but it was so worth it! - JULIA Saw: Harbor seals, massive waves, clear water, and caves.

Song: Every song imaginable.

Eight miles of kayaking!

-ANGELINA

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sea life

Most of us went to this super cool cove where there was tons of sea life! I got to climb to the top of some rocks! It was awesome! – RILEY It felt amazing to be back on the water! Cavern Point was my favorite, the Back Room was so dark and scary, but cool! – JAE The water, fish, and kelp in the “Green Room” was so pretty!

– NICOLE

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snorkeling

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The water was so clear. – ALINA I loved kayaking and swimming in the ocean. I loved going into the sea caves. When we went snorkeling, we saw bay-rays and all these little fish. It was great! - BROOKE I saw fish with pinchers on their tails while snorkeling. I noticed that it is windier on the beach. -MATISSE

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The kelp is edible and does not taste that bad. - ABIGAIL

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island history Talked to ranger, listened to John about island history and someone who lived on the island.EMMA & ALINA

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We learned about the island with the Ranger and it was so cool!! I learned a lot! – RILEY

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junior rangers

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reflections

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Kayaking 8 miles was super hard, but the pretty-colored rocks and water at Potato Harbor made it all worth it! – NICOLE We went kayaking on this day. It was hard but harbor was super cool.

After that we went and talked to the ranger and someone who lived on the island. – ALINA We went kayaking and snorkeling. We went to Potato Harbor and someone found the shoulder blade of a seal! – BROOKE Most of us went to this super cool cove where there was tons of sea life! I got to climb to the top of some rocks! It was awesome! – RILEY We stayed behind from the super long kayak trip and went on a super long hiking trip instead. While on the hiking trip we screamed at the other group. -JULIA We went kayaking today. We saw: caves, Cavern Point (largest cave in the world), fish, harbor seals. Angelina got stung by a bee. Saw a stingray. Saw large starfish. - EMMA Dark sand beaches, really clear ocean, saw dolphins on ferry to island, saw sunset on ocean, saw sea lions and harbor seals.- SIERRA

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u o y es e me i t t nex

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# islandofthebluedolphins

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We had a great time ! - SKYLAR