By: Nelson Kramer

Editor-in-Chief

Just past the Catalina Channel, 22 miles off the coast of Long Beach, students touched down, setting foot onto a wobbly dock, bleary-eyed from the flight but buzzing with anticipation. Every year, the AP Environmental Science and AP Biology classes offer a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI). Upwards of 60 kids have the opportunity to explore the scenic islandscapes. The crew went hiking on island trails, dove into the ocean for snorkeling, and learned about their surroundings and the world of ecology and marine biology through scientific classes and labs. Led this year by LGHS science teachers Cathy Messenger, Jennifer Bryan, and Amelia DeLaPaz, the experience offered students a fascinating—and formative—experience.
This year, the trip started, as usual, predawn. Students arrived at Oakland International for their 5:00 AM flight to LAX, then took a bus to the Long Beach docks, ending with a two-hour ferry ride to the Channel Islands. For senior Mariko Okubo, the trip was tiring, acknowledging, “The travel was really long. Our first flight was super early, and the ferry rides were really bumpy. Once we got to the island, it made the travel worth it.” 

The days students spent at CIMI were jam-packed with activities; from night snorkels to sunrise hikes. The labs provided fun opportunities for the group to explore while also offering a chance to connect deeply with the world of ecology, marine biology, and oceanography. On day one, the team participated in hands-on labs about algae and sharks and by day two they took their learning to the waters with an explorative half day of snorkeling. Every day, there was something new, and an opportunity for everyone to push themselves in new ways—students and teachers alike.

At LGHS, this trip is a tradition, a rite of passage. It all started 35 years ago, thanks to former AP Biology teacher, and head of the science department, Steve Hammack. His first Catalina trip in 1980 began with ten kids and two station wagons. In Hammack’s last year of teaching in 2019, the trip involved over 150 students and multiple flights and ferry rides. Coming back as a chaperone this year after his retirement, he reflected, “Going on this trip for the first time where I wasn’t the organizer, gave me a new perspective; allowed me to see that this tradition is continuing as part of my legacy, and the impact it has on the kids.” He added, “If you want to make people care about the earth, you have to make them find a way to fall in love with it. The Catalina trip helps kids fall in love with nature.” 

LGHS is so fortunate to have had a science and travel-obsessed trailblazer like Mr. Hammack on campus, and just as lucky to have this trip year after year, along with the amazing chaperones that lead the way. This is an experience that connects students to the earth, beyond the textbook or an AP exam, through shared effort, hands-on work, and peer connection.