Mindful Moments on a Marvelous Monday

Good Evening Families!

Well, we had quite a smooth trip from Newport to Avalon. The swells were big, which provided for some great entertainment watching kids try to walk around while the ship glided over the waves. Thankfully, no student got sick during our boat ride.

After we arrived in Avalon the students had their lunches and became oriented to camp. Again, they did a wonderful job of getting settled in their dorm rooms. Our first program was split between a kayak and a hike in the mountains. Groups 1-4 braved the waters and went out into the ocean on kayaks. Though the weather was chilly, many students learned the legends of Catalina Island and completed the various challenges on their kayaks: stand up, switch spots with a partner, or jump into the water. The kids who hiked saw many different native wild flowers, a beautiful waterfall, and a friendly bison!

Our first meal at CIMI was delicious. We had spaghetti, garlic bread, great salads, and even a cookie for desert. The students were able to go to the CIMI store and purchase their new swag before our night program.

For the evening program, half of the students went on the Creatures of the Night adventure. They go through a maze (pitch black inside) and they learn what deep ocean creatures do to adapt to their surroundings when there is no light. It is truly a highlight of the trip. If you want to be in the know, ask your child about long division. The other half of our students went to the Marine Mammal Hall to learn about different marine mammals and see their skeletons. They played many different games and had the opportunity to release the energy they had left.

As we write this, all the kids are in bed safely sleeping. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. Our first snorkel will be in the morning, followed closely by some rock wall climbing and a night dive. Some groups will have the opportunity to do their first lab tomorrow, including the favorite, Shark Lab.

That is all for now. We apologize for the late update, but the first day of camp is hectic and memorable, to say the least.

Best regards,
The 6th Grade Teachers

P.S. Most of the dorm rooms have some floor showing through the masses of luggage, clothes, and body odor. On the first day, that is a win.