Catalina Island Marine Institute

The Catalina Island Marine Institute is a non-profit educational program run by Guided Discoveries on Santa Catalina Island, California. Thousands of children travel from the Southern California mainland to Catalina every year to study marine biology. They participate in hands-on programs including snorkeling, labs, boat rides, squid dissections, and more. Attractions on Catalina Island include Toyon Bay, Fox Landing, Cherry Cove, and Campus by the Sea (at Gallagher's Cove). There are also summer camps during the summer.

Summer camps at Toyon Bay are divided into two age groups, 8-12 and 13-17. The Jr. Sea Campers spend a week under supervision of a counselor learning about marine biology, ichthyology, invertebrates, oceanography, and geology. Activities include testing sea water, dolphin watching, fish dissection, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, tide pooling, social activities, and competitions.

Older campers attend CIMI for three weeks and have a class schedule. The classes are typically 2-4 hours long and can be chosen from sailing, windsurfing, SCUBA diving, marine biology, adventure, kayaking, snorkeling, rock climbing, music, art, leadership training, and cooking. Returning campers have more options for classes and may also receive certifications in sailing and SCUBA. Other activities include dances, ice cream socials, carnival, olympics, counselor competitions, day trips to Avalon and other areas on Catalina Island.

References

* "Marine institute on Catalina wins a whale of a $2,000 grant", Long Beach Press-Telegram, Jul. 6, 1993.
* "Submersion in summer program yields results", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Oct. 3, 1994.
* " [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IN+CLASS+WITH+SHARKS+SOMETHING+FISHY+FOR+SIXTH-GRADERS+OUT+OF+SCHOOL-a0128394798 In class with sharks: something fishy for sixth graders out of school] ", Los Angeles Daily News, Jan. 31, 2005.

External links

* [http://www.astrocamp.org/cimi.cfm CIMI web site]
* [http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/directory/resdirectory/g_orgs/guideddiscoveries.html Entry in Marine, Coastal, and Watershed Resource Directory] published by the California Coastal Commission.