Toyon Bay

Toyon Bay is located on Catalina Island off the coast of California. Originally inhabited by a group of natives called either Pipi Mari (or Pimugnans, depending on your point of view), and the Torqua, whom a nearby spring is named after. It was site of a boarding school for boys in the early 1900’s. During World War II the boys were evacuated and the facility was turned into an Office of Strategic Services training camp. Patriots from China and American men were trained in guerrilla warfare to be used behind Japanese lines in China. The Office of Strategic Services is the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. After the war it saw time as a Boarding School, Singing Camp and an abandoned husk.

Eventually in 1979, it was purchased by Guided Discoveries, Inc. and has been a Marine Science Camp for students from all over the country. While attending this camp students of all ages learn to snorkel and learn about Marine Biology and Island Ecology. Transportation is available via the Catalina King from Long Beach.

Sources

*CIA, Catalina Island Marine Institute.
*http://www.astrocamp.org/content.cfm?Nav=115&SID=17&L=52
*http://www.aliso12.org/cimi.htm
*http://guideddiscoveries.org/content.cfm?Nav=52&SID=17&L=52