It was really fun! - Tara
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# islandofthebluedolphins
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# islandofthebluedolphins High Adventure, Leadership, Outdoors Girl Scouts Greater Los Angeles
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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.”
“Having a trusting friendship with my sister Girl Scouts, I wasn’t afraid to be myself and come out of my shell to share my feelings and experiences.” - Elizabeth L
Cadette and Girl Advisory Bureau member Elizabeth L. also traveled to Santa Cruz Island, along with her sister Girl Scouts in Troop 7352. She details her Island of the Blue Dolphins adventure on the Reflections pages of this book.
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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 10 miles a day and get us set up for snorkeling. Special shout outs to the following- Sammy Larmon, Karen Apolinario, and Erika Sosa (who came all the way from New York). They brought an extra “experience� component to the trip. All 3 volunteers were able to talk with the girls about various Leadership opportunities they should watch out for.
A few memories I have are the following-
All the Kayak Guides-Iona, Hector and Scott.
The Go-Getters up and out of their tents to start breakfast and get us all going.
I hope you enjoy this memory book from your trip to Santa Cruz Island June 27-29, 2018.
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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McKenna Riley and the Santa Barbara Adventure Company
e p e p a s s i Mel
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g.i.r.l. adventures come & see our a weekend of fun
June 28:
June 29:
June 30:
Check into boat docks at Ventura Harbor. Orientation talk by Melissa Pepe Load all gear onto the boat Board Island Packers boat for the boat trip to island Very few pictures on the boat...all the adults were feeling quite sick! Saw sea lions and dolphins from boat Disembark at Santa Cruz Island Dock Fireman chain to pass all camping gear down the narrow dock and onto the 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 Chilli in Frito bags Hike up a hill for sunset views “Island S’mores” back in camp (chocolate, graham cracker, marshmallow fluff)
Breakfast of pancakes and Lil’ Smokies Make sack lunches Get outfitted for kayaking (helmet, life jacket, paddling jacket or wetsuit) View National Park Service vessel that was unloading gear Carry kayaks into water Kayaking Back to shore for lunch Picnic lunch at picnic tables Down to beach Snorkling, lanyard making, napping, Back to camp for burrito dinner After dinner walk back to beach for walking along the shore
Breakfast of pancakes, Lil’ Smokies, eggs Made sack lunches Break camp Hike all gear out Work on Jr. Ranger program Naturalist led hike to top of hill During naturalist hike saw native island plants, learned history of island, ate edible plants Loaded boat Boarded boat, while boarding some girls sworn in as Jr. Rangers Saw lots of dolphins on boat ride back Parents pick up at boat docks Adults go to In n Out
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come & see the
ventura harbor
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Overall it was a good day. It was extremely windy and the water was cold.--Renee
The water was cold but beautiful. --Valentina
The boat ride had lots of animals, more than expected.--Holland
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island packers The boat ride was really fun and cold because of the wind! --Nat
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come & see the
santa cruz dock
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The beach was all rocks, not sand. --Kailynn The water was freezing and the beach was very rocky and windy. --Kate First we went on a boat ride which was so cool because I saw dolphins. Then we walked over to camp which was exhausting but okay because there was a wheelbarrow that helped me carry the huge tent.--Tara
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come & see the
scorpion ranch
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water play
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Today at the beach the water was very cold. It has also been pretty windy at the campsite.--Charlotte
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swim test
“This is a leadership experience where we just happen to camp� --Melissa Pepe
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“I feel comfortable in an all girl environment. I feel like I can be myself� --Natalie
We all enjoy ourselves in the cold weatherThe water was really clear.--Kaitlyn and Elizabeth
The beach has many rocks in it. --Aubrey
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Today was really fun. Everyone in my patrol is really nice which is great. And I know all their names which is awesome. I’m excited for tomorrow but I hope it’s not too cold.--Kate R.
The water was really cold which I hated. Got out at the first opportunity. Capturing the rock bugs was fun though and a welcome distraction from the biting wind.--Erin
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camping Setting up a tent is a 2 person job, --Eliza Putting up the tents was not very hard except it was very windy!--Go Getters You need to stake the tent to the ground.--Mia
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Loved the creativity of the food. Chili in a bag was so yummy! --Erika
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Laughed so much got headache.--Valentina
The girls in my group are really nice. --Kailynn
For breakfast we had pancakes, smokies, fruit, and orange juice.-- Got Getters
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The mountains are pretty, but very, very windy. You need to stake the tent to the ground. --Mia People put a lot of hard word into the dinner. --Elizabeth Meeting new people was fun. --Renee The island is very windy.--Aubrey Worked as a team to put up the tent.--Lois
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Gets cold at night & it’s very windy. --Kate
e the
& se come
d n a isl mores s'
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Later the tent fell down which was annoying. But we fixed it. And other people’s tents fell down too because of the wind. Water was cold but find and chilli in the bag food was fantastic. Excited for hike tomorrow.--Tara
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“This is the best trip ever!� Holland
packin'it in and out
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come & see the
Visitor's Center “As a first time camper I would definitely do this again. I can’t wait for the next trip.”-- Valentina
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walk in the park “I love going on Girl Scout adventures. Camping with Girl Scouts in the Channel Islands this week was unlike anything I’ve ever done.”-- Jinea
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s e s n e s 5 It wasn’t as windy today as it was yesterday. I’m really excited to see how all of my pictures will turn out that I took.--Charlotte Cool scenery with lots of animal life. -- Jenna
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come & see the
nature hike
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“I’m going on the [nature] hike because I want to experience everything there is here [at the Channel Islands].”-- Aubrey
I noticed that it is very windy here and that baby eagles are just puff balls.-Holland
Lots of animals. very relaxing, very cold.-Kaitlyn
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“I loved hiking and learning about edible plants. We ate mustard seed and lemonade berries. They were delicious.� -- Holland
come & see the
sunset
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island foxes
come & see the
I saw at least 4 foxes within the hour of getting to the island. --Lois The foxes have red near their necks. --Holland There was many cute foxes. --Renee
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I liked how kayaking was challenging & the water was even colder than I expected.--Lois
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come & see the
kayaking
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“I’m a risk taker because I faced my fear and kayaked through dark caves with really big waves.” --Kaitlyn
We went to the kayak site and we got a helmet, lifevest, a paddle jacket or wetsuit. Later on, we went kayaking and saw seasonal red crabs. We went to a few sea caves and it was fun. --Go Getters My favorite kayaking spot was the clear cove with beautiful blue, clear water that I could see all the ground through. After spending the rest of the day at the beach, my nails are sandy. - Innovators
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come & see the
caves and crabs “My favorite part of the weekend was kayaking through the caves and seeing the hundreds of crabs in the water. Also, it was so cool to see dozens of dolphins on the boat ride over the to the Channel Islands. I’ve never been that close to dolphins before.” Tara and Holland
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Today it was really fun to try something new by kayaking in the ocean. It was also cool to see all of the crabs and the caves. --Charlotte I found out that seaweed is edible.--Holland Even though the water was freezing cold, I liked kayaking through the caves and I loved the sea lions/seals. --Kate The water visibility was really bad today, and it’s cold. But I had a fun day.--Nate I liked how kayaking was challenging and that the people to the left of us are really loud.--Lois After kayaking we went and ate a delicious lunch that was much needed after working. After lunch we went swimming and snorkeling.--Go Getters
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come & see the
kelp forest
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My favorite part was hanging out at the beach and making lanyards. Though my legs and arms hurt from kayaking and walking 12 miles. --Renee
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going home “I’m a go-getter because I earned a National Park Service Junior Ranger pin at the Channel Islands.” --Melia
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It was a really warm day, the boat ride was really fun, and I had a great weekend. This camp was so amazing and such a fun experince.I really enjoyed all the activitys that we where able to do.I had a lot of fun on the hikes.I hope i can go back next year.
I really enjoyed making new friends on this trip, I would tell other people about the sea caves and also the boat ride because it was really fun!
My fondest memory was on the boat ride there when Jenna and I were on the front of the boat trying to get wet.
“One of my favorite things that I did was snorkeling. I got to see lots of different kinds of fish,schools of fish, and lots of kelp. Another thing that o truly enjoyed doing the Junior Ranger program. I got to explore most of the island and learn about the past of the island as well. There were so many other fun things that we did but these two were my favorite.� -Meghan
My fondest memory that I will remember for a long time is the great friendships I made both with my camp-mates as well as will the adult guides. Everyone was so nice and fun to be around!
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come & see the
reflections “Having a trusting friendship with my sister Girl Scouts, I wasn’t afraid to be myself and come out of my shell to share my feelings and experiences.” - Elizabeth L
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Every G.I.R.L. needs to experience IBD. My adventure began when my troop arrived on Santa Cruz Island, and we gathered all of our belongings from the boat and sang camp songs on the way to our campsite. With some first-time campers, in keeping with the spirit of the G.I.R.L., we made them feel right at home, working together to set up all of the tents. We then split up into patrols according to our G.I.R.L. character types [Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader]. Within each patrol, we were assigned different tasks; as a Leader, I cooked meals, led hikes, and made sure we worked toward our badge requirements. The second day, we woke up bright and early and went kayaking in caves. Our kayaking guides taught us how to balance ourselves, paddle, and steer. When we were kayaking out at sea, unfortunately, one of the campers started to not feel well. She was instructed by Melissa, our camp counselor, to join her in her kayak. But the girl in the front of Melissa’s kayak was afraid to go into the water so far out at sea, as she had to swim from one kayak to the other and switch spots. Yet she was able to face her fears and was successfully able to get herself into the other kayak. But it wasn’t all work and no play. We had time throughout our trip to head to the beach, swim in the clear water, and play in the sand. I saw so many different sea creatures that I had never seen before! Without question, the trip brought out every aspect of being a G.I.R.L.: You needed to be a Go-getter to try new things such as eating seaweed; an Innovator to be able to get out of tough situations; a Risktaker to be able to do something you have never done before, such
as kayaking in caves; and a Leader to be able to help the patrols work together. On our last day, we were sad to leave, and remembered our camping experience on the boat ride home. Between our beach adventures and many hikes, we were able to explore the entire coastline. Prior to attending this camp, I took the G.I.R.L. quiz and found out that I was a Leader; however, by the end of camp, I learned that I embodied all of the G.I.R.L. characteristics: As a Go-getter, I was up early every morning to start a new adventure; as an Innovator, while at the beach, I used smooth, round rocks as a sit-upon to sing camp songs, since we were limited on the items we could bring on this trip; as a Risk-taker, I tried new things that I have never done before such as kayaking and snorkeling; and as a Leader, I was able to help guide first-time campers in setting up their tents. I also encouraged others to keep going even though they were tired. Lastly, while my sister Girl Scouts in Troop 7352 and I attended IBD together, we were split into different patrols—as a result, we were able to make new friendships, and everyone felt like one big family. Also, at the end of each night, our troop came back together and we shared our new experiences with one another. It was relieving to know that I wasn’t the only one in my troop who was nervous to try new things. Having a trusting friendship with my sister Girl Scouts, I wasn’t afraid to be myself and come out of my shell to share my feelings and experiences. I have so many amazing memories from this trip and I couldn’t imagine sharing these memories with anyone else than my sister Girl Scouts.
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S A N TA C RUZ I S L A N D
# islandofthebluedolphins
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I had an amazing time at Island of the Blue Dolphins it was truly and experience that I will never forget. -Meghan