Welcome to the Catalina Island Camps Blog
I haven't ever been a big reader of blogs but recently it was suggested to me that I should write a blog for Catalina Island Camps to share some of the work that goes into planning for our camp season. So the CIC Blog is born. I hope to share with the campers, staff and parents some of the things that go into preparing for a year at Catalina Island Camps which will include our Spring and Fall Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (nicknamed CELP), our summer camp program, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Family Camp in August and our Weekend Group Programs.
We have programs operating at Howlands Landing from March through just before Thanksgiving. Each year over 5000 people visit us at camp. Visits range from 3 days and 2 nights for our CELP or Weekend group programs to the handful of campers who attend summer camp for 4 or more weeks in the the summer. Of course, there is a handful of staff who live year round at camp and many more who work 9 or 10 moths of the year.
The programs on the island are supported by our mainland office in Altadena. There are 6 of us in the office making the administrative arrangements for all of the guests to safely get to and from camp. Anytime you want to call us to ask a question or give us some important information, you will speak to one of us in the Altadena office. We share the office with Tom Sawyer Camps, a day camp that operates four different programs in the Pasadena area.
The CELP season starts next week when the 19 staff arrive for two weeks of staff training. We have partnered with Jean-Michel Cousteau and Ocean Futures Society to be one of the Ambassadors of the Environment programs. CELP is a school group program that teaches ecological principles to students as part of their science curriculum. Schools come for 3 to 5 days and participate in a wide variety of hands on activities that teach them about the ecosystem around Howlands Landing.
While some of us are getting ready for the start of CELP (hiring staff, updating curriculum, preparing and buying equipment, communicating with schools, making transportation arrangements and all the other details), some of us are preparing for our first weekend groups in April. Finally, our biggest administrative job each year is summer camp. Each year almost 600 families send 700 campers to CIC for 1, 2, 3 or 4 week sessions. We hire over 60 staff each year to live with, guide, teach and supervise the campers. There are so many details we must manage in preparing for camp -- from marketing, registration, transportation, staff hiring and training, food service, facilities and equipment to camper records, mailings, websites, schedules and medical staff that it takes plenty of careful planning and coordination from the CIC team.
Finally, Family Camp is a fun week for us. Jean-Michel Cousteau comes to camp with other members of his team from Ocean Futures Society for a late August adventure on Catalina. Families enjoy a week that is much like a summer camp week with lots of activities plus they get to spend time with Jean-Michel in the water and on land. He will tell stories of his latest adventures that make us all feel like we are on a expedition with him.
I returned just this weekend from Austin, Texas where I attended the American Camp Association annual conference. We were treated to some amazing keynote speakers, including David Elkind, Neil Howe and Michael Wood. I also had time to attend workshops on waterfront safety and training, current risk management issues, staff meeting ideas, supervision, staff training and conflict resolution. One of the highlights each year at the ACA conference is the exhibit hall where I get to look at all kinds of great gear and services for camp. This year I was shopping especially for a new water trampoline and slide for the swim area. In addition to all this, we had time to eat some great Texas BBQ at Salt Lick and Stubbs (both famous Austin restaraunts). Another great part of the conference is seeing all my camp director friends from across the country. Each year we get to share whats happening in our camps so we all can offer the best experiences for the campers.
On my way to Austin I stopped in El Paso for a visit with a camp family who lives there and to share CIC with their friends. It was a great visit. I don't get to see many of the campers outside of camp or meet all of the campers' parents so it was a treat for me to do both at the same time. I'd like to do more home visits to share CIC with those who are interested.
E mail me at tom@catalinaislandcamps.com with your comments or topics for future entries into the CIC blog
We have programs operating at Howlands Landing from March through just before Thanksgiving. Each year over 5000 people visit us at camp. Visits range from 3 days and 2 nights for our CELP or Weekend group programs to the handful of campers who attend summer camp for 4 or more weeks in the the summer. Of course, there is a handful of staff who live year round at camp and many more who work 9 or 10 moths of the year.
The programs on the island are supported by our mainland office in Altadena. There are 6 of us in the office making the administrative arrangements for all of the guests to safely get to and from camp. Anytime you want to call us to ask a question or give us some important information, you will speak to one of us in the Altadena office. We share the office with Tom Sawyer Camps, a day camp that operates four different programs in the Pasadena area.
The CELP season starts next week when the 19 staff arrive for two weeks of staff training. We have partnered with Jean-Michel Cousteau and Ocean Futures Society to be one of the Ambassadors of the Environment programs. CELP is a school group program that teaches ecological principles to students as part of their science curriculum. Schools come for 3 to 5 days and participate in a wide variety of hands on activities that teach them about the ecosystem around Howlands Landing.
While some of us are getting ready for the start of CELP (hiring staff, updating curriculum, preparing and buying equipment, communicating with schools, making transportation arrangements and all the other details), some of us are preparing for our first weekend groups in April. Finally, our biggest administrative job each year is summer camp. Each year almost 600 families send 700 campers to CIC for 1, 2, 3 or 4 week sessions. We hire over 60 staff each year to live with, guide, teach and supervise the campers. There are so many details we must manage in preparing for camp -- from marketing, registration, transportation, staff hiring and training, food service, facilities and equipment to camper records, mailings, websites, schedules and medical staff that it takes plenty of careful planning and coordination from the CIC team.
Finally, Family Camp is a fun week for us. Jean-Michel Cousteau comes to camp with other members of his team from Ocean Futures Society for a late August adventure on Catalina. Families enjoy a week that is much like a summer camp week with lots of activities plus they get to spend time with Jean-Michel in the water and on land. He will tell stories of his latest adventures that make us all feel like we are on a expedition with him.
I returned just this weekend from Austin, Texas where I attended the American Camp Association annual conference. We were treated to some amazing keynote speakers, including David Elkind, Neil Howe and Michael Wood. I also had time to attend workshops on waterfront safety and training, current risk management issues, staff meeting ideas, supervision, staff training and conflict resolution. One of the highlights each year at the ACA conference is the exhibit hall where I get to look at all kinds of great gear and services for camp. This year I was shopping especially for a new water trampoline and slide for the swim area. In addition to all this, we had time to eat some great Texas BBQ at Salt Lick and Stubbs (both famous Austin restaraunts). Another great part of the conference is seeing all my camp director friends from across the country. Each year we get to share whats happening in our camps so we all can offer the best experiences for the campers.
On my way to Austin I stopped in El Paso for a visit with a camp family who lives there and to share CIC with their friends. It was a great visit. I don't get to see many of the campers outside of camp or meet all of the campers' parents so it was a treat for me to do both at the same time. I'd like to do more home visits to share CIC with those who are interested.
E mail me at tom@catalinaislandcamps.com with your comments or topics for future entries into the CIC blog
Labels: American Camp Association, CELP, CIC, Family Camp, Howlands Landing, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society, Tom Sawyer Camps
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7:28 PM
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