The Kerns 15 years at Catalina Island Camps
The following entry is written by Holly Kern who has lived at Howlands Landing since February 1995 with her husband Tom and their three children - Haley, Hannah and Tommy. Holly is currently the CIC Food Service Manager.
Friday January 30, 2009 1:15 pm
I am leaving for a weekend conference in Pasadena, Ca that begins at 7:00 pm. As it is only 1:15 in the afternoon and Pasadena is only 53 miles away as “the crow flies” you might be inclined to say “getting there by 7:00 pm shouldn’t be a problem”. Well considering I’ll be traveling first by camp boat to Avalon, then cross channel on a commercial ferry, and finally endure mainland gridlock on the northbound 110 through downtown LA, I’ll be lucky to arrive in time.
Friday is a beautiful sunny day with calm seas, so my husband Tom suggests the 40 minute coastal boat ride to Avalon over the hour and forty minute car trip through the dusty interior of the island. I would agree except today I am dressed in a skirt and sweater set, I have a suitcase, and the dock has been hauled out for the winter. We will need to launch our rowboat through the shore break to reach the 17 foot camp skiff on its mooring. Tom decides to row out first and beach the skiff which means I will need to toss my duffle aboard, hoist myself over the bow, all the while keeping the boat off the beach. Unfortunately, the boat has been on its mooring awhile and the pelicans have used it as a habitat. In addition to the other challenges, I will now also need to cautiously avoid multiple piles of bird guano strategically located on the bow. When Tom approaches the beach, I wade out to the catch the boat, toss my shoes aboard, and attempt to power lift my middle age body over a chest high bow, all the while trying to keep my dignity and my skirt modestly situated. As luck would have it, my purse which is strapped over my shoulder, becomes hung up on the bow cleat and I am literally “hung up” and still hanging over the bow as Tom throws the boat into reverse to keep it off the beach. I am humbled, but not disgraced, as I once again laugh at myself and this wonderful alternate lifestyle chosen for us.
Once aboard and my dignity restored, Tom assures me with “don’t worry honey, nobody saw that”. We throttle up for the lovely trip to Avalon where the second leg of my trip will begin as I catch the ferry to Long Beach. A few minutes into the trip I question myself, “Why did I bother styling my hair prior to a 40 minute boat ride?” It is just another small challenge of rustic island living. Arriving polished and perfectly coiffed at an event is not an option. I like to fondly refer to it as “island grunge” and I wipe the dried salt crystals off my legs. Those of you with campers here at CIC became familiar with “island grunge” when you opened your camper’s duffle after 2 weeks at camp
Haley and Hannah,our two daughters, will meet us in Avalon to catch the ferry. They are especially excited to go “over town” and do some shopping and Starbucks on Colorado St. Their day began at 5:00 a.m. at Howlands Landing. They boarded the school bus in Two Harbors at 6:15 am and attended school all day at Avalon Middle and High School. They commute nearly 4 hours a day to attend school. This limits their opportunities for after school activities, sports, etc. so this trip overtown is highly anticipated.
Prior to attending school in Avalon, both girls attended the Little Red School House in Two Harbors for Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our son Tommy is currently in 3rd grade at the one room school house. The commute to and from Two Harbors is usually done by boat and has it has challenges. We always keep a spare dry set of clothes at the school in case of accidental swamping, etc. Tom and I still laugh when remembering Haley’s first dip into the icy winter waves. She was in Kindergarten when large storm surf capsized the dinghy. Haley was safely fastened in her PFD (life jacket). She became disoriented when she hit the icy water and attempted to swim down rather than up. The PFD prevented her from going under so all that was above water was her bobbing bottom and her thrashing kicking legs. Tom grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and yanked her head above water. There was dead silence for nearly 3 seconds while she gasped in a large breath and let out a wail heard all the way at the Boy Scout camp next door. Tom assured her also, “don’t worry honey, nobody saw that!”
Along with the mishaps and challenges, there are the unexpected tardies to school due to exciting encounters with pods of dolphins, surprise whale sightings, and the beloved bald eagle that toils near Lions Head. We even spotted a sea turtle off Big Geiger. Tommy was twenty minutes late for school when Wilson the Bison was camped on the narrow dirt road in Cherry Cove. There was no place for Wilson to go as to the right was mountain and to the left cliff. He wasn’t in the mood to be rushed. As I cautiously tried to pass him, he would charge the car then proceed forward at more of a “sashay” than a trot. He didn’t seem to understand that class started at 8:00 am.
The benefits of camp living far outweigh the challenges. When we were hired by Catalina Island Camps thirteen years ago, we knew little about camp and its benefits to kids (and staff). Our Christmas card this year boasted that 2008 was the first year with all three Kern kids enrolled at CIC. Haley completed the Campers in Leadership Training (CILT’s) and thus completed her career as a CIC camper. She is anxious to continue on as a CIT, staff, …who knows? Tommy thoroughly enjoyed four weeks in Tugboat with fellow super heroes and is asking for six weeks in 2009. Hannah not only survived, but enjoyed her 2008 Yawl experience. She was able to resist the familiar warm blue glow of the family T.V. visible from her cabin. (I believe it can be more difficult for our children to experience success at camp as they see us, the house, our pets when tired and stretched both physically and mentally) Hannah keeps in touch with Yawl mates though email and text messaging and is looking forward to the summer of 2009.
Would we trade our wet, sometimes cold, commutes for a warm heated SUV and a Starbucks coffee? Would we trade summer “Snooze You Lose”, Saturday special events, Monday night pasta, Tuesday night chicken, Wednesday Mexican…(yes, the menu is always the same!) for shopping centers, movie theaters, and take-out restaurants?
I don’t think so. We love both the adventures and misadventures of camp living. We especially love CIC!
Friday January 30, 2009 1:15 pm
I am leaving for a weekend conference in Pasadena, Ca that begins at 7:00 pm. As it is only 1:15 in the afternoon and Pasadena is only 53 miles away as “the crow flies” you might be inclined to say “getting there by 7:00 pm shouldn’t be a problem”. Well considering I’ll be traveling first by camp boat to Avalon, then cross channel on a commercial ferry, and finally endure mainland gridlock on the northbound 110 through downtown LA, I’ll be lucky to arrive in time.
Friday is a beautiful sunny day with calm seas, so my husband Tom suggests the 40 minute coastal boat ride to Avalon over the hour and forty minute car trip through the dusty interior of the island. I would agree except today I am dressed in a skirt and sweater set, I have a suitcase, and the dock has been hauled out for the winter. We will need to launch our rowboat through the shore break to reach the 17 foot camp skiff on its mooring. Tom decides to row out first and beach the skiff which means I will need to toss my duffle aboard, hoist myself over the bow, all the while keeping the boat off the beach. Unfortunately, the boat has been on its mooring awhile and the pelicans have used it as a habitat. In addition to the other challenges, I will now also need to cautiously avoid multiple piles of bird guano strategically located on the bow. When Tom approaches the beach, I wade out to the catch the boat, toss my shoes aboard, and attempt to power lift my middle age body over a chest high bow, all the while trying to keep my dignity and my skirt modestly situated. As luck would have it, my purse which is strapped over my shoulder, becomes hung up on the bow cleat and I am literally “hung up” and still hanging over the bow as Tom throws the boat into reverse to keep it off the beach. I am humbled, but not disgraced, as I once again laugh at myself and this wonderful alternate lifestyle chosen for us.
Once aboard and my dignity restored, Tom assures me with “don’t worry honey, nobody saw that”. We throttle up for the lovely trip to Avalon where the second leg of my trip will begin as I catch the ferry to Long Beach. A few minutes into the trip I question myself, “Why did I bother styling my hair prior to a 40 minute boat ride?” It is just another small challenge of rustic island living. Arriving polished and perfectly coiffed at an event is not an option. I like to fondly refer to it as “island grunge” and I wipe the dried salt crystals off my legs. Those of you with campers here at CIC became familiar with “island grunge” when you opened your camper’s duffle after 2 weeks at camp
Haley and Hannah,our two daughters, will meet us in Avalon to catch the ferry. They are especially excited to go “over town” and do some shopping and Starbucks on Colorado St. Their day began at 5:00 a.m. at Howlands Landing. They boarded the school bus in Two Harbors at 6:15 am and attended school all day at Avalon Middle and High School. They commute nearly 4 hours a day to attend school. This limits their opportunities for after school activities, sports, etc. so this trip overtown is highly anticipated.
Prior to attending school in Avalon, both girls attended the Little Red School House in Two Harbors for Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our son Tommy is currently in 3rd grade at the one room school house. The commute to and from Two Harbors is usually done by boat and has it has challenges. We always keep a spare dry set of clothes at the school in case of accidental swamping, etc. Tom and I still laugh when remembering Haley’s first dip into the icy winter waves. She was in Kindergarten when large storm surf capsized the dinghy. Haley was safely fastened in her PFD (life jacket). She became disoriented when she hit the icy water and attempted to swim down rather than up. The PFD prevented her from going under so all that was above water was her bobbing bottom and her thrashing kicking legs. Tom grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and yanked her head above water. There was dead silence for nearly 3 seconds while she gasped in a large breath and let out a wail heard all the way at the Boy Scout camp next door. Tom assured her also, “don’t worry honey, nobody saw that!”
Along with the mishaps and challenges, there are the unexpected tardies to school due to exciting encounters with pods of dolphins, surprise whale sightings, and the beloved bald eagle that toils near Lions Head. We even spotted a sea turtle off Big Geiger. Tommy was twenty minutes late for school when Wilson the Bison was camped on the narrow dirt road in Cherry Cove. There was no place for Wilson to go as to the right was mountain and to the left cliff. He wasn’t in the mood to be rushed. As I cautiously tried to pass him, he would charge the car then proceed forward at more of a “sashay” than a trot. He didn’t seem to understand that class started at 8:00 am.
The benefits of camp living far outweigh the challenges. When we were hired by Catalina Island Camps thirteen years ago, we knew little about camp and its benefits to kids (and staff). Our Christmas card this year boasted that 2008 was the first year with all three Kern kids enrolled at CIC. Haley completed the Campers in Leadership Training (CILT’s) and thus completed her career as a CIC camper. She is anxious to continue on as a CIT, staff, …who knows? Tommy thoroughly enjoyed four weeks in Tugboat with fellow super heroes and is asking for six weeks in 2009. Hannah not only survived, but enjoyed her 2008 Yawl experience. She was able to resist the familiar warm blue glow of the family T.V. visible from her cabin. (I believe it can be more difficult for our children to experience success at camp as they see us, the house, our pets when tired and stretched both physically and mentally) Hannah keeps in touch with Yawl mates though email and text messaging and is looking forward to the summer of 2009.
Would we trade our wet, sometimes cold, commutes for a warm heated SUV and a Starbucks coffee? Would we trade summer “Snooze You Lose”, Saturday special events, Monday night pasta, Tuesday night chicken, Wednesday Mexican…(yes, the menu is always the same!) for shopping centers, movie theaters, and take-out restaurants?
I don’t think so. We love both the adventures and misadventures of camp living. We especially love CIC!
posted by Tom Horner at
1:23 PM
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