The time spent on Santa Cruz island was an opportunity to learn about botanists, endemic species, marine life, history of the people who inhabited, and all sorts of the environmental aspects. No other schools in SLO county have the ability to travel to this disclosed area and conduct important research. Sleeping in tents under the full moon as we drifted asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore at Cristy Ranch or watching the sun go down and turn the sky a bright purple which reflected and glistened in the water while hiking back from plotting Bishop pine markings only touch the surface of the type of activities students were a part of. Many of these experiences resigned within the students on this trip
“Santa Cruz Island gave me an experience that fulfilled the need of wanting to explore more than just our normal curriculum as well as gave me an escape away from home and school. This was one of the most enjoyable moments I have ever experienced. This experience filled something in me that I have never witnessed before." - Francisco Anaya
A selective group of students were chosen to attend a 5 day camping trip on a disclosed part of Santa Cruz island to work closely with the Nature Conservancy.
PRHS is the only school allowed to come to this island and conduct research that directly aids the environmental studies of Cal Poly, UCSB, and UC Santa Cruz.
A majority of the participants will be applying to other Field Study trips because they feel as though this trip influenced their career choices of environmental studies. Other students have shared that getting better in tune with nature and seeing a different side of the environment, landscape, and animals has influenced them to spend more time outside.
"The extraordinary opportunity to get to disconnect to the mainland and media on this island is such a liberating moment. the hands on work and experience in true nature is so much fun than learning in desks. Coming back, I changed my college applications to major in environmental studies" - Jenny Ayala
Before traveling to the island 6 groups of students conducted research on specific topics associated with the island. Every night on the island, each student presented their in- depth research on their findings. Some topics were Marine Sanctuaries, Pygmy mammoths, and the history of the Native people.
Aspects of this trip included a 6 mile hike of Pelican's bay trail where a group of 6 students plotted 4 steal robs which marked large areas of Bishop Pine trees. There was also a 3 mile hike to Willows beach for students to enjoy the natural glory of the undisturbed coast. Students removed the invasive species of ice plant on Cristy ranch Various universities have been collecting data on the endemic species of plants because there has been a gradual decline of species.
