Sample Day

A day with NatureBridge in the Santa Monica Mountains includes a wide array of activities to keep students engaged and connected to the natural world. 

Below is a rough sketch of what a typical day might look like in each of our program locations:

Circle X Ranch

7 a.m. Wake up

Students go to bed underneath an impressive display of stars and rise each morning, having slept in a large dome tents, to the sounds of birds singing. They will use this time to shower, dress, pack their backpacks for a day hike, and prepare for their day.

8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast

Just a five-minute walk from the campground is The Ranch House.  This building is your group’s gathering place. It is used for serving healthy, filling, kid-friendly meals and provides restrooms and showers.

8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m. Clean up and get ready to hike

Take this time to use the facilities and finish packing your day pack.  Each trail group will take turns with morning stewardship and tidy up the dining hall before venturing out into the great outdoors for the day.

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Instructional day

During this time you will be with your hiking group of up to 15 students. The educators provide the activities and curriculum while chaperones assist in group management and with the behavioral needs of individual students.  Lunch is distributed to the hiking groups and is typically eaten out on the trail. Depending on your school’s social and academic needs, we will design a customized thematic teaching day aligned with California Science Standards. Students may find themselves:

• Hiking to Sandstone Peak while collecting weather data and learning about working collaboratively with others, leadership, and personal responsibility.
• Exploring the Grotto and participating in a stream biomonitoring project while learning about watersheds and water use.
• Participating in litter analysis at Leo Carillo State Park, which reveals many things about how humans affect the environment and learning how each of us can positively make a difference in the world through climate change activities, the Lorax debate, and reflection.

4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Recreation time

This is a time students can use to shower and change, write in their journals, play on the basketball court, or relax in the Ranch House. A school may also use this time for structured learning activities. Teachers and chaperones supervise during recreation time.

6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Dinner

Dinner may be served in the Ranch House or as an outdoor barbecue in the campground. The food is nutritious, plentiful, andkid-friendly and is enjoyed socializing and comparing stories with new friends.

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Evening program

Evening programs complement the material presented during your field day. These large-group programs are engaging, educational, and inspiring. Activities may include astronomy, night hikes, and bobcat awareness.

8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Off to bed

This is the time for students to use bathrooms, change clothes, and brush their teeth. Older students may use this time to study in the dining room or take some quiet time in their tents. Teachers and chaperones supervise students during this time. Lights out is typically 10 p.m.

Camp Shalom

7 a.m. Wake up

When students rise each morning, they will hear the morning sounds of the chaparral having slept on bunks in a dorm-style cabin. They will use this time to shower, dress and prepare their day packs to go on a day hike.

8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast

The Dining Hall at Camp Shalom is a two-minute walk away from the cabins.  This large, indoor eating space provides healthy, filling meals. 

8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m. Clean up and get ready to hike

Take this time to use the facilities and fill up your water bottles for the hike if you have not already done so.

9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Shuttle to trail

Students board the shuttle bus by trail groups and depart for day hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Instructional day

During this time, you will be with your hiking group of 12 to 15 students. Your professional field science educator will provide the activities and curriculum for the day while chaperones assist in group management and attending to the behavioral needs of individual students.  

Lunch is distributed and is typically eaten out on the trail. Our instructors will design a thematic teaching day based on the social, physical, and academic needs of the group. Curriculum may be customized and is aligned with California Science Standards. Depending on your program, students may find themselves actively participating in the following: 

• Learning about wilderness through topography, plant identification, and discovering their leadership skills through group initiatives while hiking to Sandstone Peak.
• Discovering the natural resources in the Grotto and learning about Chumash cultural history.
• Participating in a stewardship project at the organic garden and understanding the connection between humans and the environment.

4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Recreation time

This is a time where students can use to shower and change, write in their journals, or play in the field, basketball court, or ping pong. A school may also use this time for structured learning activities. Teachers and chaperones provide supervision during this time. 

6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Dinner

Dinner usually takes slightly less than an hour. The food at is hot, nutritious, and plentiful and served in the eco-friendly dining hall.

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Evening program

Evening programs complement the material being presented during the day. These large-group programs are engaging, educational, and inspiring. At Camp Shalom, this may include an astronomy program or crepuscular animal night walk.

8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Off to bed

This is the time for students to use bathrooms, change clothes, and brush their teeth. Older students may use this time to study in the dining hall or take some quiet time in the cabins. Teachers and chaperones supervise their students during this time. Lights out is typically 10 p.m.

Circle X Ranch and Channel Islands

6:30 a.m Wake up

Students wake up earlier than usual on days when they transfer from the mountains to the islands so that they can get ready, break down camp, pack up luggage, and make the most out of their day.

7:30 a.m. Breakfast

Breakfast will be served buffet-style and earlier than usual in order to accommodate our transfer to the Santa Barbara Harbor and travel needs for the day.  Breakfast items may include cereals, fruits, yogurt, granola, eggs, potatoes, and bacon.

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Shuttle to Leo Carrillo State Park

We will stagger the bus shuttling of students and luggage to Leo Carrillo by trail groups, so every trail group has a turn completing their morning stewardship duties on campus.

9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Instructional day

A shorter day at Leo Carrillo will still give us enough time to incorporate a thematic teaching program.  Thematic teaching days are based on California Science Standards and are customized to meet the social, physical, and academic needs of your students.  Some the activities from an instructional day at Leo Carrillo include:

• Litter analysis reveals many things about how humans affect the environment.  Students will gather, sort, and graph important data in order to understand their connection to the environment.
• Climate Change Steal the Bacon is an active lesson where students learn ways to positively make a difference in the world through more sustainable action.
• Nature art and journaling provides a time for silent reflection and evaluation as we explore current environmental issues. 

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Transfer to Santa Barbara Harbor 

You will leave Leo Carillo and arrive at the Santa Barbara Harbor in about an hour and a half. Bus transportation between locations is provided.  

3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Unload luggage onto live-aboard boat

Students will quickly unload the bus and transfer their luggage onto the boat and into the berths.  They will also use this time to grab an outer layer and prepare their day packs for the rest of the day’s activities.

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ty Warner Sea Center

The Ty Warner Sea Center provides multiple opportunities for students to get their hands on tidepool creatures and even sharks!  Students will learn that sometimes, scientists need to dive in to the water in order to get data.  After making their way through the museum, they will gather again in their trail groups and complete the required boat orientation and safety activities.

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Dinner

Dinner takes place at a local pizza parlor. Students will take turns washing up and getting drinks while the pizza is prepared.  We will eat in a large group dining room and socialize until everyone is full and happy.  

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Evening program

A longer-than-usual evening program gives us time to include some educational activities that will complement the day’s events as well as give a thorough boat orientation.  

8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Recreation time

Students will have time to relax, unwind, play board games, socialize in the galley, or gaze at stars from the top deck.  Teachers and chaperones will supervise at this time.

9:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Get ready for bed

We will use this time to brush teeth, change, and use the bathrooms on board to get ready for bed. All students must be in bed by 10 p.m. and may read quietly or write in their journals.

10:30 p.m. Lights out

While everyone is sleeping, the boat will depart around 4 a.m. to make its journey to the Channel Islands.  Students will awake and have breakfast off the coast of one of islands before their hiking exploration.