For the third consecutive year, the Western Los Angeles County Council-Boy Scouts of America have hosted an extended weekend at beautiful Emerald Bay for young people from Avalon.

The students earned their invitations by actively participating in the after-school Kids In Nature (KIN) program offered by the Catalina Island Conservancy during the 2007 - 2008 school year.  In all, fourteen students and five adults accepted invitations to escape the hustle of Avalon for a weekend out on Catalina's West End.

The adventure began on Friday May 2nd after school when the group gathered at Float 5 in Avalon to board the Shamrock II, generously donated by the Catalina Experience, for a ride along Catalina's beautiful coastline. 

Upon their arrival at Emerald Bay, the group was greeted by Esther Eder and Alice Arbogast, the guides for the weekend. After a brief orientation, the students ate a pasta dinner, followed by "s'mores" around the campfire for dessert.

The next morning, the students headed for the beach for a kayaking trip.  After lunch, the afternoon was packed with activities.  First, the group was treated to a tour of the Pennington Marine Science Center, complete with aquarium, touch tanks and a moray eel encounter.  Next, it was off to the archery range for a fun test of skill with bows and arrows.  There was even an opportunity for the students to express their creative side by making their own keepsakes of their trip. 

Saturday ended with beach games, dinner, and dessert on the beach followed by a movie in the Marine Center.

On Sunday morning, the students still had energy for a hike over to Parson's Landing where they played beach games like Screaming Mimis, Crab Tag, Kelp Tag, and others.  Following lunch and final clean-up, the group boarded the Shamrock II and we headed back home to Avalon. 

"I would like to thank Esther Eder, Alice Arbogast and Kirk Hetherington with the Western Los Angeles County Council-Boy Scouts of America for hosting many of the activities our kids enjoyed along with the food they ate, the Catalina Experience and all of our chaperones," said Rich "Mr. Z" Zanelli, the Conservancy's School Programs Specialist. "I especially thank the parents of the students that participated in the adventure. We hope that lifelong memories were made."

Zanelli said that next year, he hoped to have more students involved in the Kids In Nature program. "It would be great to extend an invitation to a larger number of Avalon's wonderful young people for next year's extended weekend at Emerald Bay," he added.

Parents interested the free Kids in Nature program that will start up again for the 2008 - 2009 school year, may call Zanelli in the Conservancy's Education Office at 510-0954.

For more information visit www.CatalinaConservancy.org