Conference Field Trip: Santa Cruz Island
On Friday, June 27, 2025, ISSRNC will facilitate a group field trip to Santa Cruz Island, which is part of Channel Islands National Park.
Island Scrub-Jay
Known as Limuw (“in the sea”) by the Chumash people who inhabited the island for over 10,000 years, Santa Cruz is rich in cultural history and ecological diversity. The island is home to several endemic plant and animal species, including the Island Scrub Jay and the Island Fox. Field trip participants will have the opportunity to learn about the islands from an invited guest speaker and then will have the opportunity to explore the island independently or in small groups. There are many hiking trails on the island, as well as opportunities to participate in guided snorkeling or guided kayaking tours.
Island Fox
Schedule:
Field trip participants will depart Santa Barbara via bus at 7:00 am and travel to Ventura Harbor where they will board a ferry to the islands that will depart at 9:00 am. The boat ride is approximately 75 minutes, so we anticipate arriving at the island by 10:30 am. An invited guest speaker will lead a discussion with the group for an hour after we arrive and then we will have lunch as a group. After lunch, participants will have the opportunity to explore on their own until 4:00pm, at which time they will return to the boat for departure. The ferry will return to Ventura Harbor by 5:30 pm and the bus will return to campus by 7:00 pm.
Tickets:
Tickets for the field trip are required and seats are limited. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis until May 1, 2024 or until seats are filled. Tickets are $75 each. The ticket price includes bus transportation, your individual ticket for the ferry, and a boxed lunch.
Ticket prices do not include guided snorkeling or guided kayaking tours. Tickets for those tours may be purchased separately here. Please keep in mind the timing of these excursions if you do decide to book, and make sure you allow enough time to return to the dock by 4:00 pm for the boat’s departure.
Additional Information:
Participants should plan to bring water and sunscreen, wear comfortable shoes with good tread, and consider dressing in layers for variable weather. The boat ride can be quite chilly, so we recommend a warm coat. Each participant is permitted a single carry-on item (backpack) and are welcome to bring additional food with them (Please note that single use plastic bags are not permitted). Lunch will be provided, but additional food and beverage items will be available for purchase on the boat. The waters in the Channel between the mainland and the islands can be rough, so we also recommend bringing anti-nausea medicine.
Disclaimer:
Participants who choose to participate in this trip do so at their own risk and will be required to sign a waiver. Field trip tickets are non-refundable, including in the event that the trip is cancelled due to inclement weather.