Fifth Graders Launch New Outdoor Education Tradition on Catalina Island

On April 27, the Class of 2033 led the way on the inaugural Lower School Outdoor Education trip to Catalina Island. With 100% participation, all 44 fifth graders attended the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP), gaining a deeper appreciation for the natural world while challenging themselves in new ways.

On the first evening of the three-day excursion, students suited up in wetsuits for a nighttime snorkeling adventure despite 50-degree temperatures. Paired with flashlights, they spotted stingrays, lobsters, and a massive crab beneath the water’s surface. By waving their hands underwater, students could also see shimmering bioluminescence created by thousands of marine organisms.

The trip’s guiding motto was “challenge by choice.” Students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, try new experiences, and take risks knowing they had the support of their peers and teachers.

Chaperones and Lower School Faculty Alex Velasco, Joey Bacon, Linda Breen, and Lily Diamond helped guide and encourage students throughout the experience.

“The kids were really supportive of one another,” said Alex. “They were clapping for each other in the kayaks, cheering people on, and putting their arms around each other. They came out of the water each day saying, ‘Wow, that was a lot,’ but it was really sweet. We used the phrase ‘challenge by choice’ often because sometimes your mind prevents you from doing something you actually want to do.”

The trip fulfilled a longtime vision of Director of the Lower School Theresa Tran, who hoped to establish a Lower School Outdoor Education experience during her first two years at Poly. Partnering with Outdoor Education Director Laura Marion, the team explored several possibilities before deciding Catalina Island offered the perfect environment for fifth graders, adding a new ocean component to Poly’s Outdoor Education program.

Theresa and Alex visited the island last year to scout the location and quickly realized it was an ideal fit. Seeing every student participate exceeded their expectations.

“Our hope is that when they go to sixth grade, the students will feel more confident attending Big Bear and meeting new classmates,” Theresa said. “Seeing 100% participation was a dream come true. We didn’t know what to expect at first, but as families learned more, everyone became more excited.”

Throughout the trip, students participated in hiking, trust exercises, gardening, table tennis, and nature walks. The food was also something to write home about, with campfire s’mores at night and pancakes with strawberry compote in the morning. Students also practiced independence by caring for their cabins and managing daily routines on their own.

A spirit of collective leadership emerged as students with more outdoor experience stepped up to help others. For many, it was also their first extended time away from home, including fifth grader Aria S. ’33.

“At first I was nervous,” Aria shared. “But by the end, I thought the trip should have been longer.”

During the trip, Aria strengthened friendships and deepened a special bond with Fifth Grade Teacher Linda Breen, who accompanied her on a kayaking adventure that initially caused Aria some anxiety. By the end of the excursion, Aria was confidently paddling on her own and even spotted a vibrant purple fish in the water.

“When we got off the kayak, I saw the biggest smile on her face that I’ve ever seen,” Linda said. “It was a wonderful growth moment, and I’m grateful to have witnessed it. We’re so proud of our students.”

Students spent evenings talking together in their open-air cabins and woke each morning to the sounds of birds and the island’s natural surroundings. They also encountered Catalina’s native foxes, which inspired Aria to incorporate the animals into her ongoing book series.

The experience carried additional meaning for the Class of 2033, whose kindergarten year began online during the pandemic. Spending three days together outdoors became a full-circle moment for a class that started its Poly journey apart from one another. “It was a beautiful capstone to their Lower School experience,” Alex said.

“Fifth grade leaving the Lower School campus—even though they’re just moving down the hall to Middle School—deserves celebration,” Theresa said. “Everything they’ve practiced from kindergarten through fifth grade, including confidence, public speaking, doing hard things, and living out the Portrait of a Graduate, they were able to demonstrate here. Seeing it all come together was truly a dream come true.”

On the final day, there were some tears as students boarded the boat back home. Waving goodbye to their guides, students were surprised when the counselors jumped fully clothed into the ocean and “chased” the departing boat as one last farewell.

At the end of the trip, students reflected knowing they were part of something bigger, a new tradition. “It is a tradition now because of all of you,” Alex told them.