WELCOME TO THE

EMERALD BAY
OUTDOOR ACADEMY

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Spring Teacher Retreat

Environmental Literacy at the Gem of Catalina

Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy is a top-notch science, conservation, and research outdoor education camp located on Catalina Island in California. We offer a curriculum focused on leadership, character development, marine and earth sciences. Students that visit Emerald Bay are never ready to go home!

Overnight Science Camp

Course Descriptions

Planning Tools

Who We Are

The Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy is a youth science education program based on Catalina Island and operated by the Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts of America. Our mission is to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through overnight science programs and Educational Outreach Partnerships.

Set Your Course for Catalina Today

With the help of our knowledgeable staff, you can plan a fun, educational, and memorable trip for your students to Emerald Bay on Catalina Island.

TESTIMONIALS

  • “Emerald Bay took learning and made it fun, which is hard to do”

    Ava, student

  • “I would say that it was a way to get closer to the people that you see everyday. Like for me I feel closer to my classmates than other classes because of this experience. My class and I were the first class in our school to go to this trip and it was filled with many fun activities. I think other people should visit because they will learn many new things and have fun rather than the everyday to day life. It’s nice to do something different. Like for me I sometimes get bored at home but knowing that I had something to do in a new place was nice compared to the same repetitive lifestyle. All of the staff were very helpful and happy to help and answer any questions that you have. The food was also great! Everything had a great flavor and everything was fresh and warm.”

    Emma, student

  • “Emerald Bay is so much fun, it teaches you to be a good contributor to the environment. It takes doing something serious into something fun! It makes your bunkmates feel like they are family, AND you might make new friends!”

    Liam, student

  • “A lot of the students have been stepping out of the box to challenge themselves. We asked them to say yes to things they would normally say no to. I’ve been hearing them say ‘I’m having more than that I thought’ or ‘I’m having a great time.”

    Michael, teacher

  • “I was most looking forward to kayaking and archery, because they are things that you just don’t really get to do anywhere else”

    Noah, student

  • “I loved the hike to Parsons Beach and night snorkeling!”

    Elijah, student

  • “I’ve been coming for 5 years and it’s been amazing. Every single year I’m really looking forward to coming back. I look forward to the fact that I can take kids and experience a lot of their firsts here at Emerald Bay. It’s the first time they are going to ride a boat, their first time they are going to snorkel, the first they time are going to kayak, and for a lot their first time they are going to be away from home.”

    John, teacher