Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy

Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy (part of the Western Los Angeles County Council - Boy Scouts of America)

Vision

A world in which people make ethical choices over their lifetime.

Mission

The Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy inspires the next generation of environmental stewards.

Values

• Lifelong Learning
• Campiness
• A Scouting Foundation
• Stewardship and Environmental Justice
• Equity and Inclusivity

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 built upon the values and methods of Scouting.

Our Approach

Our dynamic and diverse community of educators seek to create unparalleled science-based adventures and high-impact learning opportunities with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the core competencies of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) woven into the fabric of our curriculum since inception in 2018.

On-site programs on Catalina Island offer hands-on experiential learning and take advantage of the unique location of Camp Emerald Bay. Youth learn by engaging with island phenomena: snorkeling through kelp forests, kayaking to pelican-covered cliffs, and observing marine organisms under microscopes and in touch tanks in the Pennington Marine Science Center.

The Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy builds upon the 100-year legacy of Scouting at Camp Emerald Bay by using the values and methods of Scouting as a program foundation. The invitation to experience this unparalleled location and learn new skills is now extended to school groups with special efforts in place to include and support those from communities that have been historically excluded from outdoor education program opportunities.

Land and Cultural Acknowledgement The location of Camp Emerald Bay has historically been stewarded by the Tongva, the native residents of Catalina Island, originally known as Pimu. Their caretaking of the island and surrounding waters for over 8,000 years left minimal environmental impact. The Tongva were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands on the Channel Islands up until the 1820’s to mainland Los Angeles. However, the resilient Tongva community has been actively maintaining and strengthening their connection to the Island, researching their history, and telling their stories through efforts such as the Pimu Catalina Island Archaeological Field School and the Ti’at Society. The staff of the Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy recognize our context within this history and therefore seek to approach our current stewardship of this culturally significant site with profound respect and care.