| How Long is the Ferry Ride? a. The boat takes approximately 2 hours to arrive on the island. Total travel time can vary with weather conditions, number of passengers, and the ferry’s final destinations. Am I Going to Get Sea Sick? a. The crossing to the island is typically calm. However, some students do experience seasickness. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to get approved for seasickness medication. You can help avoid motion sickness by getting out into the fresh air, look at the horizon, and drink ginger ale. What is the Typical Island Weather Like? a. Daytime temperatures average 60-70 degrees and nighttime averages 45-60 degrees. b. Our “rainy” season begins in December and runs through March. Our average rainfall is 13 inches. What is The Water Temperature? a. Winter water temperature ranges from 56-62 degrees. The water warms throughout the year to a maximum of 72 degrees in September. How Will I Keep Warm in the Ocean? a. CIMI is able to equip every student in wetsuits that help keep students warm during their snorkel and provide flotation. Do I Need to Know How To Swim To Go Snorkeling? a. We frequently have non-swimmers participate in every aspect of the program. Our wetsuits help students to float. Every instructor and chaperone carries boogie boards to assist students having difficulty swimming. Do I Need to Bring My Own Snorkeling Gear? a. You can bring your own gear if you choose to. CIMI will provide students with all of the necessary gear to snorkel: mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, booties, and hood. Some students can be provided snorkel weight belts during basic and ecology snorkels. Can I Snorkel With Glasses? a. Some students choose to snorkel with their disposable contact lenses. You cannot snorkel with glasses. We are able to equip students with prescription masks in lieu of their glasses. Do You Serve Vegetarian Alternatives? a. We provide a vegetarian option at every meal. We also have a salad bar at both lunch and dinner. What Do You Do If It Rains? a. It infrequently rains on the island. During those rainy days we try to continue with program as planned. (We are able to snorkel in the rain – you’re getting wet anyway.) If the rain does not permit the scheduled program, we always have fun and exciting alternatives planned. Can My Child Call Home? Can I Call My Child at Camp? a. Students are only allowed to call home in the case of an emergency. Incoming parent phone calls can be a challenge. Students are busy in program from 8 AM to 9 PM. We request that you call only in the case of an emergency. Can I Get Cell Phone Reception? a. Everyone’s cell phone plan is different. Cell phone reception is very hit and miss. The majority of people will not be able to get reception. Can I Participate if I Have Asthma? a. Students with asthma participate in our program all of the time. It is critical for students with asthma to bring their inhaler. Without the inhaler participation in the program may be limited. How Many Chaperones Am I Allowed to Bring? a. You are allowed to bring two chaperones per a study group. We do limit the number of chaperones. The bottom line is that the more adult leaders that come, the less space is available to serve students. Can Parents Visit Their Kids? a. We do not allow parental visits due to the remote location of our facility. Do You Have Medical Forms in Other Languages? a. We have med forms in PDF format in both English and Spanish. Where Can Parents Send Mail? a. Parents can send mail to CIMI Fox Landing, P.O. Box 1920 Avalon, CA 90704. Be sure to include your camper’s school name on the envelope. Mail also runs on island time – plan ahead and add 1-2 days to normal mailing times. Do You Have a Summer Camp? a. We do have summer camp programs. You can contact our business office at 1-800-645-1423 to obtain information or continue surfing our site. Do You Have Wireless Internet? a. The lower portion of our campus and the teacher’s lounge has wireless internet available to all adult leaders. Do You Provide Pillows? a. We do not provide pillows. Do You Have a Nurse or Doctor On Site? a. We do not have a nurse or doctor in the facility. Our staff holds certifications in First Aid, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, and Lifeguarding. We can also transport students to our local clinic in Avalon. Why Is It Necessary For the Chaperones to Supervise the Kinds Both Inside and Outside the dorms and Around Camp at Free Time? a. Adult leaders are our greatest allies and an integral part of our program. By caring for the kids during non-programming time, we are able to prepare for the next activity and address camp needs. What Are My Options For Paying the Final Bill? a. We prefer to obtain payment at time of the school’s visit. If this is not possible due to your school’s policies, we ask that payment be made to our business office within 10 business days of your trip. How Do You Deal With a Severe Food Allergy? a. We deal with food allergies every day. The best course of action is to communicate with the facility director. They will communicate with the food service director. If there are any further concerns or questions, we will contact you for clarification. |