What Staff Say
My time as a counselor at Catalina Sea Camp was inspired by the years I spent as a camper at Toyon Bay. I wanted to give back to a community that contributed so much to my upbringing and adolescent life. Being a counselor at Catalina Sea Camp allowed me to make a difference in kids’ lives and show them why Sea Camp is such a special place. As a counselor, you get to be a crucial part of your campers’ experiences by helping to create meaningful memories and lifelong friendships and encouraging them to step outside their comfort zone. The Sea Camp community is and will always be very special to me and are some of my closest friends to this day. Working at Sea Camp has taught me skills that you cannot learn at any other job and provided me with newfound independence and confidence. I will always be grateful for my experiences at Catalina Sea Camp!
My journey with Catalina Sea Camp began in 2006 as a camper, then in 2018 as a counselor, and in 2021 I became a Head Counselor. While being a camper made such a positive difference in my life, being part of staff made an even bigger impact on who I am today. I became more confident, grew my leadership skills, and collaborated with staff and campers from all over the world while being able to live in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been! Working at Sea Camp was by far the most rewarding job I have ever had and prepared me more for life, and my future than any other experience could have.
This job is so much greater than just a beautiful island to spend your summer on; It is where you will meet the most selfless and genuine people. Working at Catalina Sea Camp has been the most taxing job, both mentally and physically, and truly the most rewarding.
Working at Fox Landing was one of the best summers I’ve ever had. It was a blast with a fantastic staff, but it also helped me grow as a person. It made me think a lot about what I’ve taken for granted as you bond with many people and hear so many stories.
Before I became a counselor, I spent six years as a camper. This place means everything to me. This is the place where I met my best friends and have shared some of the best memories possible. The people who work at Sea Camp are dedicated not only to the kids but to each other. On your bad days and your good days, you have 20+ of your best friends by your side. I wouldn’t trade my Catalina Sea Camp community for anything.
I attended Catalina Sea Camp my entire childhood and dreamed of being a counselor since I was a kid. My first summer switching to the staff side was very eye-opening and was one of the best decisions I have ever made. This job is the most rewarding for how much effort goes into it, and being able to provide children with the same love and fun that I experienced coming here is amazing. Along with that, making the most genuine relationships with fellow staff has been the biggest blessing. I have learned to be a better listener, friend, and supporter overall. I will forever be grateful for everyone that has been involved in my journey working with Catalina Sea Camp, and I can’t wait to continue growing and working on the island with the best people!!
I am so grateful to have been a part of the Guided Discoveries team! Having been a camper myself, I was passionate about returning to Catalina Sea Camp as a counselor to make a difference in kids’ lives like every counselor made on mine. During the summers I also learned professional tools I use in my career today and made life-long friendships with the team at Guided Discoveries.
It is difficult, but I’ll try to be brief 🙂 Working at CIMI was my dream job after college. My experience there has put the most important people in my life- not only my husband (and our little humans) and some of my best friends, but the best boss I have ever had. I will measure every other supervisor by the bar he set extremely high. During my time at CIMI, I went on adventures with students every day. Many of those days were life-changing for one or all of us. I was in a relationship with the ocean, exploring and learning constantly. Guided Discoveries is an incredible organization to be a part of and one of the best decisions I’ve made in my adult life.
It’s almost hard to put into words how influential, unique, and life-changing a company like Guided Discoveries is. Guided Discoveries has not only changed lives and made an impact on thousands of kids from across the country but has also changed my life. From being a counselor during sea camp and getting to make an impact on campers to becoming a marine biology instructor and getting to share my passion for the ocean and everything around it, I can’t be thankful enough for all the experiences, memories, adventures, and life long friends this company has given me. Even today, I continue to use the skills and everything I have learned from my past 4.5 years on the island to work hard at my current job, and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Guided Discoveries. Forever thankful for the island, the people, and this company.
This island’s magic is unlike any other- its appeal stretches far beyond what appears on the surface. I’ve been drastically changed by the people I’ve worked with here at CIMI, the memories I’ve made, the places we’ve explored, the students we’ve learned with, and the whale spouts that will without fail cause heart palpitations. Working and living in Toyon Bay has been an incomparably joyous and fulfilling experience, and I will always be endlessly grateful for the people who have made it so.
My infatuation for the ocean started after attending a 6th-grade science trip in Northern California. It was this trip that ultimately led me to pursue a marine biology degree, working as an instructor at CIMI years later. CIMI has allowed me to be the instructor I once looked up to and make a difference in the lives of children while sharing a connection with our ocean. Having the opportunity to see kids inspired about our oceans, to grow in ways their teachers haven’t seen before, and to hear that their lives have been changed is why I love working at CIMI. I have experienced some of the most incredible social interactions with coworkers, teachers, and students, outdoor experiences, and teaching moments of my entire life while working at Toyon Bay, and I will cherish them forever.
Working as a marine science instructor at CIMI was an absolutely life-changing and incredible experience. Through this opportunity, I connected students from all backgrounds to the ocean. I made science relatable through interactive lessons in aquariums, kayaking expeditions along the coast, and snorkeling adventures both during the day and night. This experience helped me become a better educator, leader, and friend. I also gained a number of valuable skills/certifications from this opportunity – I learned how to drive a boat, became lifeguard certified, improved my diving and snorkeling abilities, and so much more! I am so thankful for my time on the island, for the people it connected me to, and for all that I have been able to accomplish since.
