Special Conditions
Natural History of Santa Cruz Island
Natural History of Santa Cruz Island
This tour offers guests a rare and unique opportunity for in-depth exploration of
the flora and fauna of the Santa Cruz Island Reserve. Guests must be aware
of the following special conditions, which are above and beyond the standard
Terms and Conditions for this tour:
Accommodations: The first night is spent in a hotel room near Ventura Harbor. The next four nights
will be spent in shared dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds and 4 to 6 guests per room. Guests are
required to bring their own bedding (pillow and sleeping bag). Guests have the option of bringing and
pitching their own tents to sleep outdoors. Bathrooms with showers are communal, separate for men
and women
Voluntary Tasks: At the time of reservation, each guest will be required to volunteer for one of 4
activities: 1. Food shopping with the tour leader late afternoon June 3 (2 persons); 2. Preparation of
dinner for the entire group one night of the tour (2 persons per night, 8 persons total); 3. Setting out
and taking down breakfast and lunch each day of the tour (2 persons). 4. Cleanup of dining area
and kitchen each day of the tour (3 persons total)
Dining: All meals are prepared by guests using a communal kitchen and dining area. Every person
registering for this tour must volunteer for a task..... food shopping the 1st day of the trip, dinner
preparation one night during the trip, or breakfast/lunch setup and cleanup. All guests are expected
to clean up after each meal.
Housekeeping: All guests are required to assist with daily cleanup as well as the big final clean up
on the day of departure. This includes, but is not limited to, mopping floors, cleaning showers,
cleaning toilets, vacuuming, dusting. Guests are expected to leave the facilities as they found them.
Physical Ability: This tour includes moderate to strenuous physical activity, including but not limited
to travel by sea on occasionally rough waters, embarking and disembarking from a boat to a dock,
daily hikes of 3-6 miles on steep and uneven trails, and travel by vehicle on unpaved roads. This tour
is not ADA-accessible, the journey should not be undertaken by those whose physical condition will
impede their enjoyment.
Ice Chest: Guests are required to bring an ice chest to help transport purchased food items from
Ventura to the research station on Santa Cruz Island. Purchased food will be divided among tour
members Sunday, guests will be required to store their stocked ice chests in their hotel room Sunday
night.
Weather: Early June weather on Santa Cruz Island is variable. Often it is overcast, evenings and
mornings can be cool. Rain is unlikely but occasional drizzle is possible, as is bright, warm, sunny
weather during the day.
Back to tour information page
For more information please contact:
Sterling Tours, Ltd
2907 Shelter Island Drive Suite #105-262
San Diego, CA 92106 Tel: 619 299-3010 800-976-9497
CST2023849-40
the flora and fauna of the Santa Cruz Island Reserve. Guests must be aware
of the following special conditions, which are above and beyond the standard
Terms and Conditions for this tour:
Accommodations: The first night is spent in a hotel room near Ventura Harbor. The next four nights
will be spent in shared dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds and 4 to 6 guests per room. Guests are
required to bring their own bedding (pillow and sleeping bag). Guests have the option of bringing and
pitching their own tents to sleep outdoors. Bathrooms with showers are communal, separate for men
and women
Voluntary Tasks: At the time of reservation, each guest will be required to volunteer for one of 4
activities: 1. Food shopping with the tour leader late afternoon June 3 (2 persons); 2. Preparation of
dinner for the entire group one night of the tour (2 persons per night, 8 persons total); 3. Setting out
and taking down breakfast and lunch each day of the tour (2 persons). 4. Cleanup of dining area
and kitchen each day of the tour (3 persons total)
Dining: All meals are prepared by guests using a communal kitchen and dining area. Every person
registering for this tour must volunteer for a task..... food shopping the 1st day of the trip, dinner
preparation one night during the trip, or breakfast/lunch setup and cleanup. All guests are expected
to clean up after each meal.
Housekeeping: All guests are required to assist with daily cleanup as well as the big final clean up
on the day of departure. This includes, but is not limited to, mopping floors, cleaning showers,
cleaning toilets, vacuuming, dusting. Guests are expected to leave the facilities as they found them.
Physical Ability: This tour includes moderate to strenuous physical activity, including but not limited
to travel by sea on occasionally rough waters, embarking and disembarking from a boat to a dock,
daily hikes of 3-6 miles on steep and uneven trails, and travel by vehicle on unpaved roads. This tour
is not ADA-accessible, the journey should not be undertaken by those whose physical condition will
impede their enjoyment.
Ice Chest: Guests are required to bring an ice chest to help transport purchased food items from
Ventura to the research station on Santa Cruz Island. Purchased food will be divided among tour
members Sunday, guests will be required to store their stocked ice chests in their hotel room Sunday
night.
Weather: Early June weather on Santa Cruz Island is variable. Often it is overcast, evenings and
mornings can be cool. Rain is unlikely but occasional drizzle is possible, as is bright, warm, sunny
weather during the day.
Back to tour information page
For more information please contact:
Sterling Tours, Ltd
2907 Shelter Island Drive Suite #105-262
San Diego, CA 92106 Tel: 619 299-3010 800-976-9497
CST2023849-40