Field Trips
Registration for field trips is now closed.
Cabrillo National Monument
and San Diego Bay Harbor Cruise
The
first half of this field trip will be a visit to Cabrillo
National Monument, which lies at the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula, just west
of the city of San Diego. The Monument
offers tremendous views of the San Diego region and excellent opportunities to
explore the natural and cultural history of the area. After visiting the
national monument, we will take a break for lunch in Downtown San Diego.
The
second half of the trip will be a two-hour narrated cruise that goes through
the north and south bay, taking in features and historic landmarks such as the
California Sea Lion colony, the Star of India, the Coronado Bay Bridge, the USS
Midway, contemporary naval facilities, and an unparalleled view of San Diego’s
skyline.
Field
trip cost includes harbor cruise ticket and snack. Cost of lunch is not included (please bring cash
for lunch).
Leader:
Dr. John O’Leary
Duration:
9:30 – 4:30
Maximum:
19
Cost:
$45
Coastal Geomorphology and
Natural History of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
First,
we will observe accelerated seacliff erosion due to
narrowing beaches at Encinitas and Solana Beach, San Diego County. Along these shorelines, average erosion
rates at seacliff bases have doubled relative to
historical rates. Seacliff slope angles have steepened, producing seacliff failures that typically extend to the seacliff brink.
Second,
we will visit Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve - one of the wildest stretches
of land on our Southern California coast! The reserve is famous for its beautiful exposures of sedimentary rocks, shrubland vegetation, and spectacular vistas along its
coastal bluffs. The preserve is
also home to the Torrey Pine which is the rarest pine in the United States and
one of the rarest pines in the world.
Field
trip cost includes snack only. There will be a break for lunch between
activities; cost of lunch is not included (please bring cash for lunch).
Leader:
Dr. David McArthur and Darren Smith
Duration:
9:30 – 3:30
Maximum:
22
Cost:
$30
Coastal Estuaries and
Lagoons
San
Diego County enjoys numerous coastal estuaries and lagoons. Typically, most of
them had been reconfigured and randomly developed by the mid-20th century.
After the 1960’s, however, a sense of natural resource stewardship began
growing in the region, and today most of these water bodies enjoy some form of
statutory protection. On this field trip, we will look at several of these
coastal wetlands, and learn of their past degradation, history of preservation,
and current status. Among those
visited will be San Dieguito Lagoon, perhaps the
largest coastal estuary restoration project in the nation.
Field
trip cost includes snack.
Leader:
Dr. Phil Pryde
Duration:
9:00 – 1:00
Maximum:
22
Cost:
$25
Walking Tour of Downtown San
Diego
Since
being relocated from Old Town in 1870, San Diego’s downtown has witnessed a
nearly constant cycle of boom and bust, the stories of which can be told
through the city’s present-day architecture, from older Victorian houses to
modern-day high rises and everything in between. Today, downtown San Diego is
vibrant with activity, both day and night, thanks to redevelopment efforts in
the past three decades. Major sites along the way include the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park,
Horton Plaza, and Little Italy. Field trip participants will take the trolley
to and from downtown and the walking tour of downtown San Diego will last
approximately two hours.
Field
trip cost includes snack.
Leader:
Emily Powers & Jon Rossiter
Duration:
1:30-4:30
Maximum:
25
Cost:
$10
