Hawaii & California Middle School Trip Overview
Join us this summer for some sun, sand, and sea turtles as we explore the beautiful Hawaiian Islands and hit up the Golden State of California on this adventure designed especially for middle school students! From vibrant Honolulu to laid-back San Diego, this program covers some of the best highlights of Hawaii and California, including postcard-perfect beaches, turquoise water, bustling cities, and plenty of adventure!
Learn about sea turtle conservation while participating in several projects to protect the endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles. Projects include learning about sea turtle conservation efforts, snorkeling to survey turtles and reef health, and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work up close with injured sea turtle patients! Next, we will make our way to sunny SoCal, seeing San Diego’s most iconic sights and hang ten as you learn to surf at one of the city’s most famous beaches.
Plenty of action-packed adventure will complement our service projects in both Hawaii and California. Hike to the top of a volcanic crater, take a surf lesson and ignite your adventure-seeking mind in the Aloha State before enjoying the best that California has to offer. Immerse yourself in the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles as we take you to all the best spots of this bustling city. Witness incredible landscapes and vistas as you travel along Highway 1, taking in the beauty of the world-renowned Big Sur. Through NorCal, check out Morro Bay, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco. Embrace the city by the bay as you take in the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Muir Woods, and much more.
*This is a combination of our USA for Middle School: Aloha Hawaii and USA for Middle School: Hello California trips.
During this program, you will…
- Earn up to 15 hours of service credit helping with a sea turtle conservation project, and working with Urban Surf 4 Kids
- Learn about sea turtle and reef conservation and protect the endangered hawksbill sea turtles
- Work up close with injured sea turtle patients
- Snorkel with vibrant marine life in the biodiverse Molokini Crater
- Learn to surf on the famous shores of Waikiki Beach
- Take a step back in time and visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial
- Hike through lava tunnels to the top of Diamond Head Crater for stunning coastal views
- Try scuba diving to explore the underwater world*
- Catch the sunrise from the top of Haleakala Volcano and take a nature tour down through the clouds*
- Play beach volleyball, swim in crystal clear water, and enjoy life under the Hawaiian sun
- Get up close with the animals of the San Diego Zoo, one of the largest and most famous zoos in the world
- See the seals and sea lions of beautiful La Jolla
- Explore Hollywood and the Walk of Fame
- Wander through Venice Beach and along the Santa Monica Pier
- See LA lit up at night from the Griffith Observatory
- Take a road trip along Highway 1, experiencing the unique Big Sur
- Sink your toes into purple sand at Pfeiffer Beach
- See an ancient volcanic plug formed by magma in stunning Morro Bay
- Cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge
- Enjoy a delicious chocolate sundae at Ghirardelli Square
- Feel what it might have been like as a prisoner at Alcatraz
- Hike through giant redwood trees at Muir Woods
- Take an e-bike tour through the iconic sights of San Francisco
- Spend a magical day at Disneyland*
*This is an optional add-on
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES (LAX)
DAYS 1-7: MAUI
Maui is truly a Hawaiian paradise with pristine white sand beaches, colorful coral reefs, lush vegetation, and turquoise ocean. Lucky for us, our hotel is right across the street from some of the best beaches on the island! We can hop over any time we like for beach volleyball, relaxation, and a refreshing swim. You’ll have the opportunity to zipline over luscious jungle and take a sunset dinner cruise.
Maui is also home to our sea turtle service project. We partner with a local organization dedicated to protecting and researching this endangered species. We’ll learn all about the hawksbill sea turtles and will participate in a variety of projects dedicated to sea turtle conservation. Some of these projects include beach cleanups to protect the turtle’s natural habitats, watching over basking turtles on the beach, and educating tourists.
Summer is also the time of year these turtles typically come on the beach to nest. This means that it is very likely that we will have the opportunity to participate in a night watch for nesting turtles or watch over a nest hatching and help the babies make their way safely to the ocean!
Maui is also home to our sea turtle service project. We partner with a local organization dedicated to protecting and researching this endangered species. We’ll learn all about the hawksbill sea turtles and will participate in a variety of projects dedicated to sea turtle conservation. Some of these projects include beach cleanups to protect the turtle’s natural habitats, watching over basking turtles on the beach, and educating tourists. At the Center, we will work first-hand with injured turtle patients–tending to wounds, taking fluids, and whatever else these gentle friends need on their road to recovery.
Our service work will be complemented with plenty of fun activities, including a boat trip to snorkel in the famous Molokini crater, sea kayaking, scuba diving (optional), and ziplining!
There will also be an optional excursion to catch the sunrise from the top of Haleakala Volcano and take a nature tour down through the clouds. For those who don’t feel comfortable biking, don’t worry, there is the option to ride down in a vehicle too!
DAYS 7-11: HONOLULU > PEARL HARBOR > WAIKIKI
Oahu is the perfect island for a little bit of adventure! We will take a surf lesson on the famous shores of Waikiki with professional instructors who will have you riding waves in no time. Our hotel is just steps away from the beach, so we will have plenty of time to relax, swim, and enjoy some quality time in the summer sun! For a truly unique experience, we’ll hike through a lava tunnel to the top of Diamond Head Crater for breathtaking views of the island.
No visit to Oahu would be complete without a journey to the past in order to pay respects at the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Memorials. Accessible only by boat, this memorial is one of several sites in Hawaii commemorating the attack on Pearl Harbor and honoring those who lost their lives as well as the few remaining survivors.
We will cap off our time in Hawaii with a special Luau, complete with hula dancers, music, and a delicious spread of traditional Hawaiian food. After ten beautiful days soaking up the sun in Hawaii, it’s time to say goodbye as we continue our adventure to the California coast!
DAYS 12-14: SAN DIEGO
Our adventure continues in sunny San Diego. We’ll get our first taste of the laid-back Southern California lifestyle as we explore the neighborhoods and coastline that make this city so well known! Wander through Balboa Park, watch the seals of La Jolla, sea kayak in the Pacific, and absorb the history of the charming gaslamp district. During your time here, you’ll give back to the community and have a chance to interact with the local children with Urban Surf 4 Kids.
DAYS 15-18: LOS ANGELES
Tackle the second largest city in the US without feeling overwhelmed! Wander through “Tinseltown” to spot your favorite celebrity along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and check out the Chinese Theatre, explore vibrant Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier, window shop along Rodeo Drive, and hike through Runyon Canyon for incredible views from the Griffith Observatory. You will even have the chance to go on an optional day trip to one of America’s favorite theme parks: Disneyland!
DAY 19: HIGHWAY 1
Arguably the most beautiful coastal road in the world, we’ll spend a couple of days snaking our way up it, staying in Morro Bay and stopping at the postcard-perfect beaches of Santa Barbara, the stunning McWay Falls, funky Bixby Bridge, Santa Cruz, and the purple sand of Pfeiffer Beach.
DAYS 20-21: SAN FRANCISCO
Experience all the best of the City by the Bay in the cultural epicentre of NorCal.. Ride the historical cable car and enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of famous Pier 39. Sample incredible seafood while watching the lazy sea lions bask along the pier before enjoying a delicious sundae at Ghirardelli Square. Explore San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods, including Haight Ashbury, SoMa, Embarcadero, and Chinatown.
Head North to Marin County, where you’ll cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and stroll through the quaint seaside town of Sausalito before hiking through the impressive redwoods of Muir Woods. Hop on a boat across the bay to tour the infamous prison, Alcatraz, also known as The Rock.
DAY 22: DEPART FROM SAN FRANCISCO (SFO)
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FAQs
Where do we stay?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
What is unique about the USA for Middle School: Hawaii & California trip?
USA for Middle School: Hawaii & California provides eye-opening conservation service and time outdoors in some of the greatest places in California. Our work with our service partner allows us to get up close to the amazing green sea turtle, working first-hand with turtle patients, assisting the team with bandaging wounds, fin massages, and anything else they may need.
This program is designed for younger teens in mind and intimate-sized groups make this an incredible experience for everyone on board.
USA for Middle School: Hawaii & California provides eye-opening conservation service and time outdoors in some of the greatest places in California. Our work with our service partner allows us to get up close to the amazing green sea turtle, working first-hand with turtle patients, assisting the team with bandaging wounds, fin massages, and anything else they may need.
This program is designed for younger teens in mind and intimate-sized groups make this an incredible experience for everyone on board.
What is included on the USA for Middle School: Hawaii & California trip?
Tuition cost include: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; lunches; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Tuition cost include: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; lunches; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
What is the food like on this program?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Hawaii involves plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course, seafood! Some typical foods we will have the chance to try are poke bowls, acai bowls, poi, and breadfruit. While in California, we’ll have seafood and food influenced by the neighboring continent of Asia.
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Hawaii involves plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course, seafood! Some typical foods we will have the chance to try are poke bowls, acai bowls, poi, and breadfruit. While in California, we’ll have seafood and food influenced by the neighboring continent of Asia.