Beautiful Beach and Santa Barbara

On the way to Carpinteria State Beach, students enjoyed a scenic view of the ocean, with conversations and singing. Once there, they lathered themselves with sunscreen and spent the afternoon swimming, jumping the waves, and dipping their feet into the refreshingly cold ocean. Others rested on the sand — or got buried in it by their friends! Many played volleyball, Spikeball, and built sandcastles. Grabbing treats of shaved ice from a beachside stand, they then headed to the buses for the drive into the city.

The students spent the rest of the afternoon divided into groups, walking up and down State Street with their choice of an accompanying prefect for an evening of shopping, dining, pictures, and more. The programmers visited a variety of shops, from antique stores to clothiers to art boutiques. Many groups decided to have their members match one another, whether it was their t-shirts, socks, or by wearing formal dress.

Hungry from the long day’s walk, the groups dined at local eateries, including a taqueria, a Thai restaurant, and a pizzeria, stopping afterwards for a dessert of gelato. Shortly before going back to campus, the high schoolers walked onto the Santa Barara Pier, breathed the ocean air one last time, and reunited at the famous dolphin statue for a group picture.

On the way back, the students prayed the Rosary on the bus, then enjoyed a cup of noodles back in the residence hall before bed. “I’ve really enjoyed the experience here,” said Kathleen H. “I can’t believe that the first week is over!”

The students were wiped out, but joyful, from Saturday’s excursion. Sunday should be a much quieter day, with students staying on campus. We will have a full report tomorrow on the Summer Blog!