One Step at a Time on Catalina Island

   Santa Catalina Island, located just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, not only is home to white sand beaches and swaying palm trees, but also 60 endemic species and over 165 miles of hiking trails. In partnership with the Catalina Island Conservancy, our volunteers helped rebuild a section of the Trans-Catalina Trail - a 38.5 through hike trail across Catalina Island. 

Our largest group of the year so far headed out in May 2026 for a week of car camping on the beautiful island while working hard to rebuild a heavily damaged portion of trail located near the Catalina airport. This portion of trail had been impacted by the use of heavy equipment resulting in unsafe conditions for trail users. Our volunteers helped fix this damage by constructing rock steps using materials sourced from the surrounding area, preserving the local ecosystem and biodiversity. This work was not easy and required a lot of teamwork from our volunteers. It involved carrying heavy stones to build rock steps and digging deep holes in the dry soil to place the steps in to create safer passage for the estimated 35,000 annual trail users.

During their week on the island, volunteers not only worked with the Catalina Island Conservancy staff to build the trail but learned about the local ecosystem and the stewardship put forward by the organization to create and conserve a diverse coastal environment. At the end of the workweek, the crew headed to the city of Avalon - the only incorporated city on the island where they got a tour of the native plant sanctuary and got to dip their toes in the ocean.

The hard work and long days were rewarded with delicious meals coordinated by our crew leader and nighttime chats around the fire at the campsite. The group formed life-long bonds and found camaraderie in shared appetites for stewardship.