Santa Cruz, California is located within the northern coastal waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – a habitat for one of the most active ocean ecosystems on the planet.

This area is also home to a passionate community of people dedicated to protecting, preserving, and educating about the California coastline and cold-water marine environment. In 1996, wetsuit innovator and surfer Jack O’Neill founded the O’Neill Sea Odyssey (OSO). This one-of-a-kind program is conducted on board a 65-foot catamaran and is designed to give 4th-6th grade students a hands-on, land/sea learning experience of marine biology, watershed ecology, and navigation techniques.

Jack O’Neill teaching aboard the sea odyssey in the late 90s.

The award-winning program has had a remarkably positive impact on youth and is steering towards reaching 100,000 students in 2018.

At the helm is Executive Director Dan Haifley, a recipient of the 2011 Ocean Hero Award from Save Our Shores, and a dynamic advocate for ocean conservation and environmental education throughout California. In addition to leading the OSO team, he is recognized for his work in establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, promoting 26 California local ordinances regarding offshore oil, and publishing a weekly ocean column in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

In the following interview, Dan shares his perspective about the value of OSO, and how it benefits the community, surrounding ocean and beyond.

Why is this environmental program important now more than ever?

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O’Neill Sea Odyssey’s program uses math and science lessons to result in environmental stewardship outcomes. The ocean covers 72% of earth’s surface, supplies half its oxygen, creates weather and is a major food source and economic engine, yet it is a sensitive, living habitat vulnerable to pollution. A recent study found that 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic inhabit the ocean. It is under greater stress as it absorbs excess carbon from the atmosphere, increasing sediment loads from rivers that flow to the ocean worldwide, and as we turn to it to help feed a growing population. Giving students the tools to think critically and solve problems such as these is a key component of what O’Neill Sea Odyssey does.

What makes traveling and learning on the Team O’Neill catamaran such a unique experience?

Most students who attend our program have never been on the ocean before. Being in an exciting new environment to teach students science concepts rooted in that environment has a lasting impact, which our annual outcomes analysis and a long-term study of our program confirms. Now that the program is more than 20 years old, I’m hearing from people who attended in elementary school and remember it vividly and talk about how it informs their daily professional, family, and social lives.

What are some of the positive ways you’ve seen the O’Neill Sea Odyssey’s program impacting youth?

Beyond our annual evaluation and the long-term study of our program, which measured its impact 5-7 years after the experience, there are stories. Here is one. Andres Salgado, a former OSO Amesti student returned 14 years later now as a 6th-grade teacher to bring his own class: “Well it’s the first time on a boat for many, some of them haven’t even been to the beach! The kids remember these lessons better because it’s a different environment, they get to see things in person, not in front of textbook or computer screen.”

What are a few of your favorite facts about the Monterey Bay ocean and marine life?

I love the fact that California sea otters look like they have an easy life but, in fact, they work 24 hours a day managing the kelp forest habitat, which in turn protects our coast from erosion and absorbs excess carbon, to prevent further acidification of ocean water. So, in fact, they are working hard for us. And oh, by the way, female sea otters do raise young ones, a big job in and of itself.

How do you see the Sea Odyssey program evolving in the future?

We will continue to improve the curriculum, especially now since we distribute it as classroom curriculum nationally, and we get feedback from schools around the country. We’ll continue to find ways to engage inland schools, right now we have a virtual program, and we can do more. After all, all rivers and creeks and storm drains flow to the ocean, including those in Oklahoma.

Find out more information about the program visit O’NeillSeaOdyssey.Org

The post O’Neill Sea Odyssey – Classroom on a Catamaran appeared first on Bizarre Bay.

No matter how many times a Volkswagen bus travels, changes ownership, or transforms, it always seems to fulfill its original purpose – inspiring adventure and celebration with great people.

Anthony Alcala and his wife Jenna have taken the timeless culture of a VW bus to the next level by transforming their vintage camper van into a traveling photo booth and creating The Booth Bus in 2014. The business draws upon their friendly approach and appreciation for a classic California lifestyle – slow-paced road trips, surf treks, and starlit camping.

By incorporating a top notch photo booth into their old-school van, the Alcalas offer a picture-perfect blend of nostalgia and modernity that magnetizes people of all ages. The Booth Bus now features two beautifully enhanced buses – Georgia and Ginger, that travel locally and beyond, spreading joy and immortalizing good times wherever they roll as only VW’s can do.

Read on for an interview with Anthony to hear about creating a business with vintage VW buses and experiencing “Life in the Right Lane”.

What inspired you to launch the Booth Bus?

Launching The Booth Bus was created by a series of coincidences that collided together. I’ve always been attracted to vintage vehicles and wanted to own a mid 60’s or 70′ VW Bus. I was in my mid thirties and never made the leap to purchase one. I was attracted to their stylish look and the allure of owning a vehicle that was designed specifically for travel and adventure had always sparked my interest. My wife Jenna and life travel partner encouraged me to buy one before it was too late (kids, mortgages, etc).

After purchasing our bus Georgia, we began using it for camping and going on local expeditions. VW buses are slow moving vehicles so using them requires a more zen-like approach to traveling than one is accustomed to in a modern car. A VW Bus is air-cooled, meaning they are cooled-off by the air passing-by as you drive along the road. This engineering aspect requires a slower approach to travel, sometimes you have to pull over and let the bus cool after climbing a big hill. It’s a forced chill-out and we loved it. It was more adventurous and required a slower operating speed when going somewhere. There’s a beauty to operating slower, you discover more time to think, notice things that were easily overlooked once beforehand. We call it Life In The Right Lane.

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This new slowing-down became a catalyst that fueled a deeper desire to do something more artistic and upbeat with my career. One day while my wife and I were driving home from a Southern California road trip in the bus, we had an ah-hah moment. We had been kicking around ideas and dreaming out-loud on how we could share the sense of adventure and state-of-mind that comes with driving and owning a VW bus. And then it hit us – how about a photo booth bus? We have always loved photography and particularly photo booths. They’re a fun medium that evokes silliness, light-heartedness, and are memory creators. Similarly, a VW bus is a relic of a past-time when society operated slower, a metaphor for charting new paths, travel, free love, and adventure.

We were really jazzed on this concept. On that Fourth of July, we hosted an impromptu BBQ and decided to offer our proto-type photo bus to our neighbors and friends. The design wasn’t complete or what it is today but it was functional. The feedback from everyone was overwhelmingly positive. We were encouraged and motivated to go for it. And so the Booth Bus was born…

Tell us the story behind your two buses – Georgia and Ginger?

Georgia is a 1970 Westfalia Camper and we purchased her from a family in Laguna Beach. Georgia was manufactured in Germany of course but was initially imported and lived most of her life in the state of Georgia during the 70’s by her first owner and eventually made her way to Southern California. Jenna’s grandmother was named Georgia. She was a classic glamorous 1950’s beauty. Impressed with the bus’ beauty, we decided to name our bus Georgia for her stateside roots and in honor of Jenna’s grandmother.

We are also the proud owners of Ginger, a 1966 Split Window Kombi. We purchased her in Lomita from the original owner named Tony. He was a real salt-of-the-earth type of fellow and actually used to work at the Long Beach Harbor off-loading VW buses being imported directly from Germany. Tony took meticulous care of Ginger and she was his primary vehicle for many years. He traveled up and down the west coast with Ginger, including long road trips to Mexico and Canada.

We have taken many camping trips, road trips, and day trips with both of our buses. We’ve only stayed in California with our gals and our most favorite trips are the 2-3 day camping, surf excursions in Big Sur.

What do you like about these particular models – what makes them so classic and fun for people?

In my humble opinion, the Camper is the ultimate VW Bus model. Georgia is a Westfalia camper. There was other types of camper models manufactured such as the Rivera and the Sundial. However, the Westfalia model became the most popular camper kit style and and the name Westfalia commonly represents any type of VW Bus camper. From our experience, people who grew-up in and around VW buses, camping and spending time outdoors is the most common nostalgic memory that makes people smile and reminds them of the good times spent with their loved ones.

Our other Bus Ginger is a Kombi. The Kombi model is a basic VW Bus, a passenger van without the camper kit inside. This model type also brings back many memories for folks. Not so much for the camping stories but reminds people of the long road-trips with friends, the family outings, and the endless customizing that people did with VW buses. The Kombi is easy to personalize. The middle and back seats are easy to remove and voila, you have a big open cabin to customize to your liking.

How did you renovate the van from camper to photo booth?

Turning the bus into a photo booth proved harder than we had initially thought and it took way longer than we anticipated. As a classic car enthusiast, I love keeping things stock if and when possible. So our goal from the outset was to minimize altering the bus if at all possible. With that in mind, we were able to engineer our photo booth setup so that it is completely removable without disrupting the interior or exterior of the buses. Our photo booth kiosk is hand-crafted and custom made out of wood, we have professional lighting inside the bus to ensure we capture gorgeous imagery and state of the art technology operate the booth.

What has been one of your most epic events with the Booth Bus?

One of our most epic events was being the main attraction for an engagement proposal. We set up the bus at the end of a quiet ocean bluff. The plan was this young fellow was taking his girlfriend out to dinner at the Shadowbrook restaurant and along the way he would “accidentally” get lost and make a wrong turn down a small quiet road where they would be met by an abandoned beautiful photo bus on the bluff open just for them two. Inside the bus is where he would propose. The whole lead up to the proposal was very heart-pounding! Let’s face it, you can only propose properly once to your future wife. We felt very responsible for the entire thing to go-off without a hitch. And it did! She said yes

Find out more at TheBoothBus.com

The post Interview with The Booth Bus: Northern California’s Vintage Volkswagen Photo Booth appeared first on Bizarre Bay.

Whether you travel by foot, bike, or car, a road trip through the redwood Forest of Nisene Marks should be on your bucket list.

Located just off the Pacific Ocean coast and a short cruise through Aptos, California, this magnificent old-growth redwood forest spreads from the sea level town inland and up steep mountains elevating several thousand feet high. The wild landscape of Nisene Marks State Park features the unparalleled beauty of northern California nature – 10,000 acres of ancient redwood groves, weathered canyons, waterfalls and fern-laced creeks make this environment appear prehistoric and perfect for exploring.

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Nisene Marks is home to hundreds of diverse plant and animal species, and hosts countless amounts of awestruck visitors every day for hiking, biking, picnicking, and camping. Since 1992, the task of preserving the ever-evolving habitat and protecting the people who traverse its 30 miles of trails has been in the hands of a local, all-volunteer organization – the Advocates for the Forest of Nisene Marks. 

The Advocates educate the public about the forest’s unique history and ecology, and engage volunteers in projects that keep the park trails and roads maintained and safe to navigate. Through collaborations, projects, and the Nisene Marks Volunteer Trail Crew, the organization helps make it possible for the forest to continue to thrive and improve. In 2017, the non-profit was awarded “Organization of the Year” by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, in honor of the dedicated Advocate members who keep Nisene Marks protected and road-trip worthy every year, rain or shine.

Hats off to the organization, now celebrating its 25th Anniversary, and represented in the following interview by Advocates Ambassador John Fuchs, President Allison Livingston, and Director Melanie Dominguez.

What are some of the projects the Advocates have been a part of over the years?

For the past 25 years, we have helped maintain and repair the Park’s trails, bridges and even the ‘out-buildings’. We do this through our hard-working volunteers. Once a month, we head out onto the trails to brush-back, remove obstructions, maintain drainage, and grade the trail surfaces as necessary. We also install and remove the seasonal bridges over Aptos Creek, each Spring and Fall.

Additionally, we act as a ‘liaison’ to State Parks advocating for the wants and needs of the Park users. In that role, we have been supportive in the development of the General Plan, installation of Margaret’s bridge, the creation of the ADA trail to the Wagoneer Overlook, benches at Santa Rosalia, Interpretive Panels and Dust Abatement on the Fire Road – to name just a few.

Through the generosity of the community, we raise money to fund these projects and many others. And those green maps that you pick up at the Kiosk – that’s us. We also work collaboratively with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and serve on their Nisene Committee to pursue even larger projects.

By the end of this year alone, all 3 bridges will have been replaced on the Bridge Creek trail along with the bridge at the bottom of the West Ridge trail. That’s two great organizations taking care of this big, beautiful redwood forest.

Aside from taking care of the park with the Advocates, what are some of the ways you enjoy Nisene Marks?

John Fuchs: Personally, I enjoy hiking and mountain biking in the Park, and learning about it’s history. I enjoy taking out-of-town friends and family into the Park. I’m also a member of an organization called Trips for Kids Santa Cruz. We take underprivileged kids mountain biking, and this is one of our favorite destinations. The kids love the redwoods and the creeks.

Please share why this organization is vital to preserving this area’s unique environment?

John Fuchs: The budget for California’s beautiful network of State Parks is insufficient to maintain the Parks in their current condition, much less make needed improvements or expand the Parks. State Parks increasingly rely on private organizations like ours and others to help.

What are a few of the lesser known facts about Nisene Marks that visitors might like to be aware of?

Allison Livingston: One unexpected thing in the spring, usually March, is the blossoming of the Fat Solomon Seal flower which smells like Hawaii— Depending on the rain fall, some of the best hikes for the November through February would be Five Finger Falls, Bridge Creek, or the Westridge Trail to see the waterfalls. February through April the hikes with the wildflowers are wonderful, such as Oak Ridge Trail, the Westridge Trail, and the Buggy Trail. [For the summer]

John Fuchs: The epicenter of the 1989 quake is on the Aptos Creek Trail…and further up that trail if the bridge is up is a hidden lagoon. There’s also White’s Lagoon on the Big Slide Trail. I also love the Big Stump area (sadly it was formerly the Big Trees area). All the trails in the lower section of the park are fun to walk in early winter as they travel close to Aptos creek. The Old Growth Loop Trail is especially fun in the summer months and is easily accessible from the entrance station. Summer months are also a good time to explore the park’s upper trail past the Porter Picnic Area.

Melanie Dominguez: Bikers can enjoy the Fire Road all year round unless there’s significant rain. The Lower Split Stuff Trails are fun on a cross bike or mountain bike, otherwise riding up and over to Soquel Demonstration Forest is great for the expert/experienced rider. No trails should ever be ridden in the rain though, as it ruins the trail and increases errosion.

How can the community contribute or participate in activities to protect and maintain Nisene Marks State Park?

John Fuchs: We need trail work volunteers for our monthly trailwork days. We need volunteers to serve on our Board of Directors, especially an IT and/or marketing person. We rely on donations to fund our efforts in the park. The community can learn more by visiting our Website or Facebook page.

Photos credited to the Advocates of the Forest of Nisene Marks.

The post Road Trip through the Redwoods: Nisene Marks Advocates Make Exploration Easy appeared first on Bizarre Bay.

If there is one vehicle that has stood the test of time and remained synonymous with friends, freedom, and adventure, it’s the enduringly iconic Volkswagen bus.

It may have started as a simple mode of local transportation, but over the years, it has become a ubiquitous feature of road trips, rallies and festivals; coastline cruises, wilderness campouts, and intrepid odysseys around the world. The people who drive them, live in them, and are associated with them seem as uniquely cool and charismatic as the VW bus itself. Their journeys symbolize what many of us strive for – a counterculture lifestyle, breaking from conformity, and embracing unconventionality.

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Cue the Bus Trippers. This group of fun-loving adventurers experience the spontaneous freedom and serendipitous jaunts that come from life on the road in a classic relic. Launched by Jeremy Leonard of Santa Cruz, California, Bus Trippers is a welcoming community of people who share a passion for traveling aboard split window, aircooled Volkswagen buses of the 1960s and 70s. Their stories and snapshots capture the spirit of exploration in off-road places, and remind us of the value of a slower pace and simpler life, with or without an itinerary.

Both Jeremy and his wife Sarah have connections with Volkswagens that link back to their childhoods. Now, they’re keeping the tradition of travel in a home-on-wheels going with their son Jaylen. Together, they’ve trekked with vintage VW buses as far south as Mexico and as far north as Alaska. Bus Trippers documents the buses they’ve owned over the years, chronicles tales of their intrepid travels, and celebrates the friends they roll with and the fellow nomads they meet along the way.

Anyone who’s spent some time or has always dreamed of adventuring with a VW bus will appreciate travel in what Jeremy calls the “Swiss Army Knife of vehicles”. The weathered machines the Bus Trippers renovate and navigate may be considered antique collector’s items, but their extensive rambles away from the homefront, and the self-sufficiency and fun their journeys represent, prove the longstanding versatility and cult status of the VW bus. Despite age, the well-engineered, utilitarian design, and opportunity for adaptation and personalization make cruising around town or across the country in these old, quirky vehicles comfortable, reliable, and eye-catching.

Read on for an interview with Jeremy Leonard, and let the swashbuckling adventures of Bus Trippers inspire you to take time to explore by way of the back roads and connect with likeminded people along the way.

Jeremy, tell us about your connection to VW buses. How did it all begin?

In 1973, my parents had a 1968 Westy Camper. My mom pulled into the driveway, didn’t set the parking brake fully, and the bus began to roll as she stepped out. She being 8 months pregnant, used all of her strength to jump back into the bus and yank on the parking brake. She immediately felt funny, and I was born in the morning the next day. Over the years we toured all over the country in various VW buses. My parents would load up the camping gear, and we were on the road nearly every weekend.

What inspired you to launch Bus Trippers – what was the vision and who is the community?

I launched Bus Trippers with a good friend of mine named Greg Urrutia. He’s a life long VW enthusiast, and a top -notch mechanic. Originally the idea was to document our road trip to Alaska, and we named our Facebook page the “Alaska Bus Trip.” We had a Baja Bus Trip page to document our various trips to Mexico. Then we realized that it was silly to have a different bus page for every adventure, so came up with Bus Trippers!

What is your favorite year VW to restore and travel in? What makes this model so classic?

I am currently getting a 1967 21 Window Bus back on the road after lying dormant for 20 years. It’s such a beautiful car to drive! The sun windows, and the rag top make it beautiful. Everywhere we go people wave and smile. Every time we stop people want to come up and talk about the bus. They’re classic, and people are nostalgic to go back to when times were simpler.

Tell us about one of your most epic adventures! 

The most stand out adventure was our trip to Alaska. My wife Sarah, son Jaylen and I drove up to anchorage via the Alaska Highway. The scenery was incredible. We camped by rivers, slept out under the stars, and met a ton of great people along the way. Sarah and Jaylen had to get back to school, so my friend Greg flew into Anchorage, and we continued north to a small community in Canada called Inuvik. It’s as far north on the Dempster highway that you can drive on dirt. There’s an ice road that continues north in the winter months only. Inuvik is at the end of a 1000 mile long dirt road out and back.

What advice would you give someone wanting to experience the VW bus lifestyle, either through restoration, ownership, planning trips, etc?

Get out there and meet people with buses. Go to shows. See if it’s really for you. You have to be somewhat mechanically inclined to drive a 50 year old vehicle of any kind, air-cooled VWs are simple machines and easy to learn. Find your local VW Club, join up. Go to meetings and be involved.

Follow Bus Trippers on Facebook or at  BusTrippers.com
Photos credited to Jeremy Leonard.

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