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Despite an eventful Friday, many students on the California High School Great Books Program woke up bright and early Saturday morning for a hike and outdoor Mass. Although the morning was foggy, the hills surrounding campus were still beautiful in the early light, and the Mass provided the perfect capstone to their morning excursion. 

As the morning proceeded, non-hikers and late sleepers slowly began to awaken. It was time for beach and Santa Barbara day! Students raced to St. Joseph Commons, where they ate a quick brunch before Executive Director of Admissions Jon Daly arrived to assign students to their buses to the beach. 

Once everyone was loaded up, the fun began! The buses rolled out of campus and began the drive up north to Carpinteria State Beach. It was many students' first view of the Pacific Ocean, and loud exclamations rang out as they took in the beautiful drive. 

Finally, the buses arrived, and although the skies were initially cloudy, they quickly cleared, making it the perfect sunny beach day. Students played volleyball on the sand, Spikeball by the water, and tossed around frisbees and footballs. Many braved the cold water before the sun came out, and once it got a little warmer, more joined them, swimming and diving under the crashing waves. A shaved-ice truck was parked nearby, and numerous programmers stopped by to treat themselves to snow cones and ice cream. 

After a few hours basking in the sun and tumbling in the ocean, programmers loaded into the buses for the much-anticipated conclusion of the day — Santa Barbara! Yesterday, students signed up for groups, each captained by a prefect, to whom they were assigned for their stay in the coastal city.

The programmers and prefects began at the end of State Street, returning for the end-of-the-night rendezvous by the pier and the famous dolphin fountain. Students had four hours to explore, eat, shop, and sightsee before mustering.

The highlights of how students spent their evening include a large-group dinner at Finney’s, where Esai G. celebrated his birthday, complete with “The Happy Birthday Song” and an ice cream sundae. Other programmers bought matching fedoras and key-chains. Another group, captained by prefect Pat Daly, bought matching Hawaiian shirts and formed an impromptu boy band. With two guitars and a banjo, the boys busked their way down State Street, singing popular tunes, ending on the pier with a concert of Irish Folk songs. Programmers and strangers alike gathered to listen, and at the closing of their final song, “The Parting Glass,” everyone applauded. 

With this sweet ending, all programmers and prefects gathered at the dolphin fountain for a group photo. Then, it was time to board the buses once again for the trip home to campus. On every bus, the captains distributed Rosaries, and all prayed together before returning home. 

Upon arriving back on campus, programmers said goodnight and retired to the residence halls, content but exhausted from a long day in the sun. It was time for bed, Sunday promises a 5:00 a.m. hike to the Punch Bowls for those who can brave the early morning. We’ll catch you tomorrow on the Summer Program Blog for all of Sunday’s highlights!

More photos from the High School Summer Program

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