Santa Cruz Island (Prisoner Harbor)- Heartland Charter School

Registration window August 24, 10:00 a.m. -August 30, 7:00 p.m.

Prisoner Harbor is located where the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) boundaries meet, giving unique access to the Pelican Bay Trail. This trail offers beautiful vistas overlooking the Santa Barbara Channel and its rich marine diversity. It also traverses several different vegetation habitats, providing the best opportunity to see the most diverse endemic species of any trail on Santa Cruz. This vegetation provides habitat for many bird species, including the endemic Island Scrub Jay, which is found nowhere else in the world. The Harbor area still houses an old ranch storage building and an archaeological site that offer a window into the island's rich cultural past. This trail is considered one of the most diverse hikes on the islands. Trail highlights include lush native vegetation and spectacular vistas. Education themes are similar to those described for Scorpion Ranch, with an emphasis on restoration and conservation.

The boat trip to Prisoners will take 11⁄2 hours. Arriving at the Harbor, be prepared to step from the boat to a ladder, where you will climb 2-5 rungs to the pier. The distance of the hike depends on each group's pace and skills.

Distance ranges from 1 1⁄2 to 4 miles, with multiple elevation changes of 150-200 feet, including some steep, rocky terrain. The trail is rated “Moderate to Strenuous” by the Park Service, and is recommended for more mature students and/or small groups.

There is always an opportunity to see wildlife en route to the islands, and we definitely brake for whales and dolphins! Once ashore, students will have a lunch break and then take a guided hike with their naturalist. Our naturalists are trained in the unique natural and cultural resources of Channel Islands National Park and have a wide range of activities to reinforce the information they present.

There is no potable water, and there are vault toilets.

Come prepared by dressing in layers and researching the best sea sickness strategies for your family.

Be sure to dress in layers, as the weather at sea can vary during the trip.

Recommend: ● Water ● Snacks ● Sunscreen ● Camera ● Warm clothes ● Motion sickness aids if needed (take beforehand) ● Adventurous spirit

Ticket cost:

• Students in grades TK and up +$54.00
• Chaperones $54.00

*The price for tickets paid with a credit card will be slightly higher due to the Ticketbud processing fee.

May I pay using my student's planning amount? Yes! You can pay for your student's ticket and one chaperone ticket with your student's planning amount. Reminder: Only one chaperone ticket per family may be purchased using planning amounts. 

What are the check-in procedures? Check in with Michele at 8:30, then check in with Island Packers at 8:45. Michele will check families in on the right side of the building, on the grassy patch. She will be wearing Heartland Charter School Apparel. We cannot hold the boat for late arrivals

Who may attend? Students must be in at least TK to attend. Younger siblings may NOT attend. Every attendee needs a ticket. Families may bring up to two chaperones. The second chaperone ticket will need to be paid out of pocket on Ticketbud.

Is there on-site parking available? There is free public parking outside the Island Packers building. The space is not limited, as the lot is large.

Can we pack snacks or lunch for this event or field trip? Yes. Be sure to pack a lunch to eat on the island. Bring enough water for your family to drink throughout the day. You are responsible for carrying all your trash off the island. Be prepared for motion sickness; wear a band or take something beforehand.

How do I contact the event organizer?

Name: Michele Whitney

Phone number: 559-593-3909

Email address: [email protected]

You must have a student enrolled at Heartland Charter School to attend this event. We verify enrollment for all attendees.

How to Reserve Your Spot

To officially join us on this field trip, you must complete both steps of our registration process. Please follow these directions carefully:

Step 1: Check out on Ticketbud

Complete the checkout process here on Ticketbud. This initiates your reservation. *If you want to pay with your student funds, please reserve tickets labeled "Paid with student funds through Procurify".

• Confirmation: You will receive an email confirmation from Ticketbud once your order is complete.
• Tip: If you do not see the email within a few minutes, please check your Spam/Junk folder. If you cannot find a confirmation email from Ticketbud, you did not successfully reserve tickets.
• Action: Once you have your confirmation, move immediately to Step 2.

Step 2: Place your Order in Procurify

Your spot is not confirmed until an order is placed in the Procurify system for students who are enrolled in Heartland and their primary chaperone. You do NOT need to place an order in Procurify for siblings who are not enrolled or for additional chaperones.

• Search: Log in to Procurify, search the name of this field trip in the catalog, and complete your order as you would for any other educational resource.
• Note: Do NOT place a Procurify order for siblings who are not enrolled in Heartland.
• Deadline: You must place your Procurify order within 3 days of your Ticketbud registration.
• IMPORTANT! Registration Requirement: To avoid losing your spot, both steps must be completed. Failure to place an order in Procurify within the three-day window will result in removal from the attendee list, and funds will be manually deducted from your account.

Heartland events are designed for families to attend together. Students need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone. If your student will be attending with another family, please email the field trip host to let them know once you complete your registration. Chaperones must be the legal parent or 25 years and older. All chaperones must be healthy, ethical people with the skills to be responsible adult chaperones.

Please review our Field Trip Refund & Attendance Policy!

To ensure we can provide these experiences to as many students as possible, please review our commitment and refund guidelines before registering.

All Sales are Final

• No Refunds: Once a ticket is reserved or purchased, we cannot offer a refund for any reason, including illness, scheduling conflicts, or a change of plans.
• Non-Transferable: Tickets are tied specifically to the student account used at registration. They cannot be sold, gifted, or transferred to another family.

The "No-Show" Policy

Because Heartland pre-pays many venues based on Ticketbud headcounts, an unused ticket is a direct loss of school resources.

• Fund Deduction: If a family reserves a spot and does not place an order in Procurify, the student's planning amount will still be manually deducted from their Procurify account, and the student will be removed from the attendee list.
• Loss of Access: Families who are frequent "no-shows" may lose access to future field trip registrations. We track attendance to ensure that limited spots go to families who are committed to attending.

Professional Courtesy: If an emergency arises, and you truly cannot make it:

• Notify the Lead Teacher: Please email the organizing teacher as soon as possible.
• Why it matters: This prevents the entire group from waiting at the venue entrance for your arrival, keeping the educational program on schedule for everyone else.

Our Goal: By only registering for events you are fully committed to, you help us keep our field trip program sustainable and open to all students.