Sturtevant Camp Re-Opens to Welcome Ramona Convent Students

Nineteen brave Ramona students (and three adventurous chaperones) embarked on a backpacking experience to culminate their “Wild LA” J-Term course. J-Term is an opportunity for students to take a brief pause from traditional coursework for two weeks in January to explore topics that they may never otherwise be introduced to.

Teachers have a chance to share their passions and enthusiasm in various areas. During the “Wild LA” course, a two-week wilderness survival and backpacking class held in January for beginners, students learned to build a fire, use a map and compass, practice basic first aid, and prepared for the backpacking trip.

They departed at dawn on a Saturday for a 4-mile hike to camp but took a slight detour to sneak a peek at Sturtevant Falls, a 50-foot waterfall in the Angeles National Forest. Upon arrival to Sturtevant Camp, backpackers were welcomed by Guest and Hospitality Manager, Teah Vaughn Piscopo, who shared that Ramona students were the first to visit since 2020 after the Bobcat fire destroyed parts of the camp infrastructure.

The group spent one night at Sturtevant Camp but had the opportunity to explore the surrounding area, prepare meals, and enjoy leisure activities while remaining “off the grid.” Upon completion of the hike back, students were asked to share their feedback and one quickly responded “we should stay for additional nights because it was refreshing to take a break to connect with nature.”

Dr. Matthew Carrillo-Vincent, J-Term instructor and English Department Chair shared “This was a chance not only to connect with the rich history of the Hiking Era in the San Gabriel Mountains but with each other.”

Ramona, celebrating a legacy of 135 years of distinction, is a welcoming Catholic college-prep high school for young women committed to excellence in education. Graduates are empowered, resilient, socially conscious leaders prepared to meet the challenges of life as contributive members of the global community.

Ramona Convent Secondary School, 1701 W. Ramona Rd., Alhambra, CA 91803, (626) 282-4151 or visit www.ramonaconvent.org.