Surrounded by crashing waves on Catalina’s widest sandy beach, Zohar Shlush-Reyna was thrilled to be working outside her typical office environment. As a volunteer with the Conservancy’s new All-inclusive Catalina Service Retreat, Shlush-Reyna got to see a new side of the Island she loves. 

“I’ve been a few times before – twice to Avalon and once to Two Harbors,” said Shlush-Reyna, who works in Los Angeles as an entertainment lawyer. “I grew up more so in the countryside and having that kind of nature to that extent was rare when I moved to LA. Just seeing the way nature reacted here – both the fauna and flora – was really amazing.” 

She joined the May experience with her boyfriend, Adam, and the two were eager to get their hands dirty. They pulled iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis), an invasive coastal succulent shrub native to the coast of South Africa, at White’s Landing. 

“I realized how tough it was because they’ve been there so long,” she recalled.  

Earlier that morning, the volunteers toured the Island with Conservancy staff, who educated them on the Island’s history and conservation initiatives.  

“We started that day off with the restoration area where we got to see how everything is growing, flowers are in bloom,” she said of the fenced restoration area, which showcases how native plants naturally recoveredafter the destructive 2007 Island Fire. “These are plants that have survived a fire. That’s what SoCal as a whole could look like.” 

The volunteers spent time at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, where they learned about Catalina endemics.  

“We saw several foxes and learned about their habitat, as well as the bats,” she recalled. “We were shown different types of plants and trees and learned about how the trees are fire resistant.” 

As an Indigenous person herself, Shlush-Reyna said she appreciated learning about the history of the Gabrieleno-Tongva people on the Island. 

“I believe in land stewardship – we need to protect the land, earth and water,” she said. “I’m in awe of how much the Conservancy is doing to return the land to how it was. It’s a snapshot of what California can do better.” 

Back at camp each night, Shlush-Reyna and her boyfriend enjoyed the peacefulness of the Laura Stein Volunteer Camp. They were especially happy to have meals prepared for them while they soaked up the natural environment. 

A guided kayaking experience added a level of adventure that was new to Shlush-Reyna, who had never before kayaked in the open ocean.  

At the end of the experience, she says the small group had formed a bond and made memories that would last them long after they returned home on the ferry. 

“When we got back, my boyfriend said, ‘Wow, I didn’t realize how much I needed that,’” said Shlush-Reyna. “You go out in the world and there’s a lot of complacency and people feel like they can’t make a difference as a single person, but the truth is you can. Our small group made a difference. I can’t wait to come back to Catalina.”  

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