Photo Essay: Annual Año Nuevo trip features perfect weather
Science teacher Kristen Thomson’s AP Environmental Science classes take an annual trip to Año Nuevo state park to see elephant seals — this year, the trip was moved earlier to view more mating seals.
Science teacher Kristen Thomson’s AP Environmental Science classes take an annual trip to Año Nuevo state park to see elephant seals — this year, the trip was moved earlier to view more mating seals.
On Feb. 5 and 6, students in Kristen Thomson’s three periods of AP/Regular Environmental Science took the day off to spend time in Año Nuevo State Park. Students, accompanied by chaperones such as English teachers Erick Rector and Natasha Ritchie and science teacher Kellyanne Nicholson, embarked on a 4-mile hike across the glistening coastline, where they visited colonies of mating elephant seals.
The state park is also a natural preserve — humans aren’t allowed near the seals. When park staff get close to place trackers on the seals to collect data, they bring a team to gently sedate the (usually aggressive) seals. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
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Several elephant seals got close enough for the group to see, though students weren’t allowed to touch them, lest they get aggressive. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
A rest station on the path provided shelter from the heat, as there was little tree cover. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
The group’s naturalist guide, Laura, answers questions about the elephant seals’ habitat. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
A UC Santa Cruz undergraduate explains the structure of the elephant seals’ skulls. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
Senior Bryan Zhao poses next to a skull larger than his own. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
When elephant seals come on land to mate, they forgo all feeding — females stay out of the water for a month during the breeding season, and remain dry for another month while they molt all of their skin. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
To stay cool in the sun, seals will periodically swish sand over themselves. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
Clear blue skies with a gentle breeze made the trip more enjoyable for everyone. (Sanyukta Ravishankar)
Sanyukta Ravishankar (she/her), Class of ’27, is an In-Depth editor and Business Manager for the 2025-2026 school year. She primarily reports on domestic politics, school events, and mainstream issues. Outside of journalism, Sanyukta loves debating, singing Indian classical music, cracking crosswords, and trying new foods.
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Bill Huang • Feb 9, 2026 at 8:11 pm
great trip