Along winding pathways, botanical displays and museum galleries, Cal State LA students encountered parts of The Huntington that many had previously known only through photographs, recommendations, and local reputation. One of those students was Guadalupe Rios.
“I’ve lived here all my life, and I’ve never gotten to be inside this place before,” said Rios, a fourth-year transfer student majoring in studio art.
In mid-September, that changed when Rios joined dozens of other Cal State LA students for Eagles Off Campus: The Huntington, a university-sponsored trip to The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino.
The Huntington sits less than 10 miles from Cal State LA, yet for some students, nearby landmarks can remain unexplored despite years of living in the region. For at least one day, that distance became easier to cross.
Students traveled from campus by bus and spent the day exploring the institution’s sprawling grounds during a warm September afternoon. While temperatures sent many visitors searching for shade, students continued moving between gardens, galleries and exhibitions.
Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, the institution combines a research library, an art museum and roughly 130 acres of botanical gardens. Its collections include approximately 12 million library items and more than 50,000 works of art, according to The Huntington.
Throughout the property, students encountered reflecting pools filled with lily pads, formal garden pavilions, towering trees and galleries displaying artwork from multiple centuries.
“I’ve heard that it’s one of the wonders of San Gabriel and Pasadena,” Rios said.
Beyond the museum galleries, lively garden paths carried students past lily-covered pools, fountains and carefully maintained landscapes before opening into themed garden spaces across the property.
“It was just beautiful,” Rios said. “I just really loved looking at it, like, the flowers and the plants that grow here.”
The visit followed a stretch of record-setting heat across Southern California. On Sept. 9, two days before the trip, Downtown Los Angeles reached 105 degrees, tying the daily record set in 2024, according to the National Weather Service. An extreme heat warning covering Downtown Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley and other parts of Los Angeles County remained in effect through the following evening.
Despite the heat, Rios said a light breeze helped make the weather more manageable.
Between garden walks and an outdoor lunch, Rios moved between air-conditioned galleries, collections and gift shop displays, where unexpected details caught her attention. What caught her attention the most?
“The teacups and the ceramic works,” Rios said. “I didn’t expect there to be a lot of very unique pieces of teacups and plates.”
Throughout the afternoon, Rios also spent time getting to know other participants. Between garden pathways, fountains and exhibit spaces, small groups formed as students stopped to talk, take photographs and explore together.
“I took a lot of pictures and videos today with the new people that I met,” Rios said.
That opportunity to connect with other students stood out to Alma Alvarez, a third-year marketing and social media major in the College of Business and Economics. Alvarez also serves as the college’s representative on the ASI Board of Directors.
“My favorite part of today is meeting new people,” Alvarez said.
Before arriving, Alvarez said she did not have many expectations, except seeing a new place and getting out of her usual routine.
“I just knew I was going to go somewhere and be able to see good spots, good views,” Alvarez said. “All my expectations were met.”
Beyond the gardens and exhibits, Alvarez said the trip offered something that can be difficult to find on a commuter campus: time to meet people outside of class.
“That’s kind of like the goal of this event, to connect with people, meet new people,” Alvarez said. “It’s been a good experience, a good way to get ready for when it gets to midterms and finals.”
The event was organized through a collaboration between ASI, CSI, and Housing. `
River Foskey, ASI’s program coordinator, said organizers wanted to expand opportunities for students to leave campus and experience destinations throughout the region.
“We wanted to find someplace that would be affordable for lots of students to be able to come,” Foskey said.
When asked whether The Huntington trip could become a recurring tradition, Foskey welcomed the possibility.
“I would really love that,” Foskey said. “Next time, we’ll pick when it’s a little cooler outside.”
Foskey said ASI, the Center for Student Involvement, and Housing worked collaboratively to organize the excursion.
“We equally contributed by coordinating with The Huntington regarding admission, arranging bus transportation, supporting marketing efforts, and providing staff support and chaperones during the event,” Foskey said.
They added that the three organizations split the transportation costs equally.
“We received 125 student registrations through The Nest, and 95 students ultimately attended,” Foskey said. The Nest is Cal State LA’s online platform where students can discover and register for campus events.
Cal State LA students walk through a pavilion in The Huntington’s Chinese Garden during the Sept. 11 Eagles Off Campus trip in San Marino. The garden features traditional Chinese architecture, water features and landscaped pathways.
At the time of the excursion, Friday admission, which included access to The Huntington’s gardens, public exhibitions and open art galleries, cost $28 for full-time students with identification. However, admission for the trip was provided at no cost through The Huntington’s school visit program.
“Through that program, eligible school groups can receive complimentary admission for approved visits,” Foskey said.
Organizers submitted a school-visit request in advance, and The Huntington approved the visit. Registration was offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis through The Nest, but there was no waitlist.
Foskey said that the trip to The Huntington was the first excursion under the Eagles Off Campus name, though CSI has hosted off‑campus trips for several years. ASI is considering making off‑campus excursions an annual offering, and is exploring options for a spring trip.
“The goal of The Huntington excursion was to provide students with an accessible opportunity to explore the greater Los Angeles area, engage with history and culture outside of the classroom, and create opportunities for community building within our student population,” Foskey said.
ASI collected post‑event surveys from 12 students; all respondents reported being satisfied with the excursion and said it positively contributed to their experience at Cal State LA.
Heidy Saravia, a student engagement coordinator with CSI, said organizers intentionally chose a nearby destination that many students may know by name but have never experienced firsthand.
“A lot of our students here, they’re from LA, or they commute to LA, but they don’t really know much about the LA area,” Saravia said.
Saravia said she could relate. Before helping organize the excursion, she had also lived in Los Angeles without knowing much about The Huntington.
Although staff members typically work behind the scenes coordinating logistics for campus programs, Saravia said the trip gave them an opportunity to experience the destination alongside students and learn more about what kinds of excursions students would like to see in the future.
For Saravia, the most memorable part of the day was watching students connect.
“I really enjoyed the Japanese and Chinese garden,” Saravia said. “But I think just seeing everyone come together, and also seeing students connect and making new friends, I think that’s what brought me more joy out of everything.”
She recalled seeing transfer students talking with third-year students and first-year students meeting other first-year students.
That observation mirrored Rios’ impressions.
“Overall, I am grateful to have found a lovely group of people to hang out with,” Rios said.
While the gardens and galleries stood out, the experience also left her thinking about who she would like to share it with.
“I want to bring my mom over here because she’s never been,” Rios said. “And, like, I feel like she would really love the atmosphere.”