SF State Community Youth Summer Sailing and Kayaking Program
- About Us
- Half Day Youth Sailing Camps
- Full Day Youth Sailing & Science Camps
- Adult Sailing Programs
- Half Day Youth Kayaking & Lake Enviroment Camps
- Full Day Youth Sailing and Kayaking Lake Environment Camps
- 2013 Summer Schedule
- To Register
- Partners
- Donate/Volunteer
- Our Location
The SF State Community Sailing and Kayaking Program is a sailing and kayaking safety and activity instruction curriculum and environmental education program on beautiful Lake Merced in San Francisco. It is offered through the SF State Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, in cooperation with other partner organizations. Lake Merced is an ideal place for sailing and kayaking because of its sheltered waters, steady winds, and abundant wildlife in a beautiful environment, along with its close proximity to urban residents. The lake is a City of San Francisco designated natural area so it provides outstanding opportunities for youth to be involved in hands-on environmental education activities which help them get to know the lake’s water sources and quality, aquatic ecosystems, commonly seen plants and wildlife. Safety is our number one priority. Instructors are certified and experienced. Boats are top quality and easy to operate. We provide low cost, half day, Monday-Friday youth sailing camps and half day youth kayaking and lake environment camps for kids ages 8-15 years. You can combine the sailing and kayaking camps into an adventurous full day multi activity camp. Also for 2010 we are offering a new full–day Sailing and Science week-long camp for youth 8-12 that places a special emphasis on learning science through sailing and other fun hands-on activities. During any of our week-long day camps participants will not only have fun and be trained on safe operation of small boats, but they’ll gain self confidence, practice teamwork and socialize with other classmates, each of which are applicable to many other situations. SF State also offers an adult a sailing class through the regular university. We invite your child to join us, and realize the joys of sailing and kayaking, and learn about the unique wildlife, plants and environment of Lake Merced. Our program is done in cooperation with, and permitted by, the City of San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks.
About Us
Sailing and kayaking are recreational activities that all should have access. It is our mission to provide safety and basic activity and environment education instruction, and all their
benefits, to persons of all ability/disability levels and all socio-economic backgrounds. Our primary concern is the safety of our participants. The SF State Community Sailing and Kayaking Program is committed to education and access for all in our community.
San Francisco has been heralded as a premier sailing destination around the world.SFSU started providing sailing classes to college students in the 1970s. In 2003 SFSU began offering community youth sailing instruction on Lake Merced. Initially, the project was funded through grants from America True, the CA Dept. of Boating and Waterways, the SFSU College of Health & Social Sciences and the Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. We also partner with the City of San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks. SFSU began with a summer sailing camp for youth at Lake Merced and over 150 students participated in our first year. We have grown and today SF State Community Sailing and Aquatic Recreation Program provides outreach instruction to many youth groups, such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, SF Unified School District and nonprofit community organizations.
Lake Merced is a beautiful natural area with abundant wildlife, despite its urban location.We have added environmental and science education elements, especially designed for youth 8-15 years, to our summer programs. Kayaking is a great way to observe nature up close with minimal disturbance, so in 2010, we began to offer a kayaking and lake environment camp. Today you can make a full day multi activity youth camp by combining ½ day sailing and ½ day kayaking with lake environment and science camps.
Half Day Youth Sailing Camps
SF Sta
te Community Youth Sailing camps focus on beginning sailing safety and activity instruction classes for youth 8-15. Our current youth sailing camps have a maximum of 14 students, which fosters safety of the students and increases educational opportunities. We provide a US Sailing certified instructor for each camp and one assistant instructor who hold certificates in CPR and First Aid. We use smaller sized sailboats that make sailing easy to learn. No previous sailing experience is required. Youth ages 8-15 are welcome to apply. We provide high quality life jackets (PFDs) and all participants must wear them while in a boat or on a dock. Swimming ability is strongly recommended. Affordable swimming instruction is available through a local YMCA or a neighborhood SF Recreation and Parks Department pool. All students must register, pay fees and provide medical consent and liability release forms signed by their parent or guardian prior to being allowed to participate. There is a minimum class size of 8 students. For more information contact us at sail4fun@sfsu.edu.
All 2013 Youth Sailing Camps are five days in length and run Monday through Friday. No previous sailing experience is needed.
Morning Sailing Session: M-F, 9:00am-12:00pm Ages: 8–15 $135
Afternoon Sailing Session: M-F, 1:00pm-4:00pm Ages 8–15 $135
Full Day Sailing and Science Camps
We also offer a week long, full day, sailing and science camp for youth ages 8-12 that places a special focus on helping campers learn about the science of sailing, as well as the Lake Merced environment. Youth will get involved with hands-on learning activities and fun experiential education exercises that will bring science to life. Topics include wildlife biology, hydrology, math and basic physics. We provide US Sailing certified instructors who also hold certificates in CPR and First Aid; small sized sailboats that make sailing easy to learn. No previous sailing experience is required. Youth ages 8-12 are welcome to apply. Swimming ability is strongly recommended. Affordable swimming instruction is available through a local YMCA or a neighborhood SF Recreation and Parks Department pool. All students must register, pay fees and provide medical consent and liability release forms signed by their parent or guardian prior to being allowed to participate. Class size is a maximum of 14 students and there is a minimum class size of 8 students.
Sailing and Science Camp: M-F, 9:00am-4:00pm Ages: 8–15 $245
Each student will learn the basic principles of safe sailing, sail trim, boat maneuvering, safety, knots and protection of the environment. They will also get involved with daily hands-on learning activities and experiential education exercises that will illustrate and educate about the physical and biological sciences. This camp starts at 9:30am, with youth 8-12 sailing in the morning to ensure lighter winds. The afternoons are usually spent with hands-on science activities interspersed with sailing. Lunch is NOT provided and there are no nearby food vendors, so participants must bring their own lunch each day.
Adult Sailing Program
We currently offer RPT 160 Small Boat Sailing (1 unit) in the spring semesters. The learning objectives of this class are to develop an understanding of basic sailing theory, safety practices and development of skills and techniques in small boat sailing. Other topics include knots, rigging, boat handling, docking and capsize recovery. Students register through the regular university process.
Half Day Youth Kayaking and Lake Environment Camps
SF State Community Youth Kayaking Camps focus on beginning kayaking safety and activity instruction and environmental education activities for youth 8–15 years. Lake Merced is an ideal place to learn kayaking because of its moderate winds, sheltered waters and it is a City of San Francisco designated natural area with abundant wildlife in a beautiful environment. The camps combine kayak safety and technique instruction, with hands-on educational activities to help youth get interested and learn about the natural environment in and around Lake Merced. Safety is our number one priority. Kayaking camps have a maximum of 12 boats, which fosters safety of the students and maximizes educational opportunities. We provide American Canoe Association certified instructors for each camp who also hold certificates in CPR and First Aid; a stable two-person sit-on-top kayak and paddle that make kayaking easy to learn; a youth sized life jacket (personal flotation device). No previous kayaking experience is required. All youth are welcome to apply, but each is required to know how to swim and to swim 25 yards in a lifejacket at the first class. All students must register, pay fees and provide medical consent and liability release forms signed by their parent or guardian prior to being allowed to participate. Class size is a maximum of 24 students and there is a minimum class size of 8 students. Available dates are limited, see attached schedule. Camps are made possible through a grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways.
Morning Kayaking and Lake Environment Session: M–F, 9:00am–12:00pm Ages: 8–15 $135
Afternoon Kayaking and Lake Environment Session: M–F, 1:00pm–4:00pm Ages: 8–15 $135
Full Day Sailing and Kayaking Camp
Combine morning kayaking with afternoon sailing and your child has an exciting varied full day camp. Not only will they receive coordinated instruction in both activities, your child will also enjoy hands-on learning activities, ranging from birding to crafts. Lunch is NOT included.
All 2012 Full Day Sailing and Kayaking Camps are five days in length and run Monday through Friday. No previous sailing experience is needed.
- Full Day Sailing and Kayaking Camp: M–F, 9:00am–4:00pm Ages: 8–15 $245
Gator Youth Sports Summer Camp
Another popular summer youth program is the SFSU Gator Youth Summer Sports Camp. It provides supervised afternoon (1–5pm) sports activities, such as baseball and martial arts for boys and girls ages 7–14. We do NOT operate or take reservations for Gator Sports Camp, but recommend it and partner with them. If your child has a morning kayak camp with us and is registered for afternoon Gator Sports Camp in the same week, one of our instructors will walk your child from Lake Merced to a Gator Camp representative. You must notify us during our registration process if your child is signed–up for Gator Sports Camp and the week they are going. You must also notify the Gator Sports Camp your child will be in our morning program. See http://kin.sfsu.edu/gatorCamp.aspx.html for more details.
We Provide Services To All
Staff at the SF State Sailing and Kayaking Program strive to provide affordable boating safety and activity instruction and environmental education to all persons in the Bay Area. The minimum age is 8 years old. We offer opportunities to persons with disabilities either directly or in partnership with other organizations. In our community sailing and kayaking program a special emphasis is to provide affordable programs that can be accessed by all.
2013 Summer Schedule
All SF State Summer Youth Sailing and Kayaking Camps Are Monday – Friday.
Camps start June 17 and are offered each week through August 16, 2013.
Click here for the 2013 schedule.
The 2013 schedule and registration information will be posted soon. Checking for availability and registration is done on-line by clicking here to go to our on–line registration website. At this registration site you will be asked to select a specific camp type and date, provide participant information and emergency contract information. To complete the on–line reservation you will be asked to make a full payment by credit card and will also be required to download a medical consent form and a liability release form. If you have special needs, require an alternative type of registration, payment by check, or additional information, please contact us:
SF State Community Sailing and Kayaking Program
Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
sail4fun@sfsu.edu
Partners
The following organizations are important partners that make SF State Community Sailing and Kayaking Program possible. We thank them for their continuing support.
California Department of Boating and Waterways
San Francisco Receation and Parks
America True
California Canoe and Kayak
West Marine
Donate and Volunteer
SF State Community Sailing and Kayaking program operates through generous grants and scholarship donations from the CA Department of Boating and Waterways, America True, and private individuals, as well as in-kind support from SFSU. Donating to SF State Community Sailing is now more important than ever and a way for you to help ensure our community will continue to have a safe and affordable venue for sailing and kayaking education. All donations are tax-deductable. Please contact us at sail4fun@sfsu.edu for more information on how you can help.
We also seek volunteers to help as teaching assistants and with maintaining our fleet and boathouse. We provide training to all teaching assistants. If you are interested in helping youth by volunteering your time, materials or expertise please contact us at sail4fun@sfsu.edu. Together we can continue to make this wonderful program available to the San Francisco community.
Our Location
The Lake Merced Boathouse is located at Harding Park off Skyline Blvd in San Francisco, near the SFSU campus just minutes from 280 and The Great Highway. There is plentiful free parking.
From 19th Ave/CA-1
Turn right onto Sloat for 1.15 miles. Turn slight left onto Skyline Blvd/CA-35 S. for 0.65 miles. Turn left onto Harding Rd. The boathouse is immediately on your right.
From South San Francisco
From US-101 N merge onto I-380 W toward I-280/San Bruno. Merge onto I-280 N toward San Francisco for 2 miles. Exit Daly City/Westlake Village. Turn left on John Daly Blvd. for approx. 1 mile. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd/CA-35 N. for approx. 2.0 miles. Turn right onto Harding Rd.
From North Bay
From US-101 S via the left ramp toward San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge). Merge onto CA-1 S toward 19th Ave/Golden Gate Park for 5.20 miles. Turn right onto Sloat for 1.15 miles. Turn slight left onto Skyline Blvd/CA-35 S. for 0.65 miles. Turn left onto Harding Rd.