The Jack London Aquatic Center, located within walking distance from Oaklands ferry stop, offers a variety of opportunities for kids and their families to learn to kayak or row. All equipment, including kayaks, life-preservers, paddles, etc., is provided by the JLAC. No prior experience is necessary and in most cases participants don’t even know how to swim. It’s just one of a bevy of summertime water fun opportunities detailed by Editor-at-Large Mary Swift.
Published: May, 2004
The Jack London Aquatic Center (JLAC) offers a variety of opportunities for kids and their families to learn to kayak or row. All equipment , including kayaks, life-preservers, paddles, etc., is provided by the JLAC. NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. Except as noted below, PARTICIPANTS DO NOT NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SWIM. Our certified instructors are skilled at working with kids and adults who have no prior experience with the water.
JLAC is located in Oakland’s Estuary Park, on the Embarcadero, between Oak St. and 5th Avenue. It is located about 1.5 miles south of the Ferry docks of Jack London Square, on Embarcadero, not in Jack London Square. The Aquatic Center is a municipal boathouse of the City of Oakland, operated by the JLAC under contract with the City.
Kids-in-Kayaks
Learn to paddle a kayak! Three sessions: each is five consecutive afternoons.
June 21-25 Monday-Friday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
July 12-16 Monday-Friday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
August 9-13 Monday-Friday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Limited to 15 participants. This program is for students enrolled in the 6th through 10th grades. Cost for five-afternoon program: $100. Fee-waivers are available.
Family Paddling in Double Kayaks
One-day sessions — Saturday mornings
Saturday, June 26 8:00 AM to noon
Saturday, July 17 8:00 AM to noon
Saturday, August 14 8:00 AM to noon
Parents/guardians/grandparents and kids can paddle together in double kayaks, lead by a certified kayak instructor. Children must be 10 years or older, and must be accompanied by an adult. Cost for one-day, Saturday-morningprogram, per each adult-child group: $10. Fee-waivers available on request.
Friday-Evening Twilight Kayaking
Friday, June 25 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Friday, July 16 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Friday, August 13 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
A great way to end your work-week: Meet at the Jack London Aquatic Center at 5:00 PM; we will paddle past the Ninth Avenue pier, into Embarcadero Cove, around Government Island, and back to the Aquatic Center, returning before 8:00 PM. This program is for adults and for kids 16 years and older accompanied by an adult. Cost per participant: $10.
Learn to Single-Scull
Learn to single-scull, just like they do on the Charles River in Boston and the River Isis in Oxford! Three two-day sessions:
June 5-6 Saturday-Sunday 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
July 10-11 Saturday-Sunday 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
August 7-8 Saturday-Sunday 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Limited to 6 participants. This program is for adults, and for kids 14 and older.
Please note that sculling participants must know how to swim. Cost for each two-day session: $100.
Group Sessions.
Do you belong to a community, church, or school group? Contact JLAC executive director DeDe Birch to arrange a special event in kayaks. We can specially tailor the kayaking to meet the special needs, agenda, and resources of your group.
Youth summer camp enrollment is open now and is expected to be full by early June. Contact JLAC executive director DeDe Birch at 510-208-6060, info@jlac.org, or www.jlac.org.
