Waterside Workshops’ Adventures Program creates meaningful experiences for city-dwelling youth to spend time in the natural world developing a lifelong connection with nature. Waterside Adventures promotes environmental justice by increasing opportunities for young people in the San Francisco Bay Area to experience nature through biking, boating, and camping.
Our staff instructors provide lessons and experiential skill-building activities centered on conservation and Leave No Trace practices, helping to empower youth participants’ self-esteem. Staff instructors employ ‘the learning zone’ method which offers a supportive but challenging environment for participants to direct their own learning at their own pace in a beautiful place.
Based on feedback and requests from participants, our most frequent outdoor activities include paddling, sailing, biking, hiking, and camping, and we also bring youth on beach and snow trips, as weather permits. We provide transportation, food, supplies, and outdoor equipment at no cost, which allows youth to access and experience the outdoors without obstacle.
In the Fall and Winter of 2023 interns participated in boating activities in Aquatic Park, South Sailing Basin and the San Francisco Bay. We collaborated with the San Francisco Maritime Museum for an educational experience to learn more about the historical seafaring vessels like Balclutha and CA Thayer and explored the coastline on our hand-built Hawaaiian outrigger canoe. Participants also explored the Bay Trail by bike, riding 25 miles to Point Molate Beach Park underneath the Richmond-San Rafael bridge.
Gear Donations
To support our youth outdoor trips, Waterside Workshops accepts donations of good condition and operable outdoor equipment and clothing. Please fill out the form below to make a donation request.