Expanding Horizons

Thanks to a generous grant in 2021, Anderson Island Park & Recreation District has launched a Youth Kayaking Program!

The program was created to address the access gap that our community often faces, with many youth on the Island never having the chance to enjoy the Puget Sound via personal watercraft. As the number of youths continues to grow on the Island, it becomes more critical to offer opportunities to unplug and enjoy the outdoors.

These kayaks will also be used during our summer camps that usually take place in one of the beachfront parks.

Our 2026 program will offer two 1-week sessions that will meet Monday through Thursday afternoons from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at Ray Park.

Requirements:

Youth must be between the ages of 13 and 16. Ability to lift & move the kayaks, attention span and independence are big factors, so if you want to discuss your circumstances, email us at sailing@andersonislandparks.org
Students must be comfortable in the water wearing a personal floatation device (PFD). There will be a pre-test on the first day.
Parent involvement for at least one class.

2026 Dates:

Kayaking Session 1 - July 13-16
Kayaking Session 2 - August 3-6

Registration will open:

Saturday, April 18th for youth who are full-time residents
Saturday, April 25th for open registration

Please note that we are offering early registration for full-time island youth, then opening it up to anyone else, like we do for our Nature Camp.

Program Snapshot

AGES: 13-16

DURATION: Two 1-wk sessions, meeting Mon - Thurs 2pm-5pm (12 hours total)

Dates:

July 13-16
August 3-6

SIZE: 6 students/session

TYPE: Day Camp

COST: $70/camper (scholarships available - contact Belen Schneider)

PROGRAM CONTACT:

Kurt Sample, sailing@andersonislandparks.org

Adult Volunteer Training

Event Details

Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026

Time: 2:00 - 5:00pm

Location: Ray Park

Ages: 17+

Agenda

● Goals and Objectives

● Lesson Plan Overview

● Working with Youth

● Water Safety Checks (PFDs)

● Safety Boat Operation

● Radio Operation

● Kayak Preparation and Launch

● Capsized Kayak Recovery

● Sailboat Rigging

● Sailboat Launch

● Sailboat Derigging / Racking

● Capsized Sailboat Recovery

Questions?

If you want to volunteer but have questions, contact Kurt at sailing@andersonislandparks.org

Funded by 2021 Grant

On June 14th, Anderson Island Park & Recreation District applied for a grant made possible by Washington Recreation and Park Association (WRPA), and the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), administered on behalf of the Office of the Superintendent for Public Schools (OSPI).

The federal COVID-19 relief funds are being provided to OSPI to enable local parks and recreation agencies throughout our state to expand summer outdoor education programs offered to school-aged kids!

The purpose of the SEEK (Summer Experiences & Enrichment for Kids) Program is to increase access to quality outdoor summer programming for youth and communities who have historically been underserved and who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We were notified on July 14th that we were being awarded the full amount, $16,621 for the purchase of 5 high quality kayaks, paddles and safety gear along with funds to repair the basketball equipment at the elementary school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact sailing@andersonislandparks.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Can children under 13 participate?

As this program develops, our goal is to be able to have water safety and age-appropriate outings for those under 13. During our Nature Camp for kids 6-11, we used two-person kayaks, each child paired with an adult, to offer an introduction to basic kayaking.

For now, we are starting with an age range that likely has the strength and physical development/size that will enable them to safely use a single-person kayak as part of a group outing. If your child has personal watercraft experience, or is likely to meet the requirements to engage in this kind of activity, contact sailing@andersonislandparks.org to discuss whether they are a good fit for the program.

Once we get the program established, we'll revisit how we can expand the program to safely accommodate kids under 13.

Can island youth rent or use the kayaks individually?

This is on our list to review once the program is established. We would love to find a way to make kayaks available to youth once they have the proper water safety training, but there are logistics, insurance, and procedures that need to be worked through before we would be ready to offer this kind of service. We'll update the community once we make a final feasibility determination.

Who will be guiding the outings?

This will be a volunteer-driven program, currently focused on structured camp sessions. It's possible that in the future, we will create a less structured schedule of outings and adventures.

As we vet our volunteers, we'll be posting short bios on their background, sharing their experience and how they are supporting the program.

Anderson Island Park & Recreation District