Kayaks 4 Kidz

Our Mission

To Promote healthier minds and bodies through physical exercise

To Develop

• Self esteem
• Leadership
• Increased physical strength
• Confidence
• Team-building skills
• Cooperation
• Respect for our environment and each other

 

To Provide a fun learning adventure designed for youth with little or no kayaking or swimming experience

Our Objective

We believe that if you want to stay healthy and live longer, you're going to have to exercise in some way or another. The trick to exercising regularly is to do something you can enjoy.  Exercise doesn't have to be a dirty word.  But, it's got to be fun to keep youngsters motivated. Physical exercise not only helps in toning your body, it burns calories, builds muscles, decreases stress and helps your body work more effectively. Like education, exercise too produces long-term benefits and physical fitness is the key to a healthy lifestyle at any age.

Our Goal

Our program endeavors to serve all youth and their families regardless of ethnicity or income level from communities that traditionally do no take part in such water sports. Kayaks 4 Kidz™ not only expands participants physical fitness horizon, but also aids confronting and conquering fears about water related activities. Students return to land with a new sense of confidence in their own abilities.

Our Organization

The Kayaks 4 Kidz™ program is the brainchild of “Water Dog” Frankie Smith and “Aqua Momma” Gay Brewer who have been active in water sports and recreational boating for over 25 years. The program’s creators have received extensive training and certification from the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for Boating Skills and Seamanship as well as continuing education classes with the UCLA Marine Aquatics Program. The Kayaks 4 Kidz™ program grew from their passion and love for kayaking, swimming and boating and a desire to share this experience with their own children, friends and others interested in learning to kayak.

Kayaks 4 Kidz™ was formerly launched in 2002 and fully certified by the State of California and Internal Revenue Service as a 501 C(3) Public Benefit Corporation in 2005. Now in its seventh year of free Introduction to Kayaking classes, the program has hosted more than 6,000 students and their parents. Kayaks 4 Kidz™ is a member of the American Canoe Association, the US Boating Association and is certified by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for Boating Safety and Seamanship