AccessAbility: Inclusive Sea Kayak and Coastal Adventures

AccessAbility: Inclusive Sea Kayak and Coastal Adventures

Through their AccessAbility program, Environmental Traveling Companions will provide access to the northern California coast for under-resourced youth and people with disabilities, through kayaking adventures on San Francisco or Tomales bay. Environmental Traveling Companions participants learn paddling and navigation techniques and are outfitted with paddling gear and adaptive equipment as needed. Using resources like tactile maps, laminated natural history cards, and lunchtime conservation activities, Environmental Traveling Companions will highlight marine ecosystems, the cultural and human history of the bays, and the plant and animal life that participants encounter during their kayaking adventures. After lunch, participants take part in educational and team-building games and a beach cleanup. On overnight trips, participants also participate in guided hikes, sensory awareness, and reflective activities, and learn about issues impacting California’s coasts, such as climate change and ocean acidification. Environmental Traveling Companions encourages return visits to the coast by sharing resources such as SF Bay Area Water Trail Accessibility Maps, Wheelchair Rider’s Guide, and information on accessing beach wheelchairs. Environmental Traveling Companion’s 's AccessAbility program inspires joyful connections to the coast; empowers participants with new knowledge of kayaking skills and estuarine ecosystems; and fosters a stewardship ethos for Bay Area beaches and estuaries.

San Francisco Bay Area