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MISSION The Jack London Aquatic Center�s mission is to inspire the diverse communities of Oakland � especially youth � to experience their Estuary waterfront, for purposes of recreation, education and competition.
VISION We believe that by teaching water sports � which often means our participants must overcome their fear of water and/or learn how to swim � we are also teaching critical life skills.
We utilize our beautiful natural resource, the Oakland Estuary, to make water sports accessible to all Oakland residents, especially those who live in the flatlands and who might otherwise never have a chance to try them. The three major stumbling blocks to making boating truly accessible to all are
- the cost
- transportation to and from the waterfront and
- the fact that many of our participants are not able to swim at all and/or are afraid of the water.
To address these three challenges, we have worked to make our classes low-cost or free, have secured two 15-passenger vans as well as recruited drivers to provide transportation for our fall and winter students, and have coordinated with the Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation and Temescal Pool to offer swimming lessons for many of our participants. We are the leading urban boating program in the U.S. to recognize and address these challenges and thus make water sports truly accessible to all.
Stats & Facts for fiscal year June 2007-July 2008:�
- 950 participants spent over 12,000 hours in our programs
- Over 500 of those served were youth
- Over 12,000 community members used our Community Room
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