Approximately 25 local children recently had the opportunity to explore Catalina Island’s marine environment this summer through a partnership between Catalina Kids Snorkeling and the Catalina Island Outdoor Adventure Club (COAC).
Catalina Kids Snorkeling was founded and is led by longtime Catalina resident Sarah Perez, who also serves the island’s youth as a third-grade teacher at Avalon School. Combining her connection to the local community with her passion for Catalina’s ocean environment, Perez created Catalina Kids Snorkeling to give children an opportunity to safely explore and learn about the marine world surrounding the island they call home.
The week-long program provided guided snorkeling experiences at Lover’s Cove for local children ages 5 to 12 at no cost to participating local families.
To make the program accessible to local youth, Catalina Kids Snorkeling reduced its regular program fee by 50 percent, while COAC covered the remaining cost. Through the partnership, approximately 25 children were able to participate throughout the week completely free of charge.
During the guided sessions, participants were outfitted with snorkeling gear and introduced to the marine life found just beneath the surface at Lover’s Cove. In addition to providing a fun outdoor experience, the program gave children an opportunity to build confidence in the water, learn more about Catalina’s marine environment and experience one of the island’s unique natural resources firsthand.
For many of the participating children, the experience provided a new way to explore the ocean environment that surrounds their island home. Throughout the week, kids suited up, entered the water with their guides and had the opportunity to observe fish and other marine life while developing their snorkeling and water skills.
The program reflects a shared goal of Catalina Kids Snorkeling and COAC to make outdoor recreation and educational experiences more accessible to island youth. By combining reduced program fees with nonprofit support, the organizations were able to remove the financial barrier for participating families.
COAC is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing and supporting outdoor recreation, education and adventure opportunities for Catalina youth and families. Through its own programs, scholarships and partnerships with local organizations and businesses, the club works to remove financial barriers and provide opportunities for local youth to get outside, learn new skills and experience the natural resources available on and around Catalina Island.
The Catalina Island Outdoor Adventure Club welcomes community support to help continue and expand these opportunities. As a nonprofit organization, private donations, sponsorships and community partnerships directly support programs and experiences for local youth and families.
Those interested in learning more about COAC, supporting its programs or making a donation can visit catalinaoutdooradventureclub.org.