Field Trips
Our Center offers year-round field experiences for your school groups. We offer single-day experiences for grades 4 to 12. Each program is customized by you, creating a unique experience for your unique class(s). Our programs are run by our CSUN staff, all of whom are boating instructors, Red Cross lifeguards, and waterfront safety facilitators.
On Water Activity
Students will get the opportunity to paddle canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards in the protected 'Paradise Cove' of the Castaic Lake Lower Lagoon. CSUN Lifeguards and Boating Instructors will facilitate these learning experiences, from what to do near the water, preparing for boating, wearing your life jacket, and how to paddle your boat. Students will get the opportunity for hands-on practice under direct supervision, at our private CSUN only paddling beach, and controlled flat water spaces.
Grade Lvl: 4th +
Time allocation: 1.5 to 5 Hours
Max Students: 60
Learning Objectives
- Learn to be safe on and around the water
- How to choose, fit and wear life jackets
- Floating strategies with life jackets
- How to control and maneuver your boat
- What to do in the event of an emergency
Why?
Not only does boating represent an empowering, lifelong skill and hobby, but learning to do so correctly can help create a responsible, safe, and healthy recreation mindset. Directly interacting with a waterway also introduces a new element of stewardship and ownership to a natural resource. Students who go through an educational boating workshop are more likely to become better stewards of the resource that they now have a concrete relationship with. Outdoor Recreation has direct ties to Social-Emotional Learning. Students are provided a new space outside of the classroom and away from the schoolyard to interact with each other and learn about themselves. The STEM Application of a single outdoor activity can be referred back to for an entire school year. Paddling alone can be cross-connected to in-class lessons such as the principles of Buoyancy, Forces and Motion, Energy, Relationship between Energy and Forces, Definitions of Energy, Wave properties, Weather and Climate, Natural Resources, and Human Impacts on Earth Systems.
You are an incredible teacher with years of experience, a master of progressive lesson planning, a deep knowledge of your classroom culture, the needs of your students, and you have the initiative to boldly forge your own path. Use our STEM equipment, SMART classrooms, outdoor teaching spaces, docks, and other green space to lead your own lessons. Our staff is happy to support you in any way!
Times are flexible depending on your transportation, group size, learning objectives, etc. Please share your perfect vision for the day as we customize our events for you!
Two-class, Full Day program (60 youth)
10:00: Arrive at the CSUN Aquatic Center
10:15: Welcome and Objectives for the Day
10:30: Rotation 1
Group 1 (30 students): Boating Safety (Canoes, Kayaks, Paddle Boards)
Group 2 (30 students): Lead your own session
12:00: Lunch *not provided by CSUN
12:30: Rotation 2
Group 1 (30 students): Lead your own session
Group 2 (30 students): Boating Safety (Canoes, Kayaks, Paddle Boards)
1:45: Group Debrief
2:00: End of Program!
CSUN Aquatic Center maintains comprehensive standards with red cross-certified lifeguards, and extensively trained staff as boating instructors, lifeguards, STEM facilitators, social-emotional learning teachers, and highly competent educators. Our programs operate at a cost-recovery model in order to provide the staffing support to facilitate the safest, most effective programs possible.
Cost for programs are calculated by:
1: Total Number of students
2: Total Number of Modules / Total Time
For a formal, personalized quote, please complete the short reservation link
Safety is our number one priority, whether we are in the classroom, on the beach, hiking, or kayaking.
All CSUN Staff and program Facilitators have the following qualifications and certifications:
Background Check and LiveScan Clearance
Red Cross Lifeguards
American Canoe Association PaddleSport Safety Facilitators
BSA Youth Protection Trainings
All visiting organizations are required to enter into any Agreement and provide proof of insurance, and all participating adults and youth will complete a CSUN Waiver.