If you have always wanted your kids to experience water sports, or have wanted to yourself, but have lacked the money, now is your chance!  California Athletics will be offering an affordable day with many activities you and your kids will enjoy.  If you have left over charter school money and want to spend it on something that will benefit your children instead of letting it go back to your school, why not take your kids out for an exceptional learning opportunity on the water? 

You can spend part of a day on the water with Jet-skis learning to drive the Jet-skis, learning to water-ski, wakeboard, kneeboard, ride the inner-tube, or engaging in one of the many other areas of recreational water sports.  Todd Nash will spend the time to teach you or your kids the basic driving principals on the water.  They will be able to ride on and drive the Seadoo Personal Watercraft under adult supervision for  a period.  You will then be able to learn a couple of the "towing" activities behind the jet ski - either water-skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, inner tubing, or one of several other "towing" activities.  (See below for more information and pictures.)  Depending on the site and the assistants for the day, there may also be some SCUBA gear there that you can try out under the supervision of a certified SCUBA diver in just 3 feet of water to get the experience of breathing under water!

This class/camp is not just for home schooled students - it for anyone who want to experience these exciting water sports.  It is for YOU as adults, your children, your children's friends, your neighbors, or anyone else who wants to do it!  It is a good venue for those enrolled in charter schools to use their left over charter school discretionary funds on something to benefit your children.  It is also affordable enough that anyone can sign up for a session this spring or summer!  If you have friends who are not home schooled who may want to participate, they can also join this camp with the summer sessions.  Pass the information on to them, and have them contact me directly.  They can join you and your kids for the fun!  Remember, this is for all ages and all kids!

This class is set up and designed for beginner students and those who have little experience.  It is not an advanced camp for those who have extensive experience waterskiing or wakeboarding.  This is for your kids who have never done these activities or have done them very little!  They do need to be comfortable in the water to participate, even though they will be wearing a life jacket the whole time.

Classes will be conducted in small groups of approximately 8 students normally.  There are 4 spaces at a time while learning on the jet skis for students, so students will alternate being out on the skis and being at the shore in 30 minute segments.  Students on the shore will have other activities to keep them busy including floating toys, and this is a good time for eating, drinking, sun-blocking, and using the bathrooms, and anything else you want to bring along for water toys.  Total time for the camp will be between 4 and 5 hours, depending on gas usage.  Parental supervision is REQUIRED for students at the shore!!  This is NOT a drop and run program!!   Students on the watercraft will be supervised by Todd Nash and his workers, but those ashore must be supervised by parents!  This leaves you as parents with the "life-guarding" responsibility for your children when they are at the shore. 

There will be other floating toys for playing on between times on the jet skis.  The 3 man inflatable pictured center below will be used for towing behind one of the jet skis for more high speed excitement behind the boat (used only at Lake Silverwood - at other locations we use the 1 man tube).  This inflatable is ideal for younger children and older children - the speed variable makes it appropriate to whatever age level is on board!

Locations: Classes will be conducted at local bays, harbors, or reservoirs where there is a large enough group of students to conduct a class.  Possible locations:

Mission Bay (San Diego), Lake Perris (Riverside), Bonelli Reginal Park (San Dimas - this site requires PWCs to come on Odd dates of the month and does not allow inflatables for towing or waterskiing behind PWCs), Long Beach Harbor (Long Beach), Oceanside Harbor (Oceanside), Silverwood Lake just North of San Bernardino, or any other local body of water that allows PWC and waterskiing.  See below for a more detailed description of the sites available. 

Costs:

If you are interested in this great opportunity, contact Todd directly to discuss the costs, timing, and all the details.  You can also register on the website to get me your information, but DO send an email as well to make sure I hear from you right away.  Details of each group outing will be arranged individually.  Email Todd or call to put your name on the list of interested students.  Classes will be arranged starting in May and going through the summer.  May and early June priority will be given to those with charter school funds that need to be used prior to the end of school.  Once you email or call Todd, your information will be added to a list, and classes will be planned in different areas.  After classes are set up, you will be emailed forms to fill out and you will mail them in with your check. 

Equipment: The foundation of the camp is the Personal Water Craft used for driving and towing.  We have a 135 horsepower 2000 Seadoo GTX PWC (jetski) capable of pulling anyone out of the water. We also have another 2004 Seadoo GTX 4 stroke with 155 HP, also capable of towing anything.  Both PWCs wil be used throughout the day.  One will be driven and supervised by Todd Nash, and the other by 17 year old Emily Nash who is very experienced, skilled, and mature in her jet ski driving and judgement.  We will bring along 2 sets of water skis, a wakeboard, a kneeboard, and an inflatable tube.  We will provide lifejackets for all, but you have to provide the swim suit, sunblock, food and drinks, a wetsuit if desired, and water shoes if desired.  We have some wetsuits, but cannot guarantee that we will have one to fit you or your child.  Also bring along a change of clothes and some towels to change after the day is finished.  You can also bring along any other toys, chairs, umbrellas, etc that you would like to take to the water.

Dates/Times: Classes will start in May and go through the summer.  Classes will be set up based on the schedules and availability of students and parents in each class.  We will meet at around 10:00 or 10:30 at the beach site or lake  At 10:30 or 11:00 we should be on the water with toys out and boats launched.  Groups will go out on the water craft in 30 minute increments.  The first outing is driving the jet ski for 10-15 minutes per student to learn how to handle it.  The second outing is learning a towing activity - either waterskiing, kneeboarding, wakeboarding, or the tube.  One student is behind the jetski learning a towing activity, and one is driving the jetski.  Each jetski will have the key attached to Todd or Emily Nash - the adult supervisor on the jetski.  After 15 minutes, the driver and skier will switch.  After each does their activity for 15 minutes, we will switch with those on shore.  We will repeat this cycle until we are low on fuel - approximately 4 to 4 1/2 hours, then we will take the jetskis back to the loading area, load them up, clean them up, load all the equipment and be done around 3:00 or 3:30 each day.  Plan extra time in your day in case there are delays for mechanical or other reasons.

Call Todd at 760-727-3604, or email him at CalAthletics@sbcglobal.net

Todd will personally lead your expedition on the water and will personally be involved with your children teaching them the skills to enjoy yet another sport!!