Aquatic Center Education Program

2023-24 Aquatic Center Grant

The application period for the 2023-24 grant cycle is now open. The deadline is Thursday, October 26th, at noon. For questions or a sample application contact Amy Rigby amy.rigby@parks.ca.gov.

All applications must be submitted through the Online Grant Application System.

Grant Information

DBW promotes a safer and more enjoyable boating environment through grants to non-profit organizations, colleges, universities and local agencies operating in California that offer on-the-water training to enhance basic boating safety. Click here to see Participating Aquatic Centers.

2022-2023 Grantees

Grantee	Grant Funded	Grant Amount
Alameda Community Sailing Center	Equipment and Scholarships	$40,000
Associated Students Inc. of Sacramento State Univ. dba Sac. State Aquatic Ctr.	Equipment and Scholarships	$60,000
Associated Students of San Diego State University	Equipment, Scholarships and Events	$62,000
Backcountry Medical Guides	Equipment	$6,047
Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley	Scholarships	$39,780
Cal Sailing Club	Equipment	$45,550
California State University, Channel Islands	Equipment, Scholarships and Events	$60,781
City of Carpinteria	Equipment and Scholarships	$15,499
City of Long Beach	Equipment	$25,631
City of Newport Beach	Equipment	$29,484
City of Oakland (Lake Merritt Boating Center)	Scholarships and Events	$30,270
City of Redding	Equipment, Scholarships and Events	$38,000
City of Santa Rosa	Scholarships	$1,400
City of Ventura	Equipment, Scholarships and Training	$39,985
Coast Community College District	Equipment, Scholarships, Training and Events	$61,938
CSU Long Beach Research Foundation	Equipment, Scholarships and Training	$30,819
Dana Point Aquatic Foundation	Equipment, Scholarships and Events	$59,295
Environmental Traveling Companions	Equipment and Scholarships	$61,963
Feather River Center	Equipment, Scholarships, Training and Events	$57,250
Feather River College	Equipment and Training	$20,005
Healing Waters Wilderness Adventures	Scholarships and Training	$40,000
King Harbor Youth Foundation	Equipment	$39,901
Lake Tahoe Community College	Equipment	$32,557
Long Beach Area Council Boy Scouts of America	Scholarships and Events	$42,000
Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Education & Recreation	Equipment	$2,297
Nor Cal SUP Groms	Equipment, Scholarships, Training and Events	$38,110
Pacific Coast Sailing Foundation	Scholarships	$40,000
Pacific Corinthian Youth Foundation	Equipment, Scholarships and Training	$37,930
Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation	Equipment	$27,803
Regents of the University of California (Berkeley - Cal Adventures)	Equipment, Scholarships and Training	$59,990
Regents of the University of California (Davis)	Equipment	$39,769
Regents of the University of California (Los Angeles)	Equipment, Scholarships and Training	$40,000
Regents of the University of California (San Francisco)	Scholarships and Events	$10,600
Regents of the University of California (Santa Cruz)	Equipment	$28,686
Regents of the University of California (Santa Barbara)	Equipment, Scholarships and Training	$24,685
Sailing Education Adventures	Equipment, Scholarships, Training and Events	$38,000
San Diego-Imperial Council, Boy Scouts of America	Equipment and Training	$39,390
Tahoe City Public Utility District	Equipment, Training and Events	$33,710
The San Diego Canoe Kayak Team	Equipment, Scholarships, Training and Events	$41,068
Treasure Island Sailing Center	Equipment, Scholarships and Events	$62,000
Truckee Donner Recreation and Parks District	Equipment and Training	$3,772
United States Adaptive Recreation Center	Scholarships and Events	$21,500
Total Funded		$1,529,465

Mission

The mission of DBW is to provide safe and convenient public access to California's waterways and leadership in promoting the public's right to safe, enjoyable and environmentally sound recreational boating.

As part of its mission, DBW manages the Aquatic Center Grant Program to enhance boaters’ knowledge of boating laws, practical handling of vessels on the water, weather and water conditions, rules of the road, equipment requirements and environmental stewardship.

Funding is provided to organizations that offer on-the-water training to the general public that includes all of the above-mentioned topics.

The following questions are typical of those DBW receives concerning the Aquatic Center Grant Program and should provide valuable information for grant applicants.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

2023 Aquatic Center Directors In-Person Meeting Dates

Northern CA Meeting

Date: Wed. Sept. 27-Thurs. Sept. 28, 2023

Location: Sacramento State Aquatic Center, Gold River, CA

Southern CA Meeting

Date: Wed. Oct. 4-Thurs. Oct. 5, 2023

Location: Orange Coast College, Newport Beach, CA

More details to follow.

Contact Amy Rigby with questions: amy.rigby@parks.ca.gov

Aquatic Center Director's Meetings

Aquatic center director meetings provide an opportunity for aquatic center directors throughout the state to come together and discuss boating-related topics. (Meetings are open to the public.)
Topics of discussion have included:

Aquatic programs for children, including youth at-risk programs
Ways to make program dollars go further
Programs for the disabled
Sharing instructional videos and manuals
Grant writing workshops
How aquatic centers can form valuable partnerships with municipal governments and other area organizations
Role of the Internet in aquatic center programs

Meeting attendees get the chance to network with others who direct programs similar to theirs, affording them a chance to share ideas and find ways to offer better, safer and often cheaper programs.

Two meetings are held each year, one in Northern California, and one in Southern California. Agencies participating in the grant program volunteer to host a meeting. The meeting lasts two days and occasionally includes a third day, which involves a boating activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who may apply for funds?

Section 668.2 of the Harbors and Navigation Code allows DBW to distribute funding to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and colleges and universities operating within California.

When can I apply for funds?

Usually every two years, DBW opens the application period in the fall. During this period, dates and deadlines are posted on the DBW website. Please visit the website for updates since the application period can change.

What does DBW look for during the grant application process?

DBW will consider awarding grant funds to public agencies, colleges, universities and non-profit organizations that can provide on-the-water programs for enhancing boating safety education. The grant process is competitive in nature. The organization must have a positive boating safety record, must have adequately trained staff and have a safe environment in which to teach.

In addition, ideal candidates for funding would have several of these attributes:

Program goals that support DBW’s mission.
Self-sufficient program that does not totally depend on DBW funding.
Adequate permanent staff to ensure continuity of programming.
Located in sites where boating is prevalent, but there are limited opportunities to receive boating education.
Year-round courses where weather and water conditions permit.
Comprehensive and cost-effective boating safety training courses for a large segment of the general public.
Training for underserved populations.
Basic boating safety education
Safety training for boating activities associated with accidents.

The Aquatic Center Grant Program Manual includes grant management, as well as terms and conditions that must be followed. Online Grant Application (OLGA) information may be found by clicking the links in the left-hand column on this page.

After DBW receives an application for grant funds, it is reviewed to see how closely the applicant's program funding request aligns with the Aquatic Center Grant Program's goals and objectives. Usually a site visit is conducted in order to further evaluate the program. Only the most qualified applicants are granted funding.

If the application is approved, an agreement is sent to the grant recipient for signature, and then it is processed through DBW's Administrative Services Unit and signed by the Deputy Director. Additional approval occurs at the Department of General Services Office of Risk Insurance Management.

What type of equipment can be purchased with grant funds?

Vessels, and/or associated equipment that provide for boating safety education are eligible for grant funding. Examples include but are not limited to sailboats, trailers, water ski boats, canoes, kayaks, rafts, stand-up paddle boards, windsurfing equipment, boat engines, safety boats, and associated safety equipment, such as life jackets, radios, and wetsuits. Life jackets must be worn by all participants during any training paid for by grant funds or when using any vessels purchased with grant funds.

Additionally, applicants may apply for associated portable equipment such as storage sheds, equipment racks and portable docking systems.

What types of scholarships are available through grant funds?

Scholarships are available for basic non-competitive boating safety education. Scholarship funding can be used to lower the overall cost of a course in order to make it more affordable to all participants if it is estimated that the majority of people in an area cannot afford the actual tuition. Scholarship funding can also be used to partially or completely fund the tuition of individual students or specific groups of students such as school groups, outreach clubs, etc. Funding is available for disabled students as well.

What are some of the grant agreement requirements?

There are both general terms and conditions that are required by all state agreements as well as specific terms and conditions that apply to this grant program that all organizations must be able to comply with in order to be considered for funding. These include

Exhibit B – Special Terms and Conditions
Exhibit B – Special Terms and Conditions (UC System)
Exhibit C – General Terms and Conditions
Exhibit C – General Terms and Conditions (UC System)
Prospective applicants should ensure that they can comply with both the general and specific terms and conditions.

What happens after a grant is awarded?

After a grant is awarded, follow-up visits are periodically scheduled between the organization and DBW representatives. Such visits include a review of the program’s goals and inventory of the equipment purchased with DBW funds.

Additionally, the grantee shall ensure that the grant requirements are met such as attending one Aquatic Center Directors’ Meetings each year and completing an annual program report.

How long must I continue to provide annual and inventory reports to DBW?

Reports are required from grantees receiving scholarship, training, and National Safe Boating Week funds each year they receive funding for the stated program requirements. For vessels, engines and other equipment purchased with grant funds, annual reports and inventory forms are required as long as the equipment remains in use or until it is approved by DBW to be sold and/or replaced.

How do I receive the funds I have been awarded?

No money is awarded upon approval of the grant; all funds are distributed through reimbursement only. Reimbursement requests must be submitted in accordance with the specific terms and conditions and must be accompanied by proof of payment. Purchase orders from manufactures/dealers will not be accepted in place of invoices when requesting reimbursement from DBW.
The length of time to receive reimbursement varies. Grantees should ensure that they carefully follow the billing instructions to ensure maximum speed of payment. Once the correctly completed request for payment leaves DBW, it goes to the DPR Accounting Unit and then to the California State Controller’s Office where the actual check is processed and mailed to the grantee. This process generally takes six weeks to complete if all documentation is in place. Programs without sufficient funds to cover payments while waiting for reimbursement should not apply for grant funding.