Newport Sea Base classes for kids begin Sept. 18

The Newport Sea Base, 1931 W. Coast Highway, has announced that classes for boys and girls ages 6 to 18 will begin Sept. 18 and continue till February.

The classes will be offered on weekdays, weekends and evenings, and will cover a variety of subjects including beginning, intermediate and advanced sailing, canoeing, kayaking, first aid and more.

The base is operated by the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America, and has provided maritime programs for Orange County youth since 1937.

Its mission, “to serve the youth of Greater Orange County by providing quality marine programs that will instill in them solid values, teach effective team work, teach nautical safety skills and provide a venue for all to enjoy the wonders of the waterfront,” has resulted in an average attendance at the facility of more than 20,000 people per year.

The base also offers environmental science classes, where students can visit the Back Bay Science Center and interact with the sea life in its tank.

For information, or to register for classes, call (949) 642-5031 or go to www.newportseabase.org.

— Sue Thoensen