History
1981, the Associated Students of California State University, Sacramento (ASI) in collaboration with the University Union, and State Parks reached a land use agreement with the Bureau of Land Management(BLM). This enabled the Sacramento State Aquatic Center a permanent home on Lake Natoma occupying an eight-acre peninsula of land right next to the Nimbus Dam.
California State University, Sacramento is a public comprehensive university in Sacramento, the capital city of the U.S. state of California. Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College, it is the eleventh oldest school in the 23-campus California State University system. The university enrolls approximately 31,130 students annually, has an alumni base of more than 240,000 and awards 7,000 degrees annually. The university offers 151 different Bachelor's degrees, 69 Master's degrees, 28 types of teaching credentials, and 2 Doctoral degrees. The university also has extensions in Singapore, offering a unique IMBA.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior that administers more than 247.3 million acres (1,001,000 km2) of public lands in the United States which constitutes one-eighth of the landmass of the country. President Harry S. Truman created the BLM in 1946 by combining two existing agencies: the General Land Office and the Grazing Service. The agency manages the federal government's nearly 700 million acres (2,800,000 km2) of subsurface mineral estate located beneath federal, state and private lands severed from their surface rights by the Homestead Act of 1862. Most BLM public lands are located in these 12 western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Lake Natoma is an intermediate lake along the lower American River, located between Folsom Dam and Nimbus Dam in Sacramento County, in the U.S. state of California. The lake is located within the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. From the Folsom Lake Dam, Lake Natoma is located east of Sacramento, and is about 500 acres of surface area away from the dam.
While running their operation out of a shed and shipping containers, the growing Aquatic Center received a Capital Improvement Grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBAW) to refurbish the existing peninsula with four new buildings, four brand new handicap-accessible docks, and new equipment for many program areas. These renovations took place while the facility remained open, and upon completion in 2003, the new facility has proven to be a family-friendly and easily accessible destination for water enthusiasts year-round.
Features of the facility include: a beach area, picnic tables and grills, rowing-accessible docks, classrooms for boat safety education, a weight room, a work out Mezzanine level, offices for facility staff, and parking located close to the building.
General
The Sacramento State Aquatic Center is a non-profit, cooperative operation of the Associated Students Inc. of California State University, Sacramento, the University Union of Sacramento State, California Department of Boating and Waterways, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The center has provided instruction to thousands of students in California. The center offers university credit for kinesiology classes in Sailing, Rowing, Water-ski/Wakeboarding, and Windsurfing as a means to supplement the academic curriculum at Sacramento State. The Aquatic Center provides leisure classes for the general public, competitive teams, a series of progressive summer camps, and youth programs. The center is open seven days a week to students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Sacramento State as well as the general public.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, also known as California State Parks, manages the California state parks system. The system administers 280 separate park units on 1.4 million acres (570,000 ha), with over 280 miles (450 km) of coastline; 625 miles (1,000 km) of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and 3,000 miles (4,800 km) of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Headquartered in Sacramento, park administration is divided into 25 districts. The California State Parks system is the largest state park system in the United States.
Programs
The center offers university kinesiology classes, leisure classes for the general public, competitive teams, a series of progressive summer camps and youth programs. The center was established to augment the academic curriculum at California State University, Sacramento. The Aquatic Center is open to Sacramento State students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as the general public. All students, faculty, staff, and alumni receive a discount with their valid Sacramento State identification card. Classes are offered to students for a unit of University credit through the Aquatic Center in Sailing, Windsurfing, Water Skiing/Wakeboarding, and Olympic Rowing. Programs of the Aquatic Center include:
Rentals, memberships, Private lessons, and classes are offered. Intro to flat water kayaking is an excellent class to learn the basics as well as the characteristics of a variety of different style boats.
Stand Up Paddle Surfing is one of the most popular activities at the Aquatic Center and fastest growing paddle sport.
Offering general classes, private lessons, and home of the Sacramento State Wakeboard Team.
Offering Beginning classes through advanced keel boating, private lessons, and memberships.
Offering general classes, private lessons, and home of the Sacramento State Water Ski Team.
Offering Classes and private lessons.
Classes geared toward the first time beginner who wants to learn and offers advanced private lessons.
Offering rentals and classes where you learn the basics while touring the lake.
One of the top rowing facilities in the entire country, it hosts various regional and national meets including the annual Pacific Coast Rowing Championships. Home of Sacramento State Women's and Men's, Capital Crew, and Master's rowing programs. The Aquatic Center offers classes as well as private lessons by some of the finest rowing coaches in the country.
Invites children to learn to be water safe through school and youth groups. Offering Aquatic Camps for children 7-17 during the summer as well as an outstanding after school program.
Lets general public use certain types of equipment for use throughout the day. Certain types of equipment may also be rented after taking classes on how to yuse them, such as sail boats and single, double, quad and 8 person rowing shells.
