Our year-round Youth Programs are thriving. We are happy to have Jessica Andersen as our new Youth Program Director. She comes to DSC with 19 years of experience running swimming programs in the Bay Area. Having mentored young staff members for many years, she is helping our young coaches-in-training and interns develop their interpersonal skills as they help run our academic year after-school programs for middle and high school students (see Youth Coaching Development Program below). Jessica will also administer the Erg Ed™ indoor rowing program/curriculum for local PE teachers to implement in their classes, and she will oversee several Sample Sculling Sessions in the Spring and Summer that precede our well-attended summer youth camps.
       In addition, ten cadets from San Joaquin County Office of Education's Discovery ChalleNGe academy are attending a special program at DSC this fall. ​

Earning medals and setting personal records at all the indoor rowing championships, DSC’s scullers happily hopped off their ergs and returned to regattas on the water. We competed successfully at the Boats Without Barriers Regatta in Oakland, the Gold Rush Regatta at Lake Natoma, the River City Rebellion in West Sacramento, and the Pacific Invitational Regatta as well as the Pacific Old School Masters Regatta, the latter two at Lake Merced.
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What’s your role at Delta Sculling Center (DSC)?
I am a Youth Coach Intern and I provide general help for most center activities

Can you share a memorable experience that you have had while working with DSC?
I remember the joy that our high school athletes had when both the girls and boys boats made it past time trials and into the semi and grand final. They made it the furthest in program history, and got to see what a season of hard work and dedication lead to. As a coach I felt extremely proud and excited for their accomplishments.

What sets DSC apart from similar organizations, and how does the staff and volunteers contribute to this uniqueness?
The best part about DSC is that it is one big family. We are all invested in each others' lives. We celebrate when someone accomplishes something great, and we support one another when times are difficult.

What kind of impact does DSC have on the mental and physical well-being of the staff members and volunteers, and how does it reflect on the community they serve?
DSC has a great impact on the well being of all of its staff, members, and volunteers. DSC’s mission is to provide a place “where everyBody sculls”. In order to accomplish this mission, the staff and members have created a positive and supportive atmosphere. This atmosphere encourages anyone of any ability to improve their ability to scull, as well as forge bonds with the other members. This love and investment doesn’t end at our members; through our outreach programs we hope to promote the sport of sculling and bring our sense of community to the great city of Stockton.

What kind of personal growth have you experienced since joining the DSC team and how has it influenced your life outside of the organization?
I have experienced considerable growth since I began working at DSC. In the last 6 months I have learned more about coaching youth and adults than the rest of my career. I have learned how personal coaching needs to be, and how youth from different backgrounds often respond better to different structures. I have greatly improved my ability to effectively communicate to others, and I believe that what I have learned will stay with me for the rest of my life.

How has your involvement with DSC influenced your sense of community and belonging, and what connections have you made through the organization?
I am from out of state, so when I arrived in Stockton to play waterpolo I was alone. I did forge relationships with my teammates, but not until I joined DSC did I really join the community. The aquatic community of Stockton is a strong one ingrained in the rich history of the city. When I got involved with DSC, I unknowingly joined this community. I have a passion for water sports, and DSC has helped connect me to a group of likeminded individuals who want to provide a place where anyone can learn water sports. I believe that water sports are an essential to life, especially life connected to the Delta.

DSC Scullers Spring into Action at Sprint Regattas
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After positive showings at indoor rowing championships this winter, DSC’s scullers happily hopped off their ergs and returned to regattas on the water. The Oakland Estuary was the site of recent regattas for our high school and Masters teams.

Nathan and Sebastian took 2nd, and Abigail and Josie finished ahead of the A teams of three different clubs in their competitive doubles events.  They now look forward to competing in the USRowing Southwest Youth Championships on Lake Natoma, May 5-7.

Our Masters had an exciting day at the Boats Without Barriers Regatta on the Oakland Estuary, April 23rd. Marie-Odile and Michael were super excited, competing for the first time. In 1 km events, Elise raced in a single, Renaldo, Rebecca, Kim and Bob O. in a quad, and Marie-Odile and Bob L. in a double.  Later in 500-meter sprints, Kim, Paul, Michael, and Jean in one quad squared off against our “1 Good Hip” quad of Linn, Rebecca, Bev and Bob L. Theirs was the most exciting race in DSC history with a single second separating the two quads. It is still being debated which boat crossed the finish line first!  

Sample Sculling Sessions
On April 15th and 29th, experienced DSC volunteers introduced sculling to 19 “newbies”. We are excited that several committed to coming back in May to conquer the basics in our Learn to Scull program.
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DSC Scullers Active in Community Outreach
DSC has been actively involved in introducing both sculling and environmental awareness in two community events downtown: at Earth Day in Victory Park  on April 23rd and at the YMCA Healthy Kids Day event at Weber Point on April 29th. These events were led by Youth Asst. Coaches Jonathan, Ivy and Tania with lots of help from several DSC volunteers who personned our booths and taught many youngsters and adults to erg at both events.

Hampered by injuries in their first sculling regatta of the sprint season, Delta Sculling Center’s high school competitors came roaring back at the 510 Sprints, April 1st on the Oakland Estuary. And we’re not fooling!

Nathan McDaniel and Sebastian Muñoz finished 2nd while challenging River City Rowing Club’s A crew in the final 500 meters of their 2 km. race. Posting a time of 8:58.5, Nathan and Sebastian easily beat two other doubles in the young men’s Under 16 event.
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Delta Sculling Center’s young women’s double of Josie Deuel and Abigail Muñoz finished a strong 4th out of 8 in their Under 17 race. Clocking a time of 9:23, the sculling double beat out the A and B crews from River City and two other clubs’ A crews.
 
Committed to Coach Bob Maclean's training regimen, both sculling doubles now look forward to participating in the USRowing Southwest Youth Championships, May 4-6 at Lake Natoma in Gold River. 

Award made as part of Climate, Access, and Resource (CAR) funding from the state

March 22, 2023
WEST SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board on Wednesday approved a new multimillion-dollar planning project that aims to bring a world-class water sports facility to the city of Stockton, bolstering recreation and tourism opportunities in the community.

The Board approved $2.5 million in grant funding for the Delta Aquatic Center of Stockton planning project, which was proposed by the San Joaquin Community Foundation and received dozens of letters of support from institutions and community members.
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The grant funding from the Delta Conservancy was made possible by the Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022, which provided the Delta Conservancy with one-time general fund allocations of $5,250,000 and $6,125,000 for projects that support climate resilience, community access, and natural resource protection activities that benefit the Delta (collectively known as Climate, Access, and Resource (CAR) funding).

The Americans with Disabilities Act-friendly facility on the Delta will make it possible for all, regardless of ability or means, to access Delta waterways in small, human-powered watercraft. The award of up to $2.5 million will go toward project design, planning, and outreach, which will enable the project to be shovel-ready immediately upon completion of the planning phase.

“We are pleased to sponsor the Delta Aquatic Center of Stockton project, and grateful for the support and partnership of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy,” said Moses Zapien, CEO of the San Joaquin Community Foundation. “Once completed, this public investment will bring much-needed hands-on education and employment opportunities for our region and dramatically improve access to the Delta waterways for recreation and tourism. Stockton is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, and the Delta Aquatic Center of Stockton will be impactful to the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.”

There are four properties being considered as site locations for the Delta Aquatic Center, which will include a building, docks, and parking lot. Additionally, the project will house the Delta Sculling Center, which will conduct programs for disadvantaged, disabled, and youth populations. The project will also partner with other community-based organizations to promote activities such as urban gardening and provide space for educational programming for youth. The cost of construction to build the facility is estimated at $15 million. During the planning phase, the project will seek community input on programs to be offered onsite, and look to the public, private, and corporate sectors for charitable support to build the aquatic center.  

“Stockton is surrounded by 700 miles of interlacing waterways, and if we take care of it, we will all reap the benefits. It has been our dream to find a bigger and safer place to enjoy the Delta and to offer the entire community access to this amazing waterway,” said Dr. Pat Tirone, director of the Delta Sculling Center, and advisory board member for the Delta Aquatic Center of Stockton. “This award from the Delta Conservancy is a major step in moving closer toward making access to the Delta available to everyone, regardless of their ZIP code.”
 
Media Contact:
Hope Miller, Communications Analyst, hope.miller@deltaconservancy.ca.gov, 916-375-2091
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To attend future informational sessions on the project, contact Louis Ponick, director of donor relations at San Joaquin Community Foundation, LPonick@sanjoaquincf.org, 209-943-2375

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ABOUT THE SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA CONSERVANCY
Working collaboratively with local communities, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy leads efforts to protect, enhance and restore the Delta’s economy, agriculture and working landscapes, and environment for the benefit of the Delta region, its local communities, and the citizens of California.

ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The San Joaquin Community Foundation (SJCF) partners with donors to advance the public good through philanthropy. SJCF is committed to building a healthy and prosperous community where all can thrive by promoting equity and supporting community connectivity. For more information about the Community Foundation, visit www.sanjoaquincf.org.

The Virtual Mainline Slide regatta was a great first-time competitive 1 km race for our Middle School scullers. All seven of them set personal records, besting the times they had in practices! All but two logged sub-5-minute times, and those two finished at 5:01 and 5:02! 
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Adult and youth participants from 7 states competed, but Delta Sculling Center athletes were the only ones represented in the girls and boys middle school 1000-meter events.

Hallie Ragsdale and Dezmond Momon will receive certificates from the regatta organizers for their first-place finishes in the girls and boys Middle School events.

​We were very pleased that all our participants’ parents joined us after the event, when we presented their children with Certificates of Accomplishment for their dedicated work during the Winter land rowing program. 

Abigail Munoz is a member of the DSC youth program. She has committed to raising funds to support USRowing's STEM to Stern program. You can support Abigail and her team by visiting their fundraising page.

​Here's a message from Abigail:

We can't imagine not having the opportunity to row. Rowing has brought us friendship and opportunity and we are excited to work together to ensure more kids can join this great sport!

Together we are raising funds to support USRowing's STEM to Stern program. STEM to Stern helps clubs attract more athletes that might not otherwise row by helping organize things like swim lessons, transportation and other support that gets kids to the boathouse and helps them succeed. 
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Donation Page: https://give.usrowing.org/team/435242. Ends August 31, 2022.

June 3, 2022 -  Arshay Cooper, Founder of A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, and his high school teammate Alvin Ross visited Stockton on June 3 & 4, first at Edison H.S., then for DSC’s “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” fundraiser/acknowledgement of partnerships event, and finally for a rowing experience with 6 Edison youth at the boathouse (with 2-time Olympian David Banks, Arshay, and Alvin plus DSC coaches and youth rowers working with them).

Special thanks to San Joaquin County Office of Education, Dignity Health, and Adventist Health - Lodi Memorial for substantial sponsorship of the June 3rd event—and, to many private donors. We are very grateful to the Stockton Sailing Club for letting DSC use their outdoor venue to host that event. We are so lucky to have such supportive neighbors on the waterway.

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Stockton, CA - Six adult newcomers successfully and joyfully learned to scull in a 3-hour Sample Sculling session at DSC on April 30th. DSC’s experienced scullers were thrilled to see how quickly and happily they took to our sport. We look forward to meeting a second group of Sample Scullers on May 21st.

Stockton, CA - Earth Day was a busy day for DSC at Victory Park in downtown Stockton. Education and exercise were paramount as visitors kept our youth scullers/instructors, adult DSC volunteers and coaches, and rowing machines going all day long. And our posters provided detailed environmental facts and visuals about how to be stewards of the Delta waterways.