Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK) is a group of several hundred sea kayakers who live throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our interests include flat-water paddling, kayak-surfing, expeditions, and playing amongst the rocks, in conditions that range from mild to wild. Our club exists to bring paddlers together for companionship, safety, exploration, learning, and great food and drink! We welcome as members all individuals interested in kayaking. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive paddling club and to sharing our enthusiasm, skills, and knowledge to increase equity and access to our sport.
BASK trips range from local to international, and are all member-initiated with shared responsibilities for safety. BASK does not supply boats or equipment, although some members are willing to share their equipment. You have to be a member or a guest of a member to participate in on-the-water BASK events and a signed activity waiver is required. Follow the links to learn more about the benefits of membership and to join BASK.
We invite you to attend one of our monthly meetings, currently online due to the pandemic! They are free and open to the public. The format of each meeting may vary a bit month to month, but they tend to include members sharing stories, featured speakers, club news, and information about upcoming events. It’s a great way to meet club members and learn about paddling opportunities. For more information see the Events page!
Would you like to speak at a BASK meeting or have an idea for a speaker? Contact the Speaker Seeker. Interested in what type of speakers we’ve had in the past? See the list of previous general meeting topics.
BASK Health Guidelines
For the safety of participants at all BASK paddles and other in-person activities, please stay home and join us another time if:
- You're experiencing symptoms of any communicable respiratory illness
- You're testing positive for COVID-19, even if you're feeling well
- In the past week, you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19 via shared air
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within a week of attending an in-person BASK activity, please let the event initiator know. This will allow the initiator to inform other participants, who can then choose to self-test or take other precautions such as obtaining pharmaceutical COVID-19 treatments if they develop symptoms.
Next BASK General Meeting: Saturday, September 30 (In Person)
BASK General Meeting at the Bay Model Museum Meeting Room, Saturday, September 30, 9-11 am
Join us in person to catch up on the latest club news, and hear from two Directors in Reef Check, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical coral reefs and temperate kelp forests.
We'll recognize new members, introduce upcoming paddles, and cover any new club business. After our feature presentation, there might even be a paddle—initiate a paddle yourself or check the BASK Calendar!
Our featured speakers are Dan Abbott, Director of the Kelp Forest Program, and Annie Bauer-Civiello, Director of the Reforestation Program of Reef Check. Dan studied Environmental Economics and Policy at U.C. Berkeley, and is Director of the Kelp Forest Program. He and his team are monitoring ocean forests in California, Oregon, and Washington, and are working to give scientists and marine managers the tools they need to protect and restore these valuable ecosystems.
Annie Bauer-Civiello received a Bachelor of Science in marine biology from the U.C. Santa Cruz, then studied abroad at the University of Queensland in Australia where she began to intern as a Project Officer for Reef Check Australia. She earned her Master of Science in marine biology, followed by a Ph.D. in environmental science at James Cook University in Australia, while also serving as the Great Barrier Reef Survey Coordinator for Reef Check Australia. After finishing her Ph.D., Annie became the Executive Officer of an Australian NGO, working closely with the Australian Government, research institutions, community organizations, and industry groups to improve waterway health in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. She has now brought her wide range of experience and knowledge back to California to assist the Reef Check Foundation and lead the Restoration Program.
Dan and Annie will discuss their efforts to promote stewardship of sustainable reef communities worldwide by organizing citizen scientists, promoting education programs about reefs and the ocean, and developing ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions for reef conservation and reforestation.
Got ideas for meetings or locations? Contact Cris Lewis, BASK President (lewis.cristina@gmail.com)
