Division of Boating and Waterways Offers Grants to Enhance Recreational Boating Safety Education
Mission Bay Aquatic Center students, San Diego. Photo courtesy of Mission Bay Aquatic Center.
SACRAMENTO — California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications from organizations that teach on-the-water boating safety education to the public. Approximately $1.4 million in Aquatic Center Education Program grants is available to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations and colleges/universities operating within California. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 24 at noon.
The grants are competitive and can be used to:
- Purchase boating equipment and supplies.
- Provide student scholarships for on-the-water boating courses.
- Offset costs for boating instructor training.
- Offset costs for boating safety-related events.
Interested applicants should first review the FAQs listed on DBW's website to determine if they meet the grantee eligibility requirements. Grant applications must be submitted through the division’s online grant application system.
DBW will rank and score each application based on its demonstration of the applicant’s ability to safely and effectively teach on-the-water boating safety courses and enhance boaters’ knowledge of boating laws, practical handling of vessels, weather and water conditions and other boating safety information. Grant recipients are anticipated to be notified in early 2026.
DBW administers this grant with funding from the federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Recreational Boating Safety Grant, which is managed by the United States Coast Guard. Since the late 1970s, DBW has awarded approximately $30 million through this annual grant process to promote on-the-water safety education throughout California. On average, 35-40 recipients receive funding each year.
DBW hosts in-person meetings with aquatic center directors each year to share information on submitting competitive grant applications. This year’s meeting will be held October 1-2 at Lake Tahoe Community College. Detailed information regarding the Aquatic Center Education Program is available on DBW’s website.
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The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.