Kayaking Program to Benefit Friends of Channel Coast State Parks

VENTURA — There’s a new, hands-on way to explore the Channel Islands Coast — with an educational kayak tour from coastal expert Melissa Baffa, the executive director of Friends of Channel Coast State Parks’ newest program. The idea first spawned about two years ago, when Baffa was hired to lead the pioneering of the coastal kayaking initiative. “I am the first executive director of our organization, so we have done a lot of work building up our infrastructure over the past 16 months,” she said. “By the time we were in a position to be able to host the program, the season was wrong, so we waited until last summer to launch it.” The program, which runs two hours and costs $40 per person, includes all kayaking equipment, a short water safety course and an educational paddle around Ventura Harbor. The tour, led by two California State Parks lifeguards, offers an up-close visit with nature’s local residents. “In the harbor, we often have sea lions, pelicans, gulls, cormorants and more, which can be spied as you paddle around,” Baffa said. In addition, participants can see the Channel Islands National Park visitor center and several commercial fishing operations, including squid fishing — and they...