Mission: Waterside Workshops engages youth and the community through hands-on learning in bicycle mechanics, wooden boatbuilding, and outdoor education. Waterside is a safe place for youth to feel heard, gain confidence, develop work skills, and access the tools and resources needed to lead healthy, sustainable lives.
Waterside Workshops was established in 2007 to address the disappearance of shop and vocational programs from surrounding schools. We offer a non-traditional educational space for youth to learn and practice core job skills under the supervision of experienced and caring professionals.
Waterside serves over 300 youth each year in our bike shop, boat shop, and outdoor education programs. Working in collaboration with schools and partner organizations in the community, we offer holistic support services that help meet our participants’ individual needs. Waterside’s programs are transformative for youth, helping them grow into skilled, engaged, and empowered members of our Bay Area community.
About 60 percent of Waterside’s revenue is foundation and donation funded, and about 40 percent is earned revenue from our community shops. We also receive funding for youth internships and programming from municipal, state, and federal programs.
