Photo by Emma Gonzales
Written by Emma Gonzales
CSUCI Paddle Pass
A few weeks ago, I visited the CI Boating Center, located at 3880 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard, CA 93035, to try kayaking for the first time. After a long day on campus, it offered a chance to get exercise and fresh air. While practicing how to steer the kayak, I noticed that few other students were out on the water.
Many students may not realize that CI offers free recreational kayaking and stand up paddleboarding through the CSUCI Paddle Pass.
The CSUCI Paddle pass is a new addition to Campus Recreation, available to currently registered students. All that is required for this opportunity is a CI DolphinOne ID card, a 15-minute safety talk, and a paddle pass agreement and liability waiver. It is about a 30-minute drive from the campus and parking is free, so it is convenient for commuters. This perk is available to students at the CI Boating Center Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and doesn’t require any prior experience.
The CI Boating Center lobby also features interactive exhibits explaining the weather patterns of Channel Islands Harbor, its natural history and the wildlife that inhabits the area.
While kayaking, I also spotted several sea lions and a variety of bird species. The experience highlights a recreational opportunity many CI students may not realize is available.
Interior of the CI Boating Center
Photo by Emma Gonzales
Channel Islands Maritime Museum
Last week, I visited the harbor again with a friend to walk around and try double kayaking, when we noticed that there is a museum tucked away right behind the CI Boating Center. We visited this museum out of sheer curiosity and discovered a lot of new information about world history and maritime art. With student ID cards, admission cost $5. A staff member at the front desk also offered a guided tour of the museum. She showed us paintings done by French, Dutch, and English artists depicting scenic ocean battles and sunsets over piers. She also showed us bone models of ships made by French prisoners in the 1800s. The museum is located at 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard, CA 93035.
My favorite model in this museum was a replica of the Mark Twain Riverboat made by Edward Marple. This marvelous recreation made using cherrywood caught my eye because it was crafted with intricate detail and mimicked the pictures of the actual boat so perfectly. Edward Marple made many replicas displayed in this museum after becoming a dental technician, which aided him in his hand-eye coordination and eye for detail. His workspace and art tools are also shown in this museum.
I would suggest taking two hours out of your schedule to navigate this museum, as we were unable to finish looking around within an hour. There is an upstairs portion of the museum that we did not have time to see, but we were told that this area includes local art and history about the Chumash, and an exhibit on whales. The hours for this museum are from 12 to 4 p.m. on Thursday to Monday. Since I am a collector of postcards, I could not leave without stopping by the gift shop to purchase a few postcards with the paintings on them. The museum offers a lesser known cultural attraction near the harbor that CI students may find worth exploring.
Model Ship at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum
Photo by Emma Gonzales
