By Sammy Matson
Staff Writer
There are hundreds of different water activities existing today. Whether its kiteboarding or sailing there’s something for everyone. The New Channels Club allows Costa and inner-city students to experience the joy of water sports.
The New Channels Club is affiliated with several children organizations that are based out of Los Angeles. The club take kids, who don’t have the luxuries Mira Costa students have, and help them have fun, and enjoy their time in the ocean, and at the beach.
“We got the idea for the club by watching first hand organizations taking kids to various places and helping them escape their troubles at home,” club president and senior Lexi Kurugian said. “We want to create an environment for kids to be happy and try to look at life in a new way.”
New Channels club was founded by Mira Costa alumnus Jordan Martucci and Alec Kane who are both currently sophomores in college. Costa seniors, Ryanne Martucci and Lexi Kurugian are the presidents of the club.
“We wanted to create an environment for kids to relax and have fun and forget the hard times they may be going through at home and allow them to do activities such as going to the beach and sailing that they normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to do,” Kurugian said. “We hope to leave a mark on every child we come in contact with and change their lives for the better and give them a good outlook on life.”
According to Martucci, the New Channels Club takes inner city teens to the King Harbor Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey once every month on Sundays from ten to two. The club members teach the kids how to sail, kayak and swim.
“We work with children organizations, usually from Los Angeles, that bring kids off the street,” club secretary and sophomore Emma Zimmerman said. “They come to the yacht club and we spend the day sailing, kayaking, boating, eating lunch and exploring the beach. I hope I can teach inner city kids to enjoy the beach and what it has to offer. I want everyone to appreciate our current lifestyle because most people are not as fortunate as us.”
Yacht club member Fritz Dawson donated the boat the club now uses to take inner-city kids out onto the ocean. The club plans to begin fundraising towards the end of the year.
“We are currently trying to have a fundraiser, but it will be after Advanced Placement testing,” Zimmerman said. “We have a lot of seniors graduating, so we will probably try to advertise more next year.”
According to junior Nick Kane, the New Channels Club is a way to share the love for the beach, ocean, sailing and other water activities with underprivileged children. The club meets every Monday in Room 201, and is constantly looking for new members. New Channels’ members believe Costa students who enjoy helping kids, going to the beach and being near the ocean would enjoy the club.
“I would recommend our club to any person who loves interacting with those who don’t know water safety, and teaching them about it,” Zimmerman said. “Our club is involved in sailing, kayaking, and involves knowing water safety.”
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