Community Boating Center - Bellingham

TIDE TALK: COAST SALISH ART & BIRDS

What can birds teach us about culture, place, and connection?

Join us Thursday, October 8 for an evening with local Coast Salish artist, muralist, and art instructor Jason LaClair. Drawing from his Lummi and Nooksack heritage, Jason will share stories about the importance and sacredness of birds and wildlife to his tribal communities, along with examples of his art and insights into the unique features of Coast Salish art.

You might m recognize some of Jason’s work right here at CBC!

📅 Thursday, October 8
⏰ 6–7 PM
📍 Community Boating Center

🎟️ Learn more & register: https://www.boatingcenter.org/events/tide-talk-salish-birds

Join us Sunday, October 4 for I Follow Rivers, presented by CBC as part of Doctober.

The film follows Norwegian whitewater kayaker Mariann Sæther as she balances raising two kids with a twenty-year dream of kayaking the Aldeyjarfoss waterfall. Come for the incredible river footage, then stick around to talk paddling with CBC Operations Director and river enthusiast Reed Hutton at a special Q&A.

Hope to see some familiar faces in the theater!

Tickets at pickfordfilmcenter.org 🎟️

This year, the Community Boating Center has delivered over $31,000 in direct scholarships. 💙

And we’ve got so many love letters to you, our community, thanking you for making these dreams a reality.

Because a scholarship isn’t just a scholarship. It’s a first day on the water. A new sense of confidence. A kid discovering what they’re capable of. A neighbor finding their community.

Your support changes the narrative of what’s possible.

Thank you to our incredible staff, volunteers, and community who made this summer of adventure possible. 🌊

💙 Keep the adventure going. Donate through the link in our bio and help make more of these moments possible.

⛵ FINAL TWO BEGINNER KEELBOAT CLASSES! ⛵

Our sailing season wraps up in October, but there’s still time to learn! We have availability in our final two Beginner Keelboat classes of the year.

No experience needed. Come learn the basics, build your confidence, and see Bellingham Bay from behind the helm. 🌊

Don’t wait until next year! Grab your spot:
boatingcenter.org/adult-sailing

SPLASH BASH IS BACK! 💦⛵🌈

Splash Bash is an adaptive celebration where people of all physical and cognitive abilities can get on the water, try something new, and have a whole lot of fun together!

Here’s what’s happening:

⛵ Boat rides
🏁 Mini boat races
🪢 Knot-tying games and puzzles
🎨 Art projects
🌽 Co****le
🍕 Pizza and potluck
💦 One seriously epic splash fight!

Bring your favorite dish to share, your best summer energy, and clothes you’re ready to soak. Boat rides, adaptive equipment, pizza, and games are all included!

A huge thank-you to WECU for sponsoring Splash Bash and helping make time on the water more accessible to everyone and our partners at Max Higbee Center .💙

Register @ boatingcenter.org/events/splashbash

See you on the water 🌊

The Bay’s taking a breather, but the party isn’t! 🥳

Join us Tuesday, September 1 @ Kulshan Trackside for Beats Near the Bay with Henry Mansfield. Same good vibes, same great mission, just dry land under our dancing shoes this time. 💃🕺

Kulshan is donating 10% of sales during the event to help us , so grab a pint, grab your friends, and help us keep Bellingham Bay accessible for everyone.

📍 Kulshan Trackside
📅 Tuesday, September 1
🎧 Music by Henry Mansfield
🍻 10% of sales support CBC

See you shoreside! 🌊

After careful reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the final Beats on the Bay on September 1.

This event began with a simple dream: to build a sense of belonging on Bellingham Bay across the spectrum of people and watercraft that use it, while raising funds to make these waters more accessible to all.

And wow, did you show up! We watched hundreds of neighbors paddle, dance, share boats, retrieve lost paddles, tow each other home, and create something truly special.

As the event has grown, we’ve also seen folks putting themselves in risky situations—missing life jackets, swimming through boat traffic, impaired decision-making, and captaining watercraft unsuited for the Bay’s cold water in spicier conditions.

The scale of this event now calls for more safety support. We’ll work with the City, maritime partners and first responders to explore how Beats on the Bay can return next year with additional support and safeguards.

But the music—and the mission—continue! We’re moving the party safely shoreside.

Join us Tuesday, September 1, at Kulshan Trackside for Beats Near the Bay with Henry Mansfield. Kulshan will donate 10% of sales during the event to help us !

This year, CBC provided more than $160,000 in low- and no-cost programming amid disappearing grants and a rapidly changing funding landscape. If you believe we all belong on the Bay, we need your support.

Come raise a glass, show off your shoreside dance moves, help keep us all afloat for years to come & consider donating at boatingcenter.org/donate

Thank you to everyone who paddled, sailed, played, danced, and helped create something so uniquely Bellingham! We’ll see you at Trackside.

With love,
Your Community Boating Center

SALTY *GEAR* SOCIAL 🧂🧵🍻

We’re giving our usual Salty Social a gear repair twist! Join us for an end of summer evening of gear fixes, boat sale deals, raffle prizes, music, and cold b**r from ASLAN BREWING CO. .

Meet the vendors:

GEAR AID — Build your own free repair kit with patches, adhesives, tools, and everything you need to start fixing your gear at home.

Ruby Spring — Learn how to choose, maintain, and extend the life of your clothing and gear. Bring an item for an eligible small repair that can be completed in 20 minutes or less. Repairs will be available as time allows!

Larabee Gearworks— Explore design for longevity, repair and warranty practices, and how the marine environment affects the soft goods we use on the water.

CBC Warehouse Sale — Shop great deals on donated boats, outdoor gear, and equipment while supporting accessible boating programs.

Every b**r purchased and every warehouse sale find directly supports the Community Boating Center—helping make boating more accessible to our community. (And keeps those rad Beats on the Bay concerts coming for years to come!)

Come fix what you have, find something new-to-you, and raise a glass to keeping good gear in use! 🌊

📅 September 3
⏰ 5–8 p.m.
📍 Community Boating Center
🔞 Ages 21+

⚠️ 🚨RELOCATED TO FAIRHAVEN COVE

Weather update for tonight’s Beats on the Bay:

Strong winds are forecast to arrive during or shortly after the show, and the evening will feel much colder than today’s hot afternoon suggests. Please dress warmly, secure loose belongings, and use extra caution if you’re joining us from the water.

Sunset is at 8:07 p.m., and the music will end by 7:30 p.m. We strongly encourage everyone—especially paddlers and boaters—to head home promptly after the show to avoid being caught out in high winds and darkness.

At this time, the concert will take place in its usual location.

Please plan ahead, know your limits, and stay safe!