About
Gaia Guides offers kids summer camps and family paddle programs that include kayaking, paddleboarding, teamwork games, SUP yoga, and SUP Olympics. The program also includes environmental education and outdoor learning on the water, with wetsuits provided so kids stay warm, comfortable, and confident, and parents are advised to pack warm clothes for after kids take off their wetsuits.
• Ages: 6–14 years old
• Schedule: Kids summer camps run June 8–August 14 with full-day and half-day weekly options; Family Paddle Nights run June 9–August 11 on Tuesday evenings; private group events are 2.5-hour sessions
• Price: $449–$699 per week for kids summer camps; $40 per adult with kids free for Family Paddle Nights; $70–$110 per person for private group 2.5-hour events
Gaia Guides was founded in 2017 as a locally owned outdoor adventure program offering kids summer camps, family paddle nights, private group events, and youth leadership experiences. The program describes itself as a small, women-owned business rooted in Alameda’s South Shore community, with over 20 years of team experience in youth leadership and outdoor education. Its mission is to help kids and families discover what they are capable of, learn to care for the world around them, and head home proud of what they have accomplished.
The leadership team includes Founder Victoria Anweiler and Program Director Lily Manderville, along with team members Shay, Lily, Miranda, Sam, Ariane, Emery, Annabel, Brandon, Samantha, Eloise, Annabel, Alisa, Fionn, Dominic, and Tom. All instructors are CPR and First Aid certified, and the program describes its kids summer camps as heart-driven, safety-first, intentionally small, and eco-focused, with small group camps and beginner-friendly kayaking and paddleboarding. Gaia Guides also offers Family Paddle Nights where kids paddle free on their first visit, as well as private paddle lessons and customizable paddling adventures for private groups.
Gaia Guides is described as a community-based outdoor education and adventure program that connects kids, families, and communities with the natural world through water-based experiences on San Francisco Bay. It works with families, schools, city programs, nonprofits, and partner organizations throughout Alameda, Oakland, and the greater East Bay to create programs.
Parent reviews describe Gaia Guides as their kids’ favorite week of camp, with one parent noting that their six-year-old especially enjoyed paddleboarding and that the staff felt like a “cohort of marine explorers” who were very focused on safety. Other parents describe the stand-up paddleboard summer camp as friendly, professional, and educational, with staff who actively monitor water and weather and adjust activities such as paddling to the Hornet, SUP yoga, or SUP Olympics based on conditions. Families who attended Family Paddle Night describe it as a fun activity for a wide range of ages, with kind and patient instructors, and several parents say their kids immediately asked to return.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
• Ages: 6–14 years old
• Schedule: Kids summer camps run June 8–August 14 with full-day and half-day weekly options; Family Paddle Nights run June 9–August 11 on Tuesday evenings; private group events are 2.5-hour sessions
• Price: $449–$699 per week for kids summer camps; $40 per adult with kids free for Family Paddle Nights; $70–$110 per person for private group 2.5-hour events
Gaia Guides was founded in 2017 as a locally owned outdoor adventure program offering kids summer camps, family paddle nights, private group events, and youth leadership experiences. The program describes itself as a small, women-owned business rooted in Alameda’s South Shore community, with over 20 years of team experience in youth leadership and outdoor education. Its mission is to help kids and families discover what they are capable of, learn to care for the world around them, and head home proud of what they have accomplished.
The leadership team includes Founder Victoria Anweiler and Program Director Lily Manderville, along with team members Shay, Lily, Miranda, Sam, Ariane, Emery, Annabel, Brandon, Samantha, Eloise, Annabel, Alisa, Fionn, Dominic, and Tom. All instructors are CPR and First Aid certified, and the program describes its kids summer camps as heart-driven, safety-first, intentionally small, and eco-focused, with small group camps and beginner-friendly kayaking and paddleboarding. Gaia Guides also offers Family Paddle Nights where kids paddle free on their first visit, as well as private paddle lessons and customizable paddling adventures for private groups.
Gaia Guides is described as a community-based outdoor education and adventure program that connects kids, families, and communities with the natural world through water-based experiences on San Francisco Bay. It works with families, schools, city programs, nonprofits, and partner organizations throughout Alameda, Oakland, and the greater East Bay to create programs.
Parent reviews describe Gaia Guides as their kids’ favorite week of camp, with one parent noting that their six-year-old especially enjoyed paddleboarding and that the staff felt like a “cohort of marine explorers” who were very focused on safety. Other parents describe the stand-up paddleboard summer camp as friendly, professional, and educational, with staff who actively monitor water and weather and adjust activities such as paddling to the Hornet, SUP yoga, or SUP Olympics based on conditions. Families who attended Family Paddle Night describe it as a fun activity for a wide range of ages, with kind and patient instructors, and several parents say their kids immediately asked to return.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
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