Waterside Workshops

From youth interns to staff members, Eric and Carmello have been building something real at for years. Hear what they have to say about it at the link in our bio or at https://watersideworkshops.org/what-it-means-to-stay-eric-villa-and-carmello-madden-on-finding-their-place-at-waterside/

We are so grateful for our fun overnight at Sibley! Participants and staff slept under the stars, made pancakes, hung out with wildlife and rode mountain bikes. It was perfect weather and many memories were made! Thank you for an amazing season!

Mark your calendars!

The Land and Sea Party is back, and this year, we’re bringing it home.

On Saturday, September 19 from 5–9 pm, join us at Waterside’s newly beautified campus on Bolivar Drive at Aquatic Park for our annual fundraising celebration. We’ve been busy making this place even more beautiful, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Expect a fantastic feast, activities, a silent auction, prizes, and more.

This party is how we fund free youth programs: summer camps, outdoor adventures, bike giveaways, and paid job-training internships. Every dollar raised goes directly to the young people who call this place home.

Here’s how you can get involved right now:

🎟 Save the date — September 19

💛 Donate to our silent auction — goods, experiences, gift baskets, restaurant certificates, anything fun. Your donation will be seen by 200 community members and local leaders.

🌟 Become a sponsor — Party hosts get special access, benefits, and recognition. Contact us to learn more.

🙌 Volunteer — Help us make the magic happen. Setup, food service, programming (and you’ll get to enjoy the party, too).

Find more details at the link in our bio or at https://watersideworkshops.org/land-and-sea-party-2026

When two East Bay organizations that believe in young people get together, good things happen.

Our youth and staff had the best time visiting recently — touring the farm, connecting with their community, and yes, spending quality time with some chickens. ANV does such important work giving local youth access to land, nature, and the outdoors on their own terms, and we’re so glad to be in community with them.

🚲 Bike Month is almost here and we are SO in!

Come say hi to the Waterside team at the Bike Month Kick-off Party this Thursday, April 30 — 4 to 7 pm at Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza. Hosted by and the Downtown Berkeley Association, it’s going to be a great way to kick off the month with your people.

See you there!

Our youth are out here making onigiri from scratch! Thanks to our partnership with and the incredible Esther Cook, the garden program is bringing real food education to life this spring. Grow it, make it, eat it.

Meet Sophia. High school student, competitive mountain biker, and intern turned youth staff member.

Sophia came to through a friend she raced with. She showed up ready to work, and the shop met her there: with real skills training, a supportive crew, and a community that cares.

Now she’s completing full bike builds, mentoring newer interns, and helping younger kids find their first ride. This August, she heads to Italy, France, and South Africa for her senior year through World Class Academy, studying and riding her way across three continents.

She’s going places. Literally.

There are two weeks left in our “Waterside Loves You” campaign. A one-time or recurring gift at any amount helps us keep doing what we do — training young people like Sophia, paying fair wages, and building a shop worth showing up to.

👉 Donate now: https://watersideworkshops.networkforgood.com/ (or link in bio!)

is showing up for ’s Bike to Wherever Day! Pledge to ride at BikeEastBay.org/Pledge before May 14 to win prizes, get new routes, and unlock a map of all the Energizer Stations.

Then come find us outside Street Level Cycles on the big day for a mid-ride boost. See you out there!

From a moonlit campfire at Juniper to a ripping descent down Mt. Disblo — this weekend had it all.

Our crew of 10 spent Friday night under the stars with s’mores and good company before rolling out Saturday for a 7-mile loop through Castle Rock Creek Park: rocky faces, grazing cows, and hills that just beg to be ridden.

Sweaty? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. Huge thanks to and for making trips like this possible for our community. More of this, always.