Organization and Mission

Serving the boating community for 25 years, Mt. Baker currently offers programs for ages 8-100 in rowing, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing for all ability levels. Financial Aid is Available for all classes. The Boating Advisory Council, in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, wants to ensure that our activities, classes and sports are available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. The Council will chose to waive some or all fees, offer activities on a sliding scale, allow for an exchange of activities for volunteer service, or offer scholarships. Reduced fees are intended mainly for families or individuals in our Seattle neighborhood who are on public assistance or are unemployed.

The Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center is a Seattle Parks and Recreation facility. Its recreation programs are co-sponsored by Seattle Parks and the Mount Baker Boating Advisory Council. The Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization made of up of volunteers who are dedicated to the success of this facility, as expressed in our mission statement.

Coaches at Mt. Baker use a deliberate, open style that has been successful both at developing nationally competitive teams, and at including athletes with a wide variety of abilities.  Early on, the Center hosted "Rowing in the Mainstream," part of a national effort to get people with disabilities on the water. Olympians Doug Herland and Kristy Norelius ('84 Gold medalists) attended. This was the impetus for Renton Rowing to begin their program for people with disabilities that continued for a number of years.

The Boating Advisory Council strongly supports the Summer Adventure Camp and Summer Boating.  These are programs designed to attract youth to aquatic sports; special welcome is extended to neighboring Community Centers. 

In 2008 the George Pocock Foundation established Rainier Valley Rowing in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Mount Baker Boating Advisory Council. Their aim is to help local teens overcome barriers to accessing water sports.  This program is hosted

by Mt. Baker whose Junior Rowing teams welcome RVR rowers during the spring of their Novice year.

The expansion of the Mt. Baker boathouse in 2008 provided a new meeting room for which the Boating Advisory Council, with the generosity of a magnanimous donor, purchased and installed an elevator making this space ADA compliant.  Availability of this space broadens the usefulness of the Center to the community, drawing more people with diverse interests into the beautiful facility on the shore of Lake Washington.