Centennial Celebrations

100 YEARS OF BALBOA YACHT CLUB

In the long history of boating on Catalina, Balboa Yacht Club (BYC) and its members stand out as an exemplary example of how boaters enjoy Catalina. More than 600 BYC members are also Catalina Island Conservancy Marinero members, part of the Conservancy’s boating community.

Catalina is an attractive destination for boaters because of the warm and welcoming hospitality, the recreational opportunities and the extreme diversity and availability of nature just outside of the hustle and bustle of the city.

BYC’s centennial kick off on Dec. 3, 2021 included a ceremony with the installation of new officers, a fireworks show and a silent disco. BYC Commodore Paul Blank said that the club is celebrating both the past 100 years that have established its foundations while doing their best to move into the future.

“We will continue to maintain the traditions that have been time-honored over a century of existence,” said Blank. “Our responsibility is now to ensure the club is around for at least another 100 years.”

SCOUTING FOR A CENTURY

For about 100 years, scouts have enjoyed and learned from the wonder that is Catalina Island. There are currently two permanent scout camps on the Island: Emerald Bay and Cherry Cove. Previously, both boy and girl scouts have enjoyed additional locations such as Camp Fox and White’s Landing.

“In the scouting world, Catalina is a unique place,” said Jeff Sulzbach, Scout Executive & CEO of the Greater Los Angeles Area Council of Boy Scouts of America. “There are very few scout camps that have programs on the ocean. And then, for the area, having access to what is the historical look of Southern California before people paved it over right in our backyard is pretty spectacular.”

Sulzbach also shared that approximately 60 percent of the campers that come to Camp Cherry Cove each year come from outside of Los Angeles, with about half of those being from out of state.

“Catalina doesn’t seem far away – on a clear day you can see it – but once you get there it’s the experience of being somewhere quite remote,” he said.

Scouting mixes the traditions of nearly a century with the modern era, including the addition of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) focused programs.

“While Scout camp is still very traditional in a lot of ways – we still camp in tents and teach outdoor skills – we’re also teaching them about the technology and sciences of the world they live in today,” Sulzbach added. 19 19