Free: Contests & Raffles.
Duck Lake at Ocean Shores used to be pretty popular.
Start saving for any small vessel that floats well cause if the bug bites him there's no getting him back Loomis Lake is good out that way, there's also some little ponds in the Long Beach area we fished years ago. Your biggest issue will be bank access, as you stated, just gotta make it work. I busted a lot of brush in my youth and did a lot of casting from my knees to clear branches ect. It can be done, repetitive casting from shore is a long game, the sound of the bait hitting the water repetitively could eventually attract bass, so don't just make a few casts and bail. Fan cast what you have access to for at least an hour or two and try a couple different baits.
There is a few good bass clubs around you. Pricesless memories fishing tournaments with my Dad in a old converted bellboy boat. Dad cut the top of the hull out of it and made a platform. I wound up usually fishing with some other guy at club tournaments and learned so much about fishing and life. Nowadays there is a heck of a lot of opportunity for youth. High school and college fishing too. Bass fishing kept me grounded even through my bad years. If he is interested jump in two feet first...you’ll never regret it.