STEM Sailing & 4th Graders – Transformational and Transcontinental

Posted on June 6, 2018 by skippersgift

Experiential sail-based STEM programs launched by the Treasure Island Sailing Center in 2013 and Sail Newport in 2017 are transforming the learning experience, respect for mother nature and the lives of 4^th graders in California and Rhode Island.

The TISC Set Sail Learn (SSL) STEM program has now passed the 6K “smiles” milestone. Since the inception of the program in the Fall of 2013, 6,172 students from 46 schools representing all 11 San Francisco Unified School Districts have attended 240 classes on Clipper Cove. At Sail Newport’s new Marine Education and Recreation Center, 178 students from Pell Elementary School’s eight 4^th grade classes have a few more weeks of “class” before their summer break. Each week, in September & October then again in May & June, Monday through Thursday, two of the eight 4^th grade classes spends an hour on J/22 sailboats on Brenton Cove and an hour in the Marine Education and Recreation Center.

As we were launching Skipper’s Gift at Sail Newport, the first wave of Pell students was returning to the docks aboard J/22’s, the captain’s choice in Newport Harbor. How can you not get psyched about sailing on Brenton Cove!

LOOK CAREFULLY -those two cranes in the background were dismantling the super-successful One Ocean Exploration Zone during the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover. One of the exhibits included the US Sailing Reach Initiative (more below).

While different in scope and approach, both programs create smiles, environmental ambassadors and kids in tune with the sciences via hand’s ON (the tiller) and hands IN (the water) programs tied directly to their respective accredited classroom studies. These are not field trips; they are legit school days aboard classrooms that tack and gybe!

The last day of Spring ’18 SSL classes on Clipper Cove was May 21st, Ms. Roach’s McKinely Elementary class studied Ecology of the Bay. Many topics were covered (experienced !) as shown in the photos below!

“Ms Pilar” leads the class in a game of “Ecology – air, food and housing” before delivering a chalk talk and gets into explaining the use of histograms. Did someone mention data creation, sampling and analysis?

Identifying male/female crabs is part of the day’s study.

Workbooks, along with lesson plans to go with them, are provided by TISC in advance of SSL classes and are kept by the kids for post-trip follow-up.

Observations often require watching closely.

Set sail learn classes are taught in two groups. One in the learning center and one on Clipper Cove. The kids switch after lunch.

Safety first on the water begins with lifejackets.

Clipper Cove is bounded on three sides by land and protected from the strong San Francisco Bay wind and waves by a causeway that connects Treasure Island to Yerba Buena Island. A perfect environment (the only one like it in all of San Francisco Bay) for learning about ecology, wind power and marine history.

Kids smiles on the water don’t need much explanation. On Clipper Cove students sail either J/24’s on windy days or RS Ventures on gentler days.

6,172 SSL students have attended SSL classes at TISC since its inception in the Fall of 2013. Kudos to St. Francis Sailing Foundation for their on-going support beginning in October, 2015 ( read more about their grant HERE).

During this most recent Spring 2018 session, 646 children from 17 schools attended 28 classes, mixing time in our learning center with on-the-water sailing.

Transcontinental STEM – for sure, with programs from east coast to west coast and thanks to US Sailing a couple dozen in between.

Transformational – yes again. Here’s one recent story about conquering fears: “The Power of the Wind ? – – – Life Changing“.

And many more from kids themselves “I am crabby, day had to end”, “Best field trip ever”, “On a scale from 1-10 – 1,000,000”. And from teachers on both coasts who have seen kids living so close to the water in Newport and San Francisco, but were never able to touch the water, feel the wind on their face, and certainly not had the chance to sail – until their experience at Sail Newport or TISC.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G.

In the wake:

You can read about REACH – a USSAILING STEM-based program no underway at dozens of sailing centers across the US to inspire sailing programs and schools to utilize sailing as a teaching platform.

And In case you missed the TISC June newsletter, you can read about it here.

JYC Elementary Smiles Set SSL Milestone On Clipper Cove

Posted on December 19, 2016 by skippersgift

John Yehall Chin Elementary School Students Mark the 4,244 SSL Milestone at TISC

Combine wind, water, sailboats, hands, straws, paper, tape and life-savers with 33 John Yehall Chin Elementary School students. Add seaweed, mix well. Check out the results – smiles, creative seaweed math, and a major SSL Milestone: the 4,244 4th grader on Clipper Cove.

The docks are out and the winds are cool on Clipper Cove these days. As we wind down a year filled with kids smiles and progress on preserving much of the Cove for future generations, we also wanted to share additional smiles and fun times that marked the seventh Set Sail Learn session since we first launched the pilot program for this unique STEM experiential learning program four years ago.

Designed to meet 4th grade California core standards, SSL is a one-day exploration trip incorporating curriculum-aligned science and math learning along with sailing on San Francisco Bay. Teachers can select lesson plans featuring Renewable Energy, Ecology of the Bay or Marine History. The JYC day featured wind energy.

The activity center hosts half the kids for the morning session. It combines a little bit of lecture, with most time spent on interactive discussion, design challenges and of course “finals”.

The challenge – build the fastest (or perhaps “stiffest” in sailing jargon) craft using only paper, life-savers, straws and tape. A great time for thinking, creating, engineering and fun.

Unique wind cars waiting for the start of their first race. And after the start.

Some times the kids “crash and burn” in the activity center. Not that different from learning life lessons (such as self confidence) in our summer session progression program.

Team work is stressed during the design build phase of the competition. Another life skill also learned on the water as well.

Same goes for communications, goal setting and leadership – direct parallels between STEM lessons learned in the SSL activity center and life lessons learned on Clipper Cove.

While half the students are building wind cars, the other half head out to Clipper Cove. RS Venture sailboats are ideal for our “hands-on-the-bay” programs – stable, sporty and roomyClipper Cove always serves up views, water and wildlife. Students, learn and experience directions, scale and mother nature. Never sure who (or what) will swim past or fly by, but something will.

Smiles and “hands-in-the-water” experiences on Clipper Cove are the norm, if you’ve seen our previous SSL Blogs. As a kid on the water, likely for the first time, how can that not be.

This day, however, something new appeared on deck. A “new math” based on seaweed. I didn’t have a chance to interview the creative team directly, so not sure the rules for this new system. Whatever they were, I did sense interest, attentiveness and focus.

Other boats were also exploring this new math.

Here are a few more of the smiles that reflected off the Cove.

And speaking of the cove, some

NASH BRIDGES, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, Serena Scott Thomas, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Jamie Gomez, (Season 1), 1996-2001, © Rysher Entertainment

parents or grandparents may remember Nash Bridges – the detective show back in the day just before TISC was founded – mid-1990’s. Remember these guys?

Even if you do, you may not have known their headquarters was atop the TI administration building. Overlooking both San Francisco Bay and Clipper Cove.

And what a view of the Cove !

At the conclusion of the Fall 2016 SSL session, 4,244 SFUSD students attended 161 Set Sail Learn classes at TISC on Clipper Cove. They represented 35 schools over the last four years. The grant received from St. Francis Sailing Foundation last fall was a game changer for TISC and SFUSD 4th graders. It officially launched the program; enabling the jump from pilot to a fully staffed program that delivers 50+ classes per year – at no charge to the schools.

The StFSF grant funds about half of the classes. TISC raises the other half through public and private grants along with individual donations. Each SSL class costs approximately $1,500. If you are able and inclined to make an investment in the future of our children, please consider making a donation to the TISC annual fund – every donation helps no matter how much you are able to invest. If you act by December 31, 2016 your donations, up to $12,500, will be matched dollar for dollar. You can DONATE HERE.

Regards from On the cove, Dave G

In the wake:

Thanks and a tip-of-the-hat to the parent who took the excellent photos of the “wind racers” in the activity center – much appreciated.

Also – if you are a parent, relative or teacher of a child in Jonathan Cheung’s class and would like to see more photos of their SSL day at TISC on Clipper Cove let us know and we’ll send you a password-protected link to high-res photos with more kids’ smiles. Email: daveg (at) onclippercove (dot) com

Kids Smiles Fill Clipper Cove – TISC Instructors Rock !

Posted on July 18, 2016 by skippersgift

School’s Over. Kids are Smiling. Clipper Cove is doing its thing: developing self confidence, building life skills, creating friendships and introducing Mother Nature to kids from all over the Bay Area. TISC instructors are the catalyst for these magic moments.

June is such a great time on Clipper Cove. And this year there’s so much happening one blog can’t even come close to covering all the action. So we’ll tack away from adaptive and visually impaired sailing, adult keel boat lessons, the SF Social Sailing League and more, to focus on kids smiles. Check out the many ways our instructors interact, support, lead, protect, and encourage. All ingredients for developing self-confidence, self-esteem and SMILES! Most of these photos were taken weeks 2 and 4 – the end of a two week sailing session. Kids are tired, morning winds are often light. Then the afternoon westerly kicks in.

Sun screen is getting lathered on. Boats are getting rigged. Many lessons start with chalk talks.

Then word gets out – Time to Sail ! No more tired kids.

Oooppsss – not much wind. Great – let’s just continue to hang out. Or should I say Raft Up (some day these kids may be the ones who are Hooked on Clipper Cove).

In addition to our youth sailing program we also sponsor outreach programs to get kids out on (and in) the water. Up on Top kids were at TICS also enjoying all that Clipper Cove has to offer.

We tell visitors that you will always see something new when you sail on SF Bay. We can’t predict what it will be, but you WILL see it. Same way with photographing these kids – I never know how they will help us tell our story – teaching life lessons like respect, goal setting, communications & teamwork, self-reliance and leadership through sailing – however they’ve never let me down so far.

Respect is an element of all programs starting with orientation and continuing through 5-step progression program to level V. Goal setting also starts early because kids relate to short-term challenges like “learning to sail backwards” or “recovering from a capsize”.

Communications and teamwork go together on and between sailboats. And paddle boards.

And teamwork is always an easy story to “shoot” because kids just naturally help other kids out on the water. Age, gender, family background just doesn’t seem to matter to happy, often waterlogged, kids.

Many urban sailing centers are located in busy harbors or on open, unprotected waters. Clipper Cove is a unique gem in all of SF Bay (some would say in the world) for learning life lessons through sailing because of its protected location with great winds and little current. At TISC we give kids their own boat, teach them the skills needed to sail it, and let them go.

Yes, it blows hard here most afternoons. We view these as the best learning times for the kids and teaching time for the instructors.

And there are many learning opportunities, often ending in situations where kids “crash and burn”. And then self-rescue themselves – – –

– – – all under the careful watch of TISC instructors, many who learned to sail here on Clipper Cove. And often at the end of the day instructors lend a hand to tired sailors.

Kids love the independence and empowerment offered by sailing their own boat. They build self-reliance and “figure it out”. These skills last a lifetime.

And the combination of protected waters, minimal current and always-close-by instructors provides an ideal learning and confidence-building environment.

Photographing leadership is not so easy. I joked with the instructors about this photo as the more experience sailor “bailed out” then demonstrated goal setting, communications, teamwork and leadership to get cranked up for more sailing. All captured in one visual image.

No way to share the hundreds of Clipper Cove June smiles. Here are a few more. If you are a parent or one of our program associates and would like to see more pictures, please contact the TISC office and they can provide access to password-protected photo folders from two June photo-shoots.

Our 5-level progression program leverages the development of sailing skills along with life skills. You can see the self-confidence shining brightly on Clipper Cove as the breeze picks up and lesson plans move from chalk talks to flat sailing.

More 1:1 time with our instructors.

Here are a few more Up On Top smiles, and an interesting stat why summer programs are so important. Did you know that by high school, 67% of the cumulative achievement gap between middle-class and disadvantaged children can be explained by summer learning loss? Another reason Clipper Cove is such an important San Francisco Gem – the connection between learning to drive an RS Venture and brushing up on math and reading skills during the summer break. And beach time is FUN time!

Blogs have to wrap up just like fun days on Clipper Cove. More teamwork, then time to put our keyboards and rudders away.

And a quick debrief.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

The photos in this blog plus many more are available on line – check with the TISC office for links to password-protected photo folders.

And one final THANK YOU to our rock-star instructor team. Keep smiling, and creating smiles. Your classroom changes every few minutes. Mother Nature is awesome, even when she puffs too hard or not enough. And remember – the kids are always learning and benefiting, even when they’re having too much fun to listen or having a “bad tack” day. You Rock !

TISC Marks Milestone: 3,566 4th Graders on Clipper Cove

Posted on July 3, 2016 by skippersgift

Tenderloin Elementary Class Marks 3566 SSL Students at TISC-IMG_2949-cr

Tenderloin Elementary 4th Graders Mark 3,566 SSL Students at TISC Since 2013 Launch

Treasure Island Sailing Center’s STEM Program for San Francisco elementary students reached a major milestone in May: Over 3,500 Fourth Graders have now learned, explored and sailed on Clipper Cove. The St. Francis Sailing Foundation was a major donor.

In 2013 TISC launched the pilot for a unique, STEM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) experiential learning program called Set Sail Learn. This program, designed to meet 4th grade California core standards, is a one-day exploration trip incorporating curriculum-aligned science and math learning, together with sailing on San Francisco Bay.

Last October the St. Francis Sailing Foundation announced a partnership with TISC to continue the program, providing San Francisco fourth graders with the opportunity for STEM learning while opening the door to San Francisco Bay, sailing and environmental stewardship at no cost to the schools. This StFSF Fall 2015 grant was a major milestone in reaching our Spring 2016 milestone of 3,566 kids through the SSL Program.

While referred to as a “hand on” experience, Set Sail Learn is really a “hands-in” program as you can see from these photos of 4th graders from Tenderloin Elementary School. The sailing part of the program is what makes it unique. And connects the kids to Mother Nature while establishing them as stewards of “their” bay. The action in and around the activity center, however, is also a big part of the lessons. Because no chairs, plenty of physical activity and a highly interactive curriculum makes for fun, memorable learning.

And the lab just outside the door to the activity center is like nothing most of the kids have ever seen or experienced. A true window onto life in, around and below the waters of San Francisco Bay.

It’s no wonder this program has been a huge win for teachers – – -:

“Set Sail Learn engages the different learning modalities of the kids, visual, kinetic, song, dance and sailing.”
“I saw this program touch every part of each of my children. Thank you so much for allowing my native San Franciscans to really experience the Bay.”

– – – and a favorite for kids:

“The best day of my life.”
“I got to steer the boat.”
“I’m crabby, day had to end.”

Another star of the program is Clipper Cove itself. Same rule applies here as with all sailing on SF Bay: “you can never be sure what you’ll see, however you WILL see something swimming, floating or flying that’s a keeper for your memory banks”.

Along with the fish and wildlife, Clipper Cove also serves up curiosity-building views of San Francisco, Yerba Buena Island (its long-time-ago name is HERE), and the new Bay Bridge super-structure.

And boatloads of smiles are always present whenever kids are on Clipper Cove.

Of course a bit of excitement aboard an RS Venture sailboat always goes a long way to score big with 4th graders. In fact a number of SSL graduates have signed up for summer sailing lessons at TISC. Interested? You can find out more and register here.Set Sail Learn Session 5, Spring of 2016, is in the log books; our focus has now turned to summer programs. Teachers interested in registering for the next SSL session can use this Fall 2016 SSL Registration Form.

I’ll wrap up this blog with a few statistics on our Set Sail Learn program and the number of Bay Area residents who sail, kayak and paddle board at TISC on Clipper Cove.

3,566 elementary kids from 31 San Francisco public schools have attended 135 SSL classes since the program was launched in the Fall of 2013. These kids came from all 11 SF school districts.
Last year TISC served approximately 3,800 sailors, kayakers and paddlers. Most from San Francisco, others from all parts of the Bay Area. All walks of life. Nearly 15,000 over last 5 years.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

Here are links to previous Set Sail Learn blogs with more smiles from San Francisco Public School kids.

TISC Marks Milestone: 3,566 4th Graders on Clipper Cove July 3, 2016
Francis Sailing Foundation Grant Launches Set Sail Learn December 13, 2015
I Got to Steer the Boat October 13, 2015
Now THIS is the life ! June 8, 2015
Gordon Lau Elementary Maps SF Bay History April 23, 2015
FSK Students Sail, Play Crab Games On Clipper Cove October 25, 2014
Cleveland and Feinstein Schools on Clipper Cove May 12, 2014
JYC Kids’ Crabby Day at TISC October 13, 2013

TISC Opening Day 2016 Packs Clipper Cove

Posted on May 18, 2016 by skippersgift

TISC Opening Day and Safe Boating Day packed Clipper Cove with 723 excited attendees. Thank you staff, sponsors, volunteers and Mother Nature for providing free sailboat rides & paddling on protected waters, fun, games and free life jackets.

Next week is National Safe Boating week. The Treasure Island Sailing Center hosted its combined Opening Day / Safe Boating Day on April 30th to kick off our season and get a head start on summer safety. And to pass out 140 life jackets plus water safety and boating guides courtesy of California Division of Boating and Waterways

Planning and promotion starts months in advance. Then our trusty army of 50-plus volunteers starts arriving Friday afternoon, early Saturday morning and stay well past closing. Opening day would not be possible without volunteers from the Cal Boating team, the Vanguard 15 racers, Envision Academy Sailing Team (E*A*S*T), TISC tenants who helped with set-up & boat driving, and the local Treasure Island community.

Visitors from all over the Bay Area lined up for the free sailboat, kayak and paddle board rides.

Our fleet of J/24’s, RS Ventures, kayaks and stand up paddle boards were all voted MVP’s of the day.

US Coast Guard Auxiliary answered questions and further stressed safe boating. And passed out the free DBW life jackets.

Talented supporting cast from Glitter in the City and TISC volunteers kept kids of all ages psyched and occupied during the day. Needless to say Peets Coffee in Berkeley and Beauty’s Bagels in Oakland were morning favorites, while Adam’s Grub Truck was the preferred afternoon stop for many hungry sailors.

Clipper Cove is the only venue in San Francisco Bay that can host events like this because of the steady winds, protected space, lack of current and easy water access via docks and ramps.

It’s no wonder nearly 4,000 children, youth and adults sailed or paddled on Clipper Cove last year. This number 1,338 San Francisco 4^th graders who took part in 51 TISC-sponsored hands-on STEM classes plus sailing in RS Ventures during 2015 (since Fall, 2013 SSL inception, TISC has sponsored 3,566 students in 135 classes from 31 SFUSD elementary schools).

On this picture perfect day all areas of the cove provided a fun, safe and protected place to sail and paddle. As ideal and safe as Clipper Cove is for our opening day festivities we still had several safety boats on duty. In a few cases even the light winds lead to a few paddlers “calling for a taxi”.

I didn’t see much traffic to and from the marina, however the boats I did see were careful and respectful of the smaller craft that dotted the cove.

Not everyone was ready for getting out on the Cove, and our team had plenty of fun and games lined up for the future sailors.

Which is not to say kids were left ashore. To the contrary they were focused and engaged in all points of sail (including the very active 2 year-old who triggered our man-overboard drill when he threw his dad’s new hat overboard).

Based on the many phones and cameras I saw, I’m guessing Facebook, Twitter and Instagram had plenty of action from our visitors.

Clipper Cove is a great place to admire the new Bay Bridge.

Hard to see in the above photo, however the eastern area of the cove is very shallow before getting much deeper as you depart the cove and head to the flats. And this bottom bathymetry is exactly what keeps the high currents out of the cove.

So another TISC Opening Day is on the books. Now YOUR family’s fun can begin. Here’s the link with an overview of the many classes offered by Treasure Island Sailing Center: http://tisailing.org/basics.

And as you head out onto California waters this summer, WEAR YOUR LIFEJACKET.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

PS – A special tip-of-the-hat to Valerie Santori and Andrew Shaw for many of the photos in this blog post.

In the wake:

Here are a few more links to the California Division of Boating and Waterway website:

You can find a wide range of useful information on their home page: http://www.dbw.ca.gov
Here is a fun, interactive page your kids can use in the car on the way to their favorite water spot: http://www.dbw.ca.gov/AquaSmart.
This page contains a special kids section including Spanish and English safe boating coloring books: http://www.dbw.ca.gov/AquaSmart/html/kids_activity_books.html

St. Francis Sailing Foundation Grant Launches Set Sail Learn

Posted on December 13, 2015 by skippersgift

Which blog title better says “Thanks!” while delivering kids smiles: “The best day of my life” or “Set Sail Learn – Investing in our Children”? How to choose between two winning teams: Lawton Elementary School and St. Francis Sailing Foundation?

I decided to lead with a big THANK YOU to St. Francis, recap Media Day’s events along with Lawton smiles and end with a few stats on TISC’s banner year. So cool all this took place right here on Clipper Cove. Even cooler – today’s blog makes a nice 2015 wrap-up given Clipper Cove is where we started back in January (Clipper Cove – Our Platform for Smiles and Self-Confidence).

On October 15th Carolyn Patrick, President of the St. Francis Sailing Foundation, announced a significant grant that officially launches TISC’s Set Sail Learn program. This unique and innovative program, first piloted in 2013, serves up core-curriculum STEM classes along with “hands-in” sailing on Clipper Cove. And it will now continue thanks to STFSF.

You can read more about this major grant, the largest in STFSF history here: Press Release STFSF Grant for Set Sail Learn. Details on the Set Sail Learn Program are here: Set Sail Learn Media Day-Fact Sheet.

There were smiles all around when excited kids from Lawton Alternative School showed up for their day at TISC. As with all SSL classes at TISC the kids are split in the morning so half can focus on the curriculum and half can sail. After lunch they switch.

Lawton chose the Renewable Energy curriculum. Whichever course of study is chosen the teacher receives a workbook for review prior to class arrival. All classes work in math and science.

With plenty of time for interactive discussion. So rewarding to see fourth graders so “into” our environment.

Action highlight for this module is always the “windboat” races. Teams of two design and build their craft.

The races are the most fun . . . – – – and exciting !

More smiles as the kids prepare to leave the dock. A majority of SSL students experience their first time on the water here at TISC on Clipper Cove.

Feeling the water as it passes by is always the sailing highlight. All part of creating passionate stewards to help care for San Francisco Bay for decades to come. A true “hands-in” experience for 2,940 SFUSD fourth graders so far.

More smiles from kids sailing out on Clipper Cove. 110 SFUSD classes from 27 schools have participated in SSL to date.

Other key speakers at SSL Media day included Carisa Harris-Adamson Chair of the TISC Board of Directors, V. Fei Tsen Chair of the Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors and Sean Svendsen Commodore of the St. Francis Yacht Club. If only I had recorded the laughs and excited chatter from Clipper Cove that backstopped our dedication speakers.

We never know which guests will join SSL classes, however “someone” always does. On this day the kids saw pelicans and gulls.

Our RS Ventures framed by Clipper Cove with San Francisco in the back ground make a nice segue into our banner year at TISC. Notice the many (do you see all ten) hands in Clipper Cove !

Today’s many smiles added to our 2015 totals:

TISC awarded over $160,000 of scholarships to under-served Youth and Adaptive Sailors
Our team delivered over 25,000 hours of instruction spread over 2,300 class spaces. The break-down of kids attending each segment of our programs was:
- 1338 Set Sail Learn
- 596 Group Orientations
- 123 1 Week Summer Camp
- 167 2 Week Summer Camp
- 87 Adaptive Sailors

“The best day of my life” or “Set Sail Learn – Investing in our Children”? Happiness is being able to have the flexibility and space to use both 🙂

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

As we end 2015 our team is conducting a fund raising drive for 2016 scholarships. Here is the link, and we appreciate all donations no matter how small. Learn More or Donate Now.

Here are links to previous Set Sail Learn blogs with more smiles and lessons learned.

I Got to Steer the Boat October 13, 2015
Now THIS is the life ! June 8, 2015
Gordon Lau Elementary Maps SF Bay History April 23, 2015
FSK Students Sail, Play Crab Games On Clipper Cove October 25, 2014
Cleveland and Feinstein Schools on Clipper Cove May 12, 2014
JYC Kids’ Crabby Day at TISC October 13, 2013

July Smiles On Clipper Cove

Posted on July 29, 2015 by skippersgift

July is a great month for smile creation on Clipper Cove. School is still over the horizon, the skies are bright blue, and afternoon winds fill sails and create smiles.

With three weeks of summer classes to go kids are charged.

And TISC instructors are leading the enthusiastic parade. Mother Nature has been on best behavior (for the most part).Our younger sailors start in Bugs. Classes are structured to focus on goal setting and building confidence from day one. Many kids think capsizing drills are “just the best”.

Classes progress into Opti’s. This is where kids begin to really figure out the winds on Clipper Cove.

Those who have mastered all points of sailing are allowed to venture past the eastern end of the cove between Pier 1 and the new Bay Bridge Tower. Advanced students who sail here benefit from stronger winds and the ability to recognize “tide lines” and learn more about the currents which can be very strong in the deeper water in this area.

Youth sailors utilize our FJ fleet to prepare for regional regattas. This class is also popular with many colleges and we use them for our Envision Academy Sailing Team (E*A*S*T).

No surprise to anyone familiar with youth sailing that fun Friday’s are a big hit with all ages. This is when skills learned during the week get parlayed into games of all types.

As our sailors “mix it up” with each other and in different craft on these free-form Friday afternoons, it’s clear their skills have progressed over the course of their one or two-week sessions. They test the limits of the boats, weave in/around each other with ease and display advanced helmsman-ship.

Self-esteem runs high with confidence not only on the boats but also in and around the water.

Teamwork abounds. As skipper and crew on boats.

During water play on stand-up paddle boards (SUPs to some). Here is a 17 second video of energetic “TISC SUP Dancing on Clipper Cove“. And another of “TISC Kids Dancing on the Beach in their PFDs“.

And working together providing taxi service around Clipper Cove.

Or just figuring out the best way from water to J/24 jumping spot.

Which of course is where one jumps !

The safety and serenity of Clipper Cove is hard to beat no matter how you are paddling around. Even if you flew in for the day.

Blue-sky sunny days also make for fun times in our RS Ventures when powered up with asymmetrical spinnakers. More “high speed” bonding opportunities for instructors and youth.

The new Treasure Island Sailing Center registration page is now on-line. Plenty of time left to sign up for one or more sessions that run through the middle of August.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

Clipper Cove is not just for kids ! Tuesdays and Thursdays are V15 racing nights on the cove. Anyone wishing to try their hand at more advanced levels of sailing can do so here on Clipper Cove.

And there are plenty of opportunities for everyone in the community to enjoy water-play of all kinds here on Clipper Cove. Register here for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.

Clipper Cove can also be a place to relax especially in the morning when the beach is quite and the winds still sleeping.

Gordon Lau Elementary Maps SF Bay History

Posted on April 23, 2015 by skippersgift

Gordon J. Lau Elementary school fourth graders from Chinatown studied canoes, schooners and container ships at TISC on Monday. And mapped SF Bay mystery spots using compasses. Hands-on-the-tiller of a real sailboat created big smiles – no surprise there.

Last year eleven hundred fourth graders from SFUSD spent a Set Sail Learn (SSL) day at Treasure Island Sailing Center. You may have read the stories from Francis Scott Key, Cleveland & Feinstein, and John Yehal Chin schools. By the end of 2015, 3,000 students will have benefited from this unique experiential learning program, selecting a choice of three curriculums: Ecology of the Bay, Maritime History or Alternative Energy.

Half the class spent the morning sailing on Clipper Cove in the shadow of the new Bay Bridge Eastern Span, the other half in our activity center. After lunch, they switched. Teachers love the fact curriculum is provided in advance and each student is given their own workbook.

Those in the activity center studied boats of all sizes and learned how they fit into the Maritime History of San Francisco Bay. Some were tiny, some huge. The container ships in Oakland appeared closer than they really were.

canoe-IMG_5056

tall-ship IMG_5058 Another topic – compass navigation. Students identified five “mystery spots” around the bay, always setting a course from Clipper Cove. For example: Steer a course bearing 320 from Clipper Cove. During the mid-1940’s, when America was involved in World War II against Japan, this was the place where many Japanese people were forced to stay.

Wildlife abounded during the day. The Western Grebe welcomed the morning classes. After lunch sea gulls were constant companions. A seal was also reported.

The kids sailed past a barge bound from Pt. Richmond heading south and watched a trimaran sailing west into Clipper Cove anchorage. Full disclosure: not every future sailor was able to point to each of the five “mystery points” after the morning compass lesson, however 100% were excited to return to Clipper Cove. Our “no kid ever denied sailing lessons” philosophy encourages all SSL students to sign up for one of our summer sessions,

Views from all points of the compass opened up new vistas – majestic cranes, more container ships, San Francisco skyline and the shadowy details of the new Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge. Those with sharp eyes were treated to a view of the Crown Princess in town for the day.

Mentioned here last but always stressed first: SAFETY. Every student in each of the 64 SSL classes to-date has always been briefed on boating safety and equipped with a life jacket on the docks and in the boats. We use J/24 and RS Venture sailboats – safe and ideal for this program.

TISC Launched SSL in 2013 with support from the America’s Cup Organizing Committee and Mayor Ed Lee’s office. The program provides an experiential learning opportunity open to every fourth grader in the San Francisco Unified School District at no charge. Our objective: open a door to the Bay and the world of sailing using hands-on lessons while teaching 4th grade core standards.

Based on the smiles we saw Monday the kids from Gordon Lau Elementary enjoyed the dose of STEM mixed with their hands-in (the water) experience. Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

Hi-resolution downloads of the pictures above – and more – are available for sharing with school representatives and parents. If interested please contact the TISC office.

By the way, thanks and a tip-of-the-cap to our excellent instructors who are vital to the success of the SSL program.

Cleveland and Feinstein Schools On Clipper Cove

Posted on May 12, 2014 by skippersgift

SSLearn is in full swing at TICS. Spring classes started in April and continue through May. Fourth graders from Cleveland School and Dianne Feinstein School each spent a day at Treasure Island Sailing Center recently. Experiential learning looks like fun!

Thanks to the San Francisco America’s Cup Organizing Committee and Citry of San Francisco’s ONESF:Celebrate the Cup program every fourth grader in San Francisco will be able to spend a day on the bay learning about the ecology of the bay and Dungeness crabs, San Francisco maritime history, or renewable energy. And go for a sail at Treasure Island Sailing Center on Clipper Cove!

What makes TISC’s SSLearn experiential learning program unique is the curriculum and how it’s delivered. Each day is split into two parts: inside and outside hands-on activities sharing ideas, learning about bay creatures and history, and reinforcing what’s been learned through open discussion; and time in a sailboat driving, touching the water, grabbing seaweed, and experiencing the effects of wind, tide, currents.

San Francisco Unified School District 4th grade classes are split into two groups for their SSLearn day at TISC. While 15 kids pilot RS Venture sailboats the other group learns about crabs, ecology, math and the environment through open discussions. After lunch they switch.

Our activity center is for learning and exploring; we never refer to it as a classroom. No chairs – sometimes the kids stand for open discussion, other times they’re on the floor listening to group presentations.

Playing “The Oh Crab Population Game” provides a chance for outside “energy burn” while gathering statistics which the kids graph, analyze and discuss. Our ecology curriculum teaches kids about what’s needed to survive, like oxygen, food and shelter.

Kids line up representing either the environment or crabs. With backs turned (OK, some prefer to “peek”) each decides on oxygen (holding nose), food (hands on stomachs) or shelter (hands over heads). A match means more crabs – population increases. If what the crabs decide they need is not available in the environment crabs die and their population decreases.

Each student receives a workbook they fill out and take home with them for post-trip study. Other land-based lessons include, crab finding, compass study, and discussions about rising or falling tides. Our SSL curriculum meets California State Standards; the lesson plans identify how the materials support reading, writing, math, graphing skills, and communication to name a few.

We keep the activity center stocked with pictures and posters from sailing on and around the bay. Reference materials and “eyes on” equipment are also readily available.

Students get to experience the wind and water while in sailboats on Clipper Cove. Some get to steer the boat if they want to. Notice the break in the eastern span of the old Bay Bridge.

While taking pictures I always challenge them with questions about the wind and compass directions -“Point toward Ohio”, or “Which way is West”? By the way, the Golden Gate Bridge is almost perfectly aligned north/ south, and can be seen from most points on Clipper Cove.

When asked “what was your favorite part of the sail?” one student answered “I put my feet in the water.” Others were excited to find “mermaid hair” on the cove and by the dock.

My favorite pictures from these SSL days are the kids smiles – whether on or off the water. Can never be too many of them!

These classes are provided at no charge to SFUSD fourth graders. Bus transportation to/from Treasure Island Sailing Center is also included.

Regards from On Clipper Cove, D-

In the wake:

You can read another post about the John Yehall Chin Elementary School fourth grade kids who attended an SS Learn class at TISC last fall.

Go to the registration page to sign up for the few remaining Spring Classes. If you have questions about the SS LEARN program or would like to register for the Fall 2014 session send an email to programs@tisailing.org.

You can also download a brochure with more information about SS Learn at TISC.

Opening Day: Sails, Paddles and Smiles On Clipper Cove

Posted on April 30, 2014 by skippersgift

Saturday’s Opening Day Featured blue skies, steady winds, eight sails, a bunch of kayaks & paddleboards, and hundreds of smiles. Our supportive volunteer force worked Wednesday through Saturday. Kudos to our TISC team for a job well done!

Opening day was combined with Safe Boating Day this year. The rain on Friday was unusual however the Cal Sailing Team showed up to finish the set up anyway, then returned first thing Saturday to make sure all was ready and greet visitors. No way this event happens without their dedicated support.

Parents and students also turned out in force to help set up and manage beach logistics. It was great to see them having fun while giving back. Thanks also to the Life Learning Academy volunteers.

There are many, many, many moving parts to opening day. Some happen in real time, some must be ready days, weeks or months in advance. Madison Gattis, our Director of Operations, has been on this since the beginning of the year.

Once the day started Chris Childers, our Programs Director, oversaw the boats, dock workers and hundreds of guests on Clipper Cove. New this year was the use of the west beach for the water toys with launches transporting guests to/from the docks to the beach.

Annie Butts, our Head Instructor, had her hands full with driving, coordinating crash boats and answering lots of volunteer questions. Thanks also for her many hours of boat prep prior to the event.

Staging the paddleboards and kayaks at the beach and using launches to ferry people to and from was a great idea. This plan provided a completely separate venue and afforded a different view and experience for non-sailors. Not everyone came to sail, yet everyone enjoyed being on Clipper Cove. Here again, volunteers were in place to help ensure safety.

The old Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge is being deconstructed. You can see the initial gap which will continue to widen over time.

The highlights of the day were the huge smiles, compliments, high-fives and sincere thanks from the many guests (we stopped counting sometime after 500) who attended Opening Day 2014. Some were repeats from last year; many were new to Clipper Cove and wanted to bring their families out for awesome time on the water courtesy of Treasure Island Sailing Center.

Four sail boats departed the docks every fifteen minutes from 11:30 until 3pm. Do the math; that’s over 300 opening day sailboat rides. Our volunteers registered all these people, gave them a safety briefing, fitted life jackets and escorted them to and from the docks for embarking and disembarking the five J24s and three RS Ventures. Many thanks to the TI Vanguard and Laser fleets, Cal Sailing, TISC tenants, and Bay Area Association of Disable Sailors for keeping managing the constant flow on the ramps and docks. Special thanks to the V15 and Laser sailers for setting up the tent (and taking it down tomorrow).

Mother Nature favored us with a gorgeous day. Rather windy toward the afternoon, which put an even higher premium on the efforts from Cal Sailing team who helped with dock logistics the entire day. Here are three smiling faces who greeted just about all my guests; this was taken after my last trip – they’re still smiling!

Regards, from On The Cove,

Dave G

In the wake:

Many of the great pictures above, including the first which captured the variety of the day framed by the new Bay Bridge Eastern Section, were courtesy of Valerie Santorini from Golden Gate Yacht Club. She and other GGYC volunteers spent the entire day On Clipper Cove ferrying guests from the dock to the beach while taking great pictures. Thank You Val !!

OnClipperCove

Launching Point for New Horizons

Tag Archives: RS Venture

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Opening Day: Sails, Paddles and Smiles On Clipper Cove