TISC & BAADS Launch First Co-Able Summer Camp

Pairing kids with and without disabilities at summer camp – not new.  Launching co-able kids in boats on San Francisco Bay – requires speciall skills and planning.  TISC and BAADS partnered to launch the first camp.  Spots remain for the last session.

two hansasWe mentioned the first-ever Co-Able Sailing Camp in a previous blog.  The concept is simple: teach sailing to interested kids by pairing disabled and non-disabled youth who can learn together and support each other.

To launch this program the Bay Area Association of Disable Sailors provided the accessable dock space, safety boats and Hansa dinghies.  Treasure Island Sailing Center provided two US Sailing Certified instructors and the curriculum for the one-week session.

The Hansa 303 dinghies are unique.  Then enable two sailors to sit side-by-side with either being able to steer the boat or trim the sails.  Safe, ideal boats for these co-able sessions.

co-able smiles with MM

Mary Margaret SupervisesThe objective of the camp was to teach kids how to sail so they could safely navigate the area between Pier 40 and McCovey Cove safely in a sloop-rigged sailboat. One instructor was close-by in a safety boat at all times. Classes started at 9:00, broke for lunch at noon then sailed in the afternoon until 2:00 pm.  Lunch was either sandwiches on the dock or (kids favorite BY FAR) pizza delivered to the 3rd street bridge across from China Park.

Connor Fly By - 1
In some cases one instructor joined the kids to demonstrate the capabilities of the Hansa 303 dinghy.  As these pictures taken from the safety boat show, the instructors had a great time teaching life lessons through sailing these Hansa dinghies next to the students.
Connor Fly By -2
Connor Fly By -3
As was always the case, a safety boat was nearby when the kids were on the water.  Of the water class topics included tides, currents, nautical terminology and rules of the road.Co-Able Kids  by safety boat

Here are additional pictures taken during the week-long session, showing off smiles as well as formation sailing. windward leewardBAADS and Java HouseAt the time this blog was published there were a couple of spots remaining in the last 2014 session (for 12-18 year olds) which will run from August 4-8 .  Additional details and a downloadable registration form are located HERE.  Please contact Chris Childers at the TISC office (Phone: 415.421.2225; Email: Programs@tisailing.org) if you have questions. While there is no charge for the classes there is a required $25 deposit refundable at the end of the session.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to TISC instructors Connor Vliet and Mary Margaret Clawson for running the first session and providing the pictures in this blog.  And to the kids who joined us for this first-ever Co-Able Summer Camp Session!  Co-Able Kids at Pier 40

Regards, from On (McCovey) Cove and the ADA accessible BAADS dock at Pier 40,

Dave G

37 Sailing Superlatives from Huckleberry

Huckleberry Outreach SailConnect a TISC instructor, one motivated volunteer and 11 Huckleberry Wellness Academy students with J/24′s on Clipper Cove and you get 37 Sailing Superlatives! Here’s what the kids had to say, and how you can share your passion for sailing.

The Huckleberry Wellness Academy – San Francisco is an intensive three-year health career pipeline program that fosters interest and engagement in health-related professions. It’s primarily funded by a grant from San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth, and their Families, one of our partners.

We asked the Huckleberry students for a “one liner”  to describe their June 26th afternoon sail with us.  Below is what they had to say, interspersed with pictures from the day.Bow Happy

“I am a Huckleberry student and I had never gone sailing before, but it was amazing! Feeling the breeze and being controlled. It was really fun and I do hope to come back again. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I had a blast!” – Yasmin two j24s in open water

“It was a great experience. Probably one of the best experiences ever. I am going to buy a boat now.” – Wayland        Three smiles

“Fun, exciting, amazing, awesome, fascinating, and peaceful. It was a nice first time sailing experience. I’m definitely looking forward to sailing again!” – Wendy three smiles fwd of mast“The sailing trip was memorable, exciting, lovely, amazing, crazy and mostly fun. I had lots of fun and hopefully in the future, I’ll be able to go sailing again.” – Emely two j24 framed by breakwall

“Thanks for the awesome sailing experience! I’ve had tons of fun and learned a little on how to steer/sail a boat.” – Benton tioga with six

“I really had a great time. I enjoyed myself a lot. It was a total different experience being in such a peaceful place rather than the chaotic streets of San Francisco.” – Alex Sonya plus five“It was fun and an amazing experience. I enjoyed sailing.” – Luisapeacock watching wave  “If you haven’t sailed before you should. You can’t have the same experience elsewhere.” – Vinsonsmiles and salute

“It was fun, exhilarating, one of a kind experience, great close up view of sea lions, breathtaking experience steering the sail boat, and an amazing way to bond with others.” – Edgarsmile under the boom

“It was an amazing experience. We had loads of fun and you feel fab! It’s fantastic and awesome. I encourage everyone to go sailing – and the people were friendly.” – JudySonya Driving

Teaching life lessons through sailing is a great mission loved by everyone here at Treasure Island Sailing Center.  Our programs provide opportunities for 4th graders, make a difference for youth who sail here, and benefit tenants who call TISC home port.  Our 2014 instructors, including Sonya above, are experienced sailors and savvy teachers.

We couldn’t do what we do without the volunteers who help maintain our docks and facilities, support our many events and share their love of the water and the lessons they’ve learned with the kids, youth and adults who sail here.  Tioga, green shirt below, donated his afternoon with the Huckleberry youth on Clipper Cove and out on the bay.  These first-generation college bound students now understand a bit about the wind, sails, tides and how to steer courtesy of his passion and experiece.TiogaI encourage every tenant who can sail during the week, or on weekends when we host visually impaired sailors, to call Chris Childers in the TISC office and schedule time for on-the-water passion sharing.  I can’t think of a better way for you to meet the volunteer hours called for as part of your boat storage agreement with TISC.  And face it, no one has ever had a bad day on the bay while providing a launching point for new horizons for kids and youth !

Regards from On The Cove, D-

In the wake:

This is the first time I had to use a spreadsheet to track all the flowery adjectives and adverbs used to describe and outreach class.  Here’s the list of 37 sailing superlatives (OK, only 32 if you’re an english teacher however 44 if you add “sailing”)  I mentioned above:

Amazing (5), awesome (3), breathtaking (1), enjoyed (2), exciting (2), exhilarating (1), fab (1), fantastic (1), fascinating (1), first (1), friendly (1), fun (7), future (1), great (3), learned (1), lovely (1), memorable (1), nice (1), opportunity (1), peaceful (2)