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
- 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