RobbieB
Super Anarchist
How about something a little uplifting for a change? To me it's clear USS is suffering. Theories abound but instead of getting caught up in this "failure" how about just moving on in our own little worlds and hep'ing where we can? In the 5 years I was involved as ILCA D12 Secretary we enjoyed great success and I never had one interaction with a US Sailing representative, (However, nearly ALL of the RC at our events and many area coaches came through US Sailing training which is I feel was/is a success at USS). My theory is we can focus on our own little worlds to bring on change. Little by little these little worlds grow and could eventually collide as they merge at regional regatta events.
This past week I was asked to conduct an onshore educational segment to support a STEM based "Simple Machines" curriculum being taught at a local school. The goal was to help kids understand "Simple Machines" concepts, (levers, pullies, wedges and the like). My wife teaches there. Her co-workers are well aware of my sailing hi-jinks. When the lower school teacher reached out to me my initial thought was, "Sure, I'll do it. Just drag the ILCA down and let kids crawl on it for an hour and go home." The day before the event it hit me that I could possibly, maybe, actually influence someone with this "gig". So, I thought about a talk track. Decided to take an Opti and ILCA, (showing progression opportunities as kids grow and bigger boats to support bigger bodies/STEM).
I also put together a handout, (which I instructed teachers to put in the kids daily "take home folder") that listed ALL of the area summer camp sailing programs with websites and my contact info for questions.
Over 2 hours we rolled through 5 classes, (3 Kindergarten, 2 - 3rd grade) and 65 kids. Being held in the "quad" we had a lot of visitors drop by during class changes and such. To my surprise the kids were really engaged. They asked great questions and attention spans.
It really took very little effort. This could be a program every area community sailing program could do in the spring. Particularly for minority school programs. Like a mini boat show. Set up an Opti, ILCA and 420. Who knows, maybe more than one minority HS sailing team could come out of it. Maybe this is already happening in other areas?
This past week I was asked to conduct an onshore educational segment to support a STEM based "Simple Machines" curriculum being taught at a local school. The goal was to help kids understand "Simple Machines" concepts, (levers, pullies, wedges and the like). My wife teaches there. Her co-workers are well aware of my sailing hi-jinks. When the lower school teacher reached out to me my initial thought was, "Sure, I'll do it. Just drag the ILCA down and let kids crawl on it for an hour and go home." The day before the event it hit me that I could possibly, maybe, actually influence someone with this "gig". So, I thought about a talk track. Decided to take an Opti and ILCA, (showing progression opportunities as kids grow and bigger boats to support bigger bodies/STEM).
I also put together a handout, (which I instructed teachers to put in the kids daily "take home folder") that listed ALL of the area summer camp sailing programs with websites and my contact info for questions.
Over 2 hours we rolled through 5 classes, (3 Kindergarten, 2 - 3rd grade) and 65 kids. Being held in the "quad" we had a lot of visitors drop by during class changes and such. To my surprise the kids were really engaged. They asked great questions and attention spans.
It really took very little effort. This could be a program every area community sailing program could do in the spring. Particularly for minority school programs. Like a mini boat show. Set up an Opti, ILCA and 420. Who knows, maybe more than one minority HS sailing team could come out of it. Maybe this is already happening in other areas?
