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Youth Camps & Scholastic Programs

Afterguard Sailing Foundation

Youth Small and Keelboat Classes with Afterguard

 

In fall Afterguard has held a long standing committment to work with the Alternative OUSD high school Oakland Street Academy. This year the Math and Science teacher who has brought students to us is taking the fall trimester off to be an at home Dad. The year will be interesting. More to follow.

 

NON YELLING PROGRAMS:

Spring break and Summer Sailing Camps include:

 

Intro to Small Boat Sailing aka ASA 110: Small Boat:: Small boats and keelboats are very different. Learn in a boat where only your ability to harness the power of the wind will propell you. Working with a partner use your weight to keep the boat upright, or not, and make it go fast! Great fun in the hot month of August. Adult and Child teams OK.

 

Cruising on Small Boats: new program that ventures afar gaining ground each day. Sail the Estuary, Sail to San Leandro, Sail to and spend the night at Treasure Island over the course of a week.

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Intro to Keelboat: Students, 7 to 17, learn to run a 23 ft boat in every aspect of sailing: get away from the dock, raise sails and sail in the flat waters of the Oakland Estuary. Learn what to do when the wind gets strong, rules and safety drills including how to pick up a person in the water

 

Bay Explorers: pre-req: Intro to Keelboat Sail. This program sails then drives to different points of interest around the San Francisco Bay and learn about the Bay's rich history and continuing impact as one of the nations largest active ports. The last two days of this course they camp aboard a boat as a very fun adventure - sail to Angle Island, moor at the island and spend the night on the boat.

Youth can become ASA certified to rent boats on their own. Lake Merritt and our small boats are available after they have attained certifications. 

 

We work with small groups. We ais students to learn to stand tall and take on the mantle of responsibility when in charge of a boat. They learn to cooperate as and direct other crew as they work to become skippers. Students can take a week clinic in summer more than once and progress in position.

 

They develop a new set of critical choice skills including constant awareness of their surroundings. We make them water safe during the small boat fall series. These new skills collectively make an impact on their school and social lives for years to come.

 

Among the comments of our young students, one of their most amazing experiences is the friendliness of people on the water. Without hesitation, other boaters wave at them. Being accepted and welcomed by the boating community brings full face grins for many students.

Scholastic - Afterguard began non-profit education programs in 2003. In 2006 Afterguard Youth programs added OUSD Street Academy High School providing sailing as an off campus Math and Science support with PE credit over a 40 week - 3 trimester elective series for 9-11th grades. This program continues today and is growing. The classes have grown from 9 students to over 20 per Trimester. It has been an inspiration for change in many young peoples lives plus a carrot to stay in, do well and graduate from High School. Some continue to college. We call it 'Destination Graduation', they just call it Sailing Class.

 

Afterguard organizer Mary SwiftSwan has a history developing new programs for ASA and for youth programs for College, High Schools and youth groups: Mills College, Cal State Monterey Bay, Oakland International High School, Sea Scouts, Boys and Girls Club and Oakland Parks and Rec. Programs can be as short as one day or as long as 40 weeks if held over a scholastic period.

 

 

Contact us if interested in a program for your youth group, high school or college courses.

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