A free three-month workshop hosted by the Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) starts January 11, 2020, and is a great opportunity for young boaters 8-12 years old. Classes are held on Saturdays from January through March at the Great Lakes Discovery Center campus in Traverse City, Michigan.
Two opti-pram sailboats will be built by students and professional instructors, as well as trained volunteers. Students who complete the workshop will receive a scholarship through the Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS) for a class that teaches them how to sail the boat they built.
“These programs are one of the ways we create a love of the lakes, and hopefully future stewards,” says Fred Sitkins, executive director of ISEA. “There is something about using a vessel that you built that makes you want to preserve the body of water so you can continue to be on it. The one-on-one attention that students receive, along with the teamwork learned, during these workshops also benefit the students who participate.”
Although the workshop is free, registration is required and is limited to 10 students. To learn more, visit schoolship.org.
Photo courtesy of GeoKs/Flickr.
