ABLE To Sail Youth Empowerment Camp

Categories

• Outdoor Adventure & Activities

Ages

• 12-18

From the Camp - Sponsored

Learn to SAIL. Learn Self-Esteem. Learn to Navigate Youth. Also featuring 2 LGBTQIA+ specific camp weeks! Learn the basics of sailing: parts of the boat, rigging, capsize recovery, boat handling, tacking, jibing, and points of sail. Sailing then serves as the foundation on which we teach Self-Esteem. We actually TEACH self-esteem. We don’t hope they’ll get it, we TEACH IT. Self esteem is a skill, like sailing, which can be learned, and in teen culture today, we MUST BE TEACHING! We do just that! We bookend the day and use that pesky “no-wind” time to empower our youth by talking about how applying the metaphors of each sailing lesson can change the negative mental chatter so prevalent in teen thinking today, to help them navigate the stormy seas of youth, and inspire them into their greatest-yet-to-be!

Based on pre- and post- surveys, our sailors report a 246% increase in pride, self-esteem, and belief in their place in the world. As well, 9 out 10 rated their experience as “XXXLOVED IT!” It’s serious, it’s FUN – It’s seriously fun! You’ll have so much fun, you won’t even realize you’re changing! Self-esteem is but a collection of thoughts / beliefs about oneself, mostly negative in teens today. We break down thought patterns, and help youth rebuild the way they think in a more positive way.
Panful BELIEFS seek pain RELIEF. Beliefs such as “I’m not good enough, I don’t belong, I’m a failure, there’s something wrong with me – as well as, I have to perfect, cause pain and like physical pain, seeks medication, i.e. like Drugs, Alcohol, self-harm. Isolationism, excessive ‘screen-time, and suicidal Ideations. When we help them start to change their painful beliefs, the behavior can fall away, as there is nothing painful left to medicate. We believe every kid is an “at-risk kid,” until they address their, often private, internal belief systems of “not-enoughness.” And it’s a BLAST! ABLE To Sail received US Sailing’s award for “Outstanding Innovations In Programming,” a national award recognizing 1 organization every 4 years!

LGBTQIA+ Camps
We support LGBTQIA+ youth in finding belonging, dealing with bullying, and supporting their courageous choice to be who they truly are in an inspiring, fun, and empowering way! LGBTQIA+ youth, understandably, rate the highest in engaging in high-risk behaviors. Our Exec Director and lead instructor is “L,” so we understand – and we can help them walk their path with ease and grace! Identity and self-esteem go hand in hand and challenges run deeper, thus these are 5 day camps. As well, the need for community/peer support is paramount as LGBTQIA+ kids enter their 20’s, so we have adjusted the age limit to reflect this.

“Classic Camps”
4-Day day camp
Monday – Thursday 10:00 – 4:00
Various weeks June – August
Ages 12 – 18

“LGBTQIA+ Camps”
5 Day day camps
Monday – Friday 10:00 – 4:00
July 10 – 14
July 31 – August 4
Ages 12 – 20