Tall Ship STEM Cruises Complement Lead HER Ship Program

July 28, 2023

by Diane Foote

This July, nearly 300 young people from across the Chicago area who have not had access to many lakefront opportunities took part in a series of programs aboard the tall ship Inland Seas, hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation in partnership with the Inland Seas Education Association. The Foundation is collaborating with the Chicago Yacht Club’s signature sail race, the annual Race to Mackinac, to raise funds to support these programs. The two programs are set around the sailing of the Race. They include: 

  • A series of nine Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)-themed cruises for 30 young people each from July 14 through July 18

  • The Lead HER Ship program, a set of two five-day cruises for nine young women between 14-18 to teach seamanship, Great Lakes ecology, leadership, and teamwork, July 8-12 and July 19-23

In Chicago, many young people don't have regular access to the lake. "Many of these kids have never done this before," said Hector Perez, senior vice president at Union League Boys and Girls Clubs. "This is just a great opportunity for them."

See the action in a video.

Program Director Anabel Hernandez concurred, saying, "For them to be on a sailboat, and really see what it takes to man the sails––and really understand the STEM behind it––that's something we wouldn't be able to provide outside of this partnership." The young participants agreed: “They showed us a bunch of things I never learned before; things I never thought I would learn," said Kaylin Perez, 14. "I learned how to set a sail, how to coil a rope, how to steer, how to navigate.” Ava Voeun, 15, who had participated in the Lead HER Ship cruise previously, said of the STEM cruise: "When Rebecca let me steer the boat, it just really brought back memories. At first, I was unsure, but now I know what to do. You have to be open to new things!" Aiden McKinney, 15, adds: "It was fun to be with everyone. It is cool to learn new things."

Young people from several local organizations participated in these opportunities:

View the full gallery of photos from the STEM cruises.

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