The Chicago Regatta Funds Six Sailing Camps in 2023
August 17, 2023
by Francesca Sigmond
This past year, the Foundation has grown our sailing camp program from one camp in 2022 for SOS Children's Villages to five in 2023! We are also proud to continue our sponsorship of Jackson Park Yacht Club’s Open Horizons program. We are able to do all of this because of the funding we receive through the Chicago Regatta. We work closely with community partners to design sailing education programs for each one. Some take place at the Chicago Yacht Club's Belmont Station; others take place at a partner's location. Sailing camps are intended to deepen participants' boating experience and knowledge beyond what any one-day event or sail could do. Here's a roundup of the exciting camp programs taking place in summer 2023.
Adventure Boating Camp at Chicago Yacht Club Sailing School
This year the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation hosted three camps at Chicago Yacht Club Sailing School out of Belmont Station. Participants from Union League Boys and Girls Clubs, BUILD Inc., and SOS Children’s Villages enrolled in an Adventure Boating course. Youth learned to sail the Club’s Sonars, engaged in paddle boarding and kayaking, practiced their swimming, and explored Belmont Harbor on a variety of vessels. This summer 32 young sailors took part in adventure boating at Chicago Yacht Club Sailing School.
Sea Scouts Sailing Program
The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation developed a new program that got members of the CYC Sea Scout Ship #5780 out on the Club’s Sonars with a sailing instructor to develop and refine their sailing skills. A total of 12 young sailors participated in this program this summer.
Open Horizons Program at Jackson Park Yacht Club Foundation
The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation is the Platinum Sponsor of the Jackson Park Open Horizons Program. The JPYC Foundation Open Horizons Program is a two-week need-based scholarship sailing camp for children ages 8 through 18. Sailors in the Open Horizons program sailed Bugs, Fevas, and 420s this summer based on their age and skill level. Open Horizons provides scholarships on a sliding scale based on demonstrated need.
Judd’s Sailing Camp at Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation
The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation sponsored Judd’s Sailing Camp, a program designed to introduce youth with disabilities to the sport of sailing. Participants explored the lake in weekly sessions using adaptive sailing equipment developed by Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation.