August 2009

In this issue:

For a Stronger Community ....Just Add Water
WAVES: A cool relief amidst the summer heat
Fall Programs for your School or Youth Group
BLOG: Campers Race in the Regatta for Lake Champlain
Stand Up for the Lake Event
Community Sailing Center Feedback

For a Stronger Community...Just Add Water

Get Involved!

Pick up a Seven Days this week and check out the center spread in Section A! Thanks to our friends at Seven Days for helping spread the word about the important work we do for the community. Look for these great promotional posters around town!



Join in on the fun or support everything we do by getting to know us at www.communitysailingcenter.org or call 864-2499.

WAVES: A cool relief amidst the summer heat

Water. Access. Vitality. Education. Stewardship.

As our new environmental education initiative unfolds we have discovered many members of our community involved in the conservation of Lake Champlain. This week Mike Rapacz, the Lakekeeper for the Conservation Law Foundation conducted our weekly WAVES seminar. As students sought relief from the sun, Mike gave a short talk about pollution in the lake, phosphorus levels, and algal blooms. In addition to discussing the prominent threats to the health of the lake, Mike also engaged the kids in a fun trivia game that focused on geological and historical facts about Lake Champlain. Before lunch was through kids knew how many islands are in Lake Champlain, how wide it is, and even how old Champ is!

To find out more about WAVES, our new environment education initiative - click here.

Fall Programs for your School or Youth Group

Broaden Your Horizons!

Just as the sun begins to shine more consistently down here at the waterfront we are already looking towards to fall months. Even though it's August we are optimistic that we'll see the sun much more in the coming months! This fall we have excellent opportunities for anyone and everyone. Whether your school would like to do a field trip in order to study lake ecology and recreate on the water or your after-school program is looking for a new enrichment class, the Sailing Center is the place to be.
We are offering :

• Community-wide High School Sailing Team
• Youth Environmental Stewardship Program
• LeaderSHIP program
• Sailing and Paddling Programs
• History, Science or Math centered field trips

Now is the time to start planning for the fall. If you have any questions or would like to book a program please contact Jen Guimaraes, Education Director.

BLOG: Campers Race in the Regatta for Lake Champlain

By: Lucas Campbell, Instructor

As the race was starting everyone was in good spirits and very excited. When the first horn went off all of the kids with watches started their timers to make sure we didn't miss our start. As we waited we made a lot of tacks so that the kids could get use to using the new gear on the boat, like the winches.

Once the race started and everyone settled in to the groove, it really started to get fun for me. I remember when we first put up the spinnaker we were on a reach and everyone was feeling the power it brought to the boat. The crew just started to go "ohhh this is so cool!" and "I love the spinnaker." One student, Lucie, said to me, "So this is why you kept trying to get us to do this," which made me laugh. Everyone was having a great time. I remember all the kids were very impressed with the bathroom on the boat...

To read more about Lucas's adventure check out the CSC Staff BLOG

For pictures of the campers racing, click here and for more pictures from the Regatta for Lake Champlain, click here.

Stand Up for the Lake Event

Mark Your Calendars!

Presented by: Stormboarding and the Community Sailing Center

A fun and friendly Stand up Paddleboard Competition and Community Block Party to promote sustainable living and lake-based environmental education.

The Date
Saturday, September 26th

The Event
Stand UP for the Lake will promote the CSC's WAVES initiative and living sustainably with clean, green renewable energy. A fun and friendly stand up paddleboard competition will occur on the water while on land we will be celebrating with a community block party chock full of activities, a barbecue, music, drinks, a dance party, and an award ceremony.

Start time
First race and block party start at 3pm.

Teams of 3 – any age, any gender, must be willing to have fun!

Events
3 different types of races and a freestyle session at the end.

Divisions
All men, All women, Mixed gender team, Youth team (under 18), College team (must be current student), Mom team Dad Team, First-time Paddlers Team.

Prizes
Prizes will be given out to winners in each category as well as for the freestyle event plus additional prizes for the most money raised, and other categories at Stormboarding and CSC's discretion (best style, happiest team, best dressed…). That's a lot of prizes!

Experience
No stand up paddleboard experience is required.

How can I get involved?
Enter a Team! Become a Sponsor! Attend the Event!

Call Kate Neubauer at 802-864-2499 or email her at kate@communitysailingcenter.org to chat about additional opportunities.

Community Sailing Center Feedback

We Want to Hear From You!

Have an idea for a great program? Know of a organization we should work with? Have comments for our staff?

The Community Sailing Center is always looking for ways we can improve and is actively looking for additional opportunities to work with the community. We welcome your ideas and comments about our programs.

Click here to send us your ideas/feedback.

Want to take a more active role in a grassroots organization? We are looking for a few community-minded, committed individuals to join our Board of Directors this Fall. Come talk with Kate Neubauer, Executive Director about how you can get involved.

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