 SAILING
AHOY MATIES! There are three
types of sailing opportunities for girls ages 11 and up who
have at least a Red Cross Level IV swim card or better or
YMCA equivalent, and a GSSJC Safe Boating Test certificate
can attend. The three types offered by the GSSJC Sailing Program
are Mariner weekends, Instruction weekends (including Aquatic
weekends) and the Just Add Wind and Sails (JAWS) weekends!
Adults are always needed to help at any of the weekends, contact
the event leader to volunteer! |
| Just Add Wind and Sails (JAWS)
weekends are designed for girls who meet the above swim and
age requirements with no previous sailing experience or ratings
a chance to sail at Camp Casa Mare on Sunfish sailboats and
on camp sloops skippered by Mariners (girls who have earned
their ARC Basic Sailing, GSSJC Seaman, or ARC Small Craft Safety-Sailing
Rating or above). Mariners may earn service hours for ratings
advancements by signing up for these weekends. Girls (non Mariners
or Mariners) may individually sign up for any JAWS weekend by
sending the proper information and fees ($20) to the event registrar
on a first come, first placed policy. The cost includes two
nights at camp, five meals, and sailing on Saturday and Sunday
morning, weather permitting. This is an individual event so
all girls must register independently, not as a troop. Check
the schedule in The Golden Link for dates and specifics and
who to contact for further information and who to send the registration
information, proper fees, and copies of all your certifications
(swimming and sailing). |
Instruction and Aquatic Weekends are for
girls and adults with the proper prerequisites to take classes
to learn how to sail or to enhance their sailing abilities on
the Sunfish sailboats, camp sloops, or off Council based keeled
sloops. Classes are also offered in lifeguard training, first
aid & CPR, babysitting, canoeing and a host of other water
related activities at the August Aquatic weekends. If you want
to learn how to sail and become a Mariner, the first class you
need to take is the Basic Sailing class held several times a
year for girls and for those adults wishing to help volunteer
with the sailing program. It is suggested that the girls participate
in a JAWS weekend to see what sailing is like. Additional ratings
for enhancing sailing skills are also offered several times
a year. Resident camp also offers opportunities during the General
Sail, Mates, and Seafarers sessions to obtain the basic sailing
certificate as well as the enhanced ratings. Check the January
and April Golden Links for course offerings, dates, and prerequisites
for the spring and fall sailing season. Check the resident camp
brochure for the summer camp offerings. Use the program registration
form found in The Golden Link, and send the completed form along
with the proper fees to the Council registrar. Bring copies
of all your certifications, prerequisites, permission slips,
and medical forms with you to camp. Do not send them to the
Girl Scout Center. For more information contact Nicole McInnes
at nmcinnes@sjgs.org or 713-292-0353.
Mariner weekends are for those girls who
have earned an ARC Basic Sailing certificate or an ARC Small
Craft Safety-Sailing certificate or GSSJC Seaman rating or
higher ratings. Activities on these weekends center around
sailing for fun but also include events like Mariner Dinner
Theatre, Mariner meetings, and a host of other activities
designed by the girls. Only girls who have obtained the “Mariner”
rating may attend these weekends. Check The Golden Link for
dates and specifics of the various weekends. The cost is $20
for the weekend. The girls need to use the program registration
found in The Golden Link and send it in to the Council registrar
with the proper fees. Be sure to BRING your certifications,
permission slips, and medical forms with you to camp. (Do
not send them to the Girl Scout Center.) For more information
about Mariner weekends, contact the Program Department at
713-292-0300. |