Milwaukee’s calling card, Lake Michigan is the anchor of our region’s “Fresh Coast.” At 307 miles long and 118 miles wide, with a surface area of 22,400 square miles, Lake Michigan is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world. Yet, there are at-risk urban teenagers and children and adults with disabilities who have never walked along Lake Michigan’s shores, nor taken advantage of the lessons this mighty Michi Gami can teach.

MCSC’s outreach programs, designed for at-risk urban teenagers and children and adults with disabilities, enables this underserved population to take ownership of one of the world’s greatest natural resources – Lake Michigan -- resulting in hope, awe and inspiration.

Far too many of Milwaukee’s youth engage in risk behaviors. For far too many, leisure time is spent watching television, playing video games, or worse yet, engaging in sexual activity and/or drug and alcohol use. And we all know that many of Milwaukee’s central city young people think violence is problem-solving. Many things need to be done to stem the tide of failure in school and in life for these valuable young people. MCSC works with a number of community programs, i.e. Boys & Girls Clubs, the Ys, Teen Approach, Pearls for Teen Girls, etc., to give all children access to experiences necessary for them to lead healthy, caring, responsible and productive lives.

MCSC stabilizes youth and helps them realize their hidden talents and conquer their fears and doubts. Much of MCSC’s purpose is to engage the lives of children ages 8-17 years old in unique learning experiences through innovative programs to build character and promote a healthy spirit, mind and body. Sailing and Lake Michigan experiences are often part of the summer of children from more comfortable backgrounds, however our outreach programs are aimed at urban, working class and minority youth to help close the socio-economic gap. Peer-group and adult staff are highly-trained and nurturing.

ADAPTIVE SAILING: This program is designed for children and adults with disabilities. “Curbs and stairs may hold me back, but wind and water moves me forward.” MCSC’s Adaptive Sailing Program provides opportunities for a segment of the population who have traditionally been excluded from lakefront activities, and who have probably never been on a sailboat. A new $180,000+ adaptive accessible floating dock has been installed, complete with hydraulic lifts to enable people who use wheelchairs to be easily and comfortably lifted into boats. The Christopher Reeve Foundation provided MCSC with a Quality of Life Grant in 2006. MCSC was one of just two Wisconsin-based organizations to receive this recognition from CRF.

LEARNING.BUILDING.SAILING. Aimed at teens 12-17. This comprehensive boat-building weekend program is a “mini” outward-bound concept for at-risk youth and their mentors. Together participants build a seaworthy boat, learning self-reliance, teamwork and initiative along the way. In 2007 MCSC will host its first all-female Learning.Building.Sailing.

MAST (Milwaukee Area Sailing Teens): Aimed at teens ages 12-17 . MCSC collaborates with area nonprofit social service agencies (Boys and Girls Club, Neighborhood House, YMCA, Milwaukee County Executive Office for Persons with Disabilities, etc.) to provide inner city and other disadvantaged at-risk children and youth with the opportunity to use the lessons of sailing to impact their futures. Using sailing as a tool, these students develop basic living skills such as decision-making, teamwork, critical thinking and on-the-spot-problem-solving. In addition, learning to sail helps build self-esteem and self-confidence. Students also learn about water safety; how wind and weather affects sailing skills and, of course, also develop a sincere appreciation for Lake Michigan.

MAST 101 This All New academic component of MCSC programs will help teach Math and Science Standards to Milwaukee’s ninth and tenth graders, using sailing as a tool to excite, interest and motivate them.

MAST 101 – The Expedition - We partnered with The Academy of Learning & Leadership, a K-8 City CharteredOutward Bound school to provide a class of 22 sixth graders an experience of a lifetime. Their teacher and MCSC staff have created a Sailing Expedition Curriculum for the 2006-2007 academic year. This inclusion expeditionary learning curriculum addresses math, science, reading, social studies (civics) and physical education, all built around sailing.

PRAMS IN THE PARK Since the early 1980s, the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center (MCSC) has provided a unique and successful early-water education program, PRAMS In The Park, for youngsters ages 8 through 11. More than 50% of the children come from low-income families and participate at no-charge. ( US Sailing, the governing body of sailing in the United States lauded MCSC’s innovative PRAMS program with a Certificate of Merit.) In season 2007, in addition to the lagoon off the Summerfest grounds, MCSC will also operate its PRAMS program from the pier at Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin. From these locations MCSC will serve nearly 350, eight to 12 year old children during the nine-week sailing season; nearly three times the number of eight to 12 year olds served in 2006.

SAILL. The all-new Milwaukee Community Sailing Center (MCSC) program being introduced in early 2008 is designed to help prepare at-risk youth for life; teaching them how to make the best decisions for their physical, financial and spiritual health and well-being. The SAILL program addresses the need to enrich the lives of at-risk central city young people; prepare them for productive adulthood, and to provide them worthwhile and wholesome full time summer employment.

SAILL’s aim is to identify interested at-risk urban kids, ages 16-18, and use the sailboat as the platform to teach essential life skills including leadership, self-confidence, self-reliance, teamwork and motivation.

• Workforce and life development skills such as effective communication; how to make a presentation and how to motivate are all part of the SAILL curriculum.
• In addition, water safety and first aid certifications will be earned.
• Those identified students who possess the motivation and interest to be part of this program, but can’t swim, will be taught how!
• And, of course, this nine week curriculum will include sailing. At the end of the program those who earn the US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Certification are guaranteed a summer job for as many summers as they wish.

Participants will be from low income families, so during the SAILL program MCSC will pay students a stipend and provide lunch every day.

Sailing Lessons and Classes: Classes are available in basic, intermediate and advanced courses for youth and adults. Many young students participate on a scholarship basis and once certified, the MCSC fleet is available for use on a first-come, first-served basis. Many of our MAST students become certified and are hired as MCSC seasonal employees. (In season 2007, five former MAST scholarship students will be employed for the summer).

Open Sailing: Available seven days a week on a variety of sailboats