Eric
Emily Zugnoni, ACSC Program Director As a long-time ACSC-er, and a rookie Program Director, my goal for 2018 was to run the same fun, safe, and exciting camp that we all love, while mixing in fresh new material to keep things interesting. With a dedicated instructor team, lots of help from skilled volunteers, and a couple hundred enthusiastic campers, this summer was a huge success! Here were my personal favorite moments from 2018 Summer Camp. 1. Big Boat SF Bay Day Big Boat SF Bay Day is proof that ACSC has THE best volunteers out there. Thanks to big-hearted big boat owners and captain’s license holders, our campers spent a day skippering and crewing on keel boats for the first time! Campers chose destinations using SF Bay charts graciously donated by Waypoint Marine. Most weeks, we learned that the power of SF Bay currents would prevent reaching said destinations, but it’s all about the journey anyway (right?). A huge THANK YOU to: Captain Mitch and Quincey on Esprit qmtravels.com/ Captain Michelle on Blue Passion Captain Kit on Cassiopeia Captain Charlotte E. and Paul M. of Close Quarters 2. Science Fridays with the Golden Gate Audubon Society We know that sailing is all about physics, and as sailors, we have a special connection with the environment. Science Friday, the brainchild of our Lead Instructor and in-house Environmental Science specialist, Jamie, tied the unique relationship between science and sailing together in a more formal way. On Fridays, campers constructed ocean layers out of slime, collected and tested water samples from our cove, and had habitat scavenger hunts on the beach. We were lucky enough to have regular visits from the Golden Gate Audubon Society volunteers, who taught us about the fascinating world of our local feathered friends. With their guidance, our teen campers built monofilament collectors for our boats to protect wildlife from stray fishing line. 3. Western Gull Release with International Bird Rescue This one goes hand-in-hand with Science Fridays. On this particular Thursday, our Golden Gate Audubon Society friend called upon us to help release 10 young Western Gulls back into the wild from the International Bird Rescue. We were more than happy to oblige! Check out the full article at alamedasun.com/news/sailing-students-help-young-birds?utm_source=Unknown+List&utm_campaign=d43d28d306-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_09_05_08_45&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d43d28d306- 4. Touring the Ocean Cleanup Have you heard of the massive trash-collecting device on its way to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Well, our Session 5 campers got to climb in, on, and around the pipe used for that, just weeks before it launched! We sailed into Seaplane Lagoon for lunch, docked at the Saildrone docks, and were welcomed up to The Ocean Cleanup site for a tour and Q&A session. It was awesome. For more info on the project, check out www.theoceancleanup.com/ 5. Cardboard Boat Regattas They’re hilarious. STEAM campers use buoyancy and displacement calculations to engineer vessels made of cardboard and packing tape. True craftsmanship is put to the test once the boats get launched with campers inside. The teams compete for designations like Furthest Travelled, Longest Floating, and Most Rickety. 6. Girls Discover Sailing Camp We’ve been fortunate to partner with Girls Inc. of the Island City for years, and this year we opened that camp to all girls, not just those from Girls Inc. It sold out immediately, and was an absolute blast. One highlight from Girl’s Camp was having special guest, Krysia Pohl, of the USCG, speak to the girls just days before embarking on her Pacific Cup voyage. I suspect some future ocean racing was inspired that day. 7. Graduation Potlucks The camp potluck... a time-tested, camper-approved ACSC tradition. We go from a morning of free-sailing to an afternoon of downing delicious sailboat-themed treats. Lastly, to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance, and while donning their new ACSC t-shirts, campers are each awarded a personalized driftwood trophy. 8. End of Camp BBQ The ACSC Board Members and volunteers stepped up once again to host a fun, relaxing, and yummy day for all of our beloved sailors. With beautiful weather and an ideal breeze, campers showed off their sailing skills to family and friends, and staff members took newbies out for skippered joy rides. In between sharing sea-stories and enjoying BBQ, we had over 160 sailors get out on the water. There couldn’t have been a more delightful end to our fabulous summer sailing season.
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