Play time is over
2 working weeks…
10 days…
90 hours…
55 kids…
But now play time is over…
We did it! We survived another rendition of the holiday program Sail & Play! It sounds draining, and it is, however for the most part it’s extremely rewarding watching these youngesters enjoying the water and gaining confidence in a sailing boat, and on a raft they built with their own hands.
They learn so much from the activities we offer during Sail & Play, especially appreciation for the great outdoors and our backyard that is Moreton Bay. For the entire time they were at the Yacht Squadron, all thoughts of computer games and the latest happenings on the aray of cartoons on offer on Foxtel were all but forgotten. Instead their young innocent minds were overloaded with new thoughts of fishing, raft building, treasure hunts and identifing the copious amounts of channel markers that swamp our beautiful bay.
I feel the benefits of a week undertaking these kinds of activities expands a childs mind, gives the parents hope that they’ll learn the simple enjoyments of outdoor activities, and makes you feel pretty good knowing that you are making a difference.
But most importantly they are learning how to sail. Understanding the difference between the tiller and the tiller extension. Knowing port from starboard and aquiring the skills to tack and gybe. This is what makes Sail & Play so unique and leaps and bounds beyond other school holiday activities. Sure a kid might learn how to paint at art class, and be able to stand on their toes at ballet camp, plus there are the things they can learn at band camp, but Sail & Play is the only program that teaches them appreciation and respect for the water, weather and tides.
But thankfully it’s over for another few months. We do it all again in September and then again in December… And then again in January and then again in the June/July school holidays in 2007. Oh dear God…
Hang on a second… I just did the math… September is only 2 months away…
AAGGGHGHHHHH!!! JOHNSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
