by Tara Ebrahimi, guest contributor
“It’s remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.”
Youth are spending more and more time indoors in front of screens with less opportunity to get outside and experience the natural world. According to a survey released by Common Sense Media, “On average, American 8-to-12-year-olds spent 4 hours and 44 minutes on screen media each day. And teens average 7 hours and 22 minutes — not including time spent using screens for school or homework” (Washington Post, October 2019). Extended screen time has been linked with various negative health effects. “Studies have shown that excessive media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity. In addition, the Internet and cell phones can provide platforms for illicit and risky behaviors” (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020). As screen time becomes more and more prevalent in the lives of teens, outdoor experiential activities have become even more important in helping them learn new skills, improve their physical and mental health, and gain a love of nature.
Research shows that there are many benefits to being outside, including physical and mental health, deeper engagement in learning and critical thinking, and increased positive behavior and impulse control (“Getting Children & Teens Outside While Physical Distancing for COVID-19,” Healthy Children, September 2020). One outdoor experiential activity that provides significant benefits to youth is sailing. Sailing improves physical and mental health, helps teens develop leadership and teamwork skills, and instills an appreciation for the natural world and environmentalism.
Other benefits to sailing include:
Youth learn responsibility. Learning how to sail can be challenging and requires focus, attention to detail, decision-making, and determination. All of these skills result in a deeper sense of responsibility when youth are at the helm of a sailboat, helping to navigate and steer.
Youth engage in teamwork. Sailing requires trust and support among those on the boat. Teens have to work together to ensure all of the components of the sailboat are working in harmony. They have to use effective communication skills to both express what needs to be done and also to listen to their teammates. This builds closer relationships and a sense of unity as everyone works toward a common goal.
Youth recognize the importance of the natural world. As teens spend time on the water, they will not only gain an appreciation for nature, but may perhaps even understand the importance of environmentalism as they become protective over the waters they are sailing.
Youth learn through discovery. Sailing teaches life skills through self-discovery, which is a different educational tool than what is used in school and can be an effective method for non-traditional learners. Additionally, sailing creates a sense of adventure which combines curiosity with boldness, bravery, and healthy risk-taking. These qualities enable youth to feel more comfortable facing new challenges.
Youth gain leadership skills and confidence. Sailors are tasked with safely steering the boat, taking command of everything happening around them. This leads to increased confidence and perseverance, qualities which help youth overcome obstacles.
With Chicago Voyagers’ recent acquisition of Carpe Ventus, the organization has tripled the size of its sailing program, newly dubbed the Carpe Ventus Sailing Program. This expanded capacity includes additional sailboats, access to Carpe Ventus’ organizational partners, new volunteers with sailing expertise, and Carpe Ventus founder David Foster, who has joined the Chicago Voyagers team as a program leader.
Carpe Ventus--Latin for seize the wind--partnered with mentoring organizations in Chicago to serve under-resourced youth. Carpe Ventus focused specifically on the areas of poverty alleviation, violence prevention, and community development. Through sailing, Carpe Ventus gave youth access to the outdoors and the chance to learn new skills, build healthy relationships, and engage in positive risk-taking. With Chicago Voyagers’ integration of Carpe Ventus into its programming, youth will gain the many benefits of learning to sail.
Sources:
“The Benefits of Sailing for Kids,” American Sailing Association
“Top 15 Benefits of Sailing,” Learn to Sail
