THE ANTIDOTE — A
the incidence of both childhood obesity and diabetes are rising dramatically. Yikes! What's a parent to do? We think part of the solution is to find outdoor physical activities that are both fun and engaging, while building muscle, agility, and self-confidence. Kids' sailing programs do just that. In fact, we like to think of them as the antidote for what we call the 'adolescent couch potato syndrome'. As you'll learn in these pages, the Bay Area offers a wealth of opportunities for kids 7 to 18 years old, from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Many Bay Area yacht clubs have instructional 'junior' programs for kids, particularly during the summer months. And there are also a number of community sailing programs specifically designed to make the sport accessible to any and all Bay Area youngsters. KEVIN WILKINSON / SBYC
t first glance you might think modern American kids have it all: highdef TVs, computers, cell phones, iPods, remote-controlled toys, cutting-edge video gaming devices, and more. But to our way of thinking there's often an unseen 'cost' to the boundless acquisition of such high-tech gadgetry. That is, each successive generation seems to spend
less time engaged in good old-fashioned outdoor play, having traded time spent in the great outdoors — a favorite realm of youth in generations past — for indoor time on the couch. The problem is exacerbated, of course, by the fact that many modern parents are afraid to let their kids roam their neighborhoods unchaperoned, while school budget woes have resulted in phys ed classes and after-school sports being scaled back further every year. We probably needn't remind you that two tragic byproducts of this grim reality are that
It's gratifying for YC volunteers to share their expertise, while students discover a healthy new outdoor endeavor — everybody wins!
KEVIN WILKINSON / SBYC
After completing SBYC's Intermediate Program, these young grads raced their FJ all the way ot Benicia in the Jazz Cup!
Yacht Club Programs As you'll see in the accompanying sidebar, there are at least 16 Bay Area YCs that offer summer sailing programs, and nearly a dozen that offer them during the school year. Most have been operating successfully for many years, thanks to dedicated club volunteers who organize events, teach classes, and do maintenance on the boats. Right now is an ideal time to check out their various offerings in order to get your kids signed up well before summer begins, as most programs have limited openings. Although most YC summer sessions charge a fee, many offer scholarship pro-
grams for folks who can prove financial need. It's important to note that parents usually do not have to be club members. At YCs where youth membership is required, kids are typically offered a youth membership rate between $15 and $55. The idea, after all, is to bring new blood into the sport, not to set up deal-breaking obstacles. Most clubs require that young trainees know how to swim, but do not require previous boating experience. At YCs, the focus is almost always on dinghy sailing, as the idea is to build basic skills which will serve as a solid foundation for a lifetime of sailing fun. By contrast, some non-YC programs are run aboard large keelboats, as their primary goal is just to give kids their first introduction to the nautical world. A wide range of boats are used in junior programs, and in most cases they're provided at no additional cost. The vast majority of young sailors start out in El Toros or Optimist prams. Once they learn the ropes, they're likely to move up to Lasers, and eventually to two-person FJs or 420s (both jib-and-main boats). Some clubs also work with nearby high schools to provide race training and sup-
