CHICAGO YACHT CLUB FOUNDATION: EDUCATION PROGRAMS BY ANN L RUNDLE, DIRECTOR CYC FOUNDATION
One of the Core programs of the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation is our education program. Over the years the Education Program has evolved and grown to include
summertime
Education/Careers
sessions
expanding on our existing after-school curriculum. Our education sessions take place at CYC’s Belmont facility. It’s the perfect setting along the lakefront, and the kids get a kick out of the fact that our clubhouse sits on a barge. I remind them that technically speaking, when they step on the barge, they are on a boat (of sorts). Something that we club members take for granted, just walking onto the barge; for the kids we host it’s an adventure just to come visit our club. The core after-school education session includes classroom teaching, followed by a hands-on portion,
is a hands-on experience; in good weather we take the
and concluded with a pizza buffet. (One young boy
kids out sailing on the yacht club’s Sonars. During the
this past fall declared chef Michael’s pizza “the best
winter months and when there is inclement weather,
pizza ever!”) The Foundation has been partnering with
we have a module that teaches the kids how a boat
the Union League Boys & Girls “Club One” group from
floats and have the kids build their own “cargo ship” out
Pilsen for over the past five years, hosting a group of
of Legos. So far, the record for the most cargo was set
15-20 kids in each monthly session during the school
during the December 2021 session with an impressive
year calendar. Our typical sessions start out with some
cargo carrying capacity of 67 machine nuts for the
classroom training; a module that teaches them a little
team from Pickard elementary school with their cargo
bit about the Great Lakes and its influence on Chicago’s
ship named “Big Blue”. (Hint, I had told them I was a
economy and growth to become an important global
Naval Architect from University of Michigan, so I think
city.
Did you know there is a mnemonic to help
they were trying to influence the teacher!) The kids
remember the names of the five Great Lakes? H-O-M-
get into creating their ships, and really understand the
E-S: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior! It’s fun
importance of maximizing the displacement of their
to see how the kids are amazed at what’s happening
designs. It’s always a moment of wonder when they
in the water around them and how important it is to
realize that indeed (with some help from aluminum foil
commerce, recreation, and just plain old drinking
for watertightness) their boat can actually float! And
water! Many of the kids that we host in our education
then the suspense begins as we load up the ship with
program have never been to the lakefront, and very few
machine nuts for cargo. Each session I can recognize
have been on a boat. The second part of each session
some potential future engineers! Blinker ✶ Winter 2021
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