Posts Tagged ‘team building’

Sailing, Leadership, and Teambuilding with the Quality Life Center

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Teambuilding and leadership sailing instruction for at risk kids

Offshore Sailing School hosts team building and leadership program for Quality Life Center

One of the great things about Offshore Sailing School’s corporate culture is the company’s willingness to give back to the communities that we live and work in.  Teambuilding and leadership programs are prominent in the sailing school’s outreach programs. A great example of this is Offshore Sailing School’s innovative sailing and leadership program called Leadership at the Helm™.  

This winter, Offshore Sailing School brought team building to a wonderful group of young adults through  The Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, based in Ft.Myers. Quality Life Center has been providing educational tutoring and mentoring services to children since 1992. Through a holistic approach they strive to help the children and their family manage day to day challenges and help those in need gain a better quality life. They are in the trenches fighting everyday for the less fortunate, underprivileged and disadvantaged youth of North Ft Myers Florida. These programs produce positive results and are a beacon of hope in the lives in of the children and families they touch.

As a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization they constantly are coping with funding and resource issues in this tight economy.  One of the many successful programs they run is called “Believe to Achieve”  focusing on the individual as a leader and team member in building positive outcomes in their own lives and as a member of society. Enter, Offshore Sailing School. During the holiday break and through the first weeks of 2010 sixteen young women and sixteen young men along with facilitators from the Center were introduced to a ground breaking leadership program. Learning how to sail on the sailing school’s Colgate 26 sailboats with expert sailing instructors, the children were introduced to leadership theory and teambuilding concepts that will

Quality Life Center boys learn how to sail

Quality Life Center boys concentrate on learning how to sail

help them in their everyday lives as sons, daughters, students, and community members.

Facing very unusual temperatures in mid 30’s and winds 15 knots and higher these first time sailors were awesome. The enthusiasm, fun, joy and respect these young men and women brought with them was infectious. “Very smart, polite and excited to learn how to sail made this one of the best programs we have done, I really enjoyed these kids” said one seasoned Offshore Sailing School instructor about the group.

As we move forward with The Quality Life Center and prepare for the next group it is good to hear in the halls and classrooms at the center the occasional  “Jibe now,” “Let’s tack”  or ” Uh Oh, I’m in Irons now!”

I was lucky to be in on the groundwork in setting up this program and actually teach the kids. It was a truly inspiring experience and we look forward to many more opportunities to help these children develop into shining adults.

Doug Sparks, Offshore Sailing School Chief Operating Officer

See Colgate 26 at Chicago Strictly Sail Show

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Colgate 26 hull #319 has been bought by Richard Tamplin and you can see this wonderful sailboat at the Chicago sailbot show, January 28 – 31, before we deliver it to Richard in Alexandria, Virginia. I will be at the show on Saturday, January 30th to answer any questions about purchasing a Colgate 26 for family fun, racing, single-handing and just “messing about in boats.”

This is the boat Offshore Sailing School uses for Learn to Sail, Performance and racing courses. Come on down to Florida this winter and give it a try.

Steve Colgate

Sailing Lessons are a Great Gift

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Over the yearMini Cindy Dunn on jibsheetss we’ve had a lot of customers take our courses because someone gave them a gift certificate to use at Offshore Sailing School. It’s a pretty nice way to say “I care about you!” At first thought, you might think, “Why should I learn to sail?” Well, the biggest reason we can think of is FREEDOM.

At the annual meeting of the governing body of sailing – US SAILING – our newly elected president, Gary Jobson, used that very word. He talked about the reasons to get into sailing. First and foremost, he said sailing creates “freedom” and most of all we must never forget that it is FUN. We heartily agree, and that’s why we recommend sailing as the perfect gift for loved ones and friends for any occasion. We all have far too much on our plates: far too many emails coming in at rapid pace all day long; far too many fires to put out and challenges to meet.

Geting out on the water, doing something productive and healthy, using wind driven power instead of carbon-laden fuels, sensing real freedom OSS Andy and Jill red vests-275and having fun – that’s what sailing is all about. So think about giving that gift to yourself, to your family, a close friend or loved one.

We still have some really great weather-proof sailor’s vest to include with a $200 gift certificate for sailing lessons. It’s made by Gill, our favorite marine gear supplier, and it’s a very cheerful bright red. I wear it all the time when it’s chilly outsdie.  It’s light, but warm and pretty classy.  Another reason to go sailing, truly.