Fun Opportunities

The Heart of Sailing
A Nautical Adventure for Special Needs Children

We and the Heart of Sailing Foundation have teamed up to offer our ‘It’s My Heart’ families the opportunity to sail…. free! Take your whole family!

The Heart of Sailing Foundation is a non-profit charitable 501(c)(3) organization which provides recreational therapy and education in the form of a sailing experience to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Teaching sailing to our special needs clients has proven to be an exhilarating experience, yet calming, tranquil and highly rewarding . for all those whom we serve them.
This is a FREE service!

The Adventure
The sailing, conducted throughout the year during daytime and evenings on weekdays & weekends, is about two and a half to three hours long. The child or adult must be accompanied by his/her parent(s) or care giver and must be willing to wear a life preserver. Basically, the first half hour is a ‘getting to know you’ time during which we discuss things about the boat as well as safety items. When we leave the dock, the client helps steer the boat as we motor out to open water. He/She also learns knot-tying, navigation and piloting of the sailboat along the way. Once the sails are raised by the client and Captain working together, they begin to steer the boat under sail. While at the helm, steering the boat, he/she is told that they are then the Captain (e.g. “the boss”) and therefore, gets to wear my Captain’s hat. At the conclusion, the client is awarded a Certificate as well as a large Medallion on a ribbon (which can be draped around his/her neck) similar to the Olympic medal.

Go to the Heart of Sailing website to find an adventure in your area.