Community Engagement Programs continue to be an important part of the Club’s relationship with the local community. This season SSCBC will again provide local schools with an opportunity for primary students to get down to the Club and benefit from the sailing and boating expertise available.
Already we have had a busy period in November helping Baxter Primary School with their school camping and beach activities week at Sorrento, and Balcombe Grammar School came to the Club for a day while they stayed at the Portsea Camp for three days. Both schools used the beach access and Club facilities to run their program.
Primary School Water Activity days.
In December, as we have done for many years now, we will have the two local Primary schools at the Club for a beach and on-water day, and we will give instruction on various boating activities including some introduction to sailing. The program usually includes an introduction to safe boating, and an introduction to sailing. This year we will get some students out on a Pacer.
St Josephs Primary School will have their grade 3 and 4 at the Club on Wednesday 7 December, and grade 5 and 6 are down on Friday 9 December. On each day more than 50 students and their teachers and some parents will undertake a varied program of boating and beach activities utilising the full facilities and support of the Club volunteer skippers and staff in Patrol Boats and around the yachts. A sausage sizzle is also provided for the students.
Sorrento Primary School will be at the Club on Friday 16 December, and again the resources of the Club will give the students a special end-of-year day with boating activities and instruction on safe boating and an introduction to sailing. Again a sausage sizzle will be provided and staff and SSCBC volunteers will provide a range of activities to complement the school beach day program. The students and teachers are very pleased to have the use of the Club facilities and the support of staff and volunteers to give students a reminder of the safety requirements of boating.
Junior Sail Training local Scholarship.
As an additional program of support for the two local Sorrento schools, a scholarship for a fully supported place in the Junior Sail program is provided by the SSCBC Training Centre. This program has been in place now for a number of years, and the two donated Minnows are allocated to the scholarship students for the season. The students are selected by the school, and are fully equipped for the training by SSCBC.
Rosebud Secondary College students selected from the Marine studies program will again be given special Cadet training at the Club in the week of 12 to 16 December. This program leads to summer volunteering with the Club if the students complete the boating skills levels required for participation in Race Management roles on Patrol boats during the season. A number of outstanding cadets have been recruited by the Club through this intensive training program which is coordinated through the staff and volunteers of the Club.
Portsea Charity Camp.
Our support for the Portsea Camp’s program for the three charity camps in January is also a part of the Club involvement with the local community. Through the use of Club Patrol boats and other private vessels we are able to give a boat trip out on the Bay for more than 100 camp children and their group leaders. Last year we took two trips out to the seals on each day. This year the camps are set for Thursday 6, Monday 16, and Tuesday 24 January. Again a group of private boats and volunteer skippers for patrol boats will be asked to help give these children a boating trip as part of their Portsea Camp experience.
Volunteers
Volunteers are required for all these events and your involvement will be very rewarding. We need boat drivers, sailors and beach and jetty support people.
Volunteers please let Sarah in the Office know if you can be involved.
Norman Creighton
SSCBC Committee
2/12/11
