Last year, after a seven-year hiatus, the Piers Park Sailing Sailing Center brought back ‘Sailing After School’. The return of the after school program was yet another sign that the popular neighborhood sailing center is thriving following a near closure this past spring.
Last week PPSC’s Youth Program Director Catherine Domina announced the sailing center has opened up registration for Sailing After School.
The program will run from September 10 to October 19, Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Each session runs for two weeks and costs only $25.
“As we countdown the last days of school vacation and close out our summer program 2018, we would like to take a moment to thank all the students and parents who helped make these past eight weeks at Piers Park Sailing Center successful,” said Domina. “This summer we served over 600 hundred youth in our boats and on our docks, including nine Future Leaders on their way to instructorship. It is rewarding to watch our kids learn and grow in to passionate sailors. We know the impact we have in witnessing our participants return year after year growing into leaderships positions, and oftentimes pursing sailing and marine-related fields long after their time at Piers Park. We look forward to our fall program, which runs from September 10th to October 19, and hope youth will take advantage of the opportunity to sail after school for just $25.”
PPSC Executive Director Alex DeFronzo said fall sailing is an excellent time to build skills because the wind is consistent and student minds are focused and ready to learn.
DeFronzo said students that enrolled in the program last fall hailed from Eastie and Chelsea, and many of them came to the park early to finish up homework before hitting the high seas and learning the art and science of sailing.
The Sailing After School program is one of two fall programs PPSC was able to bring back last year. The other program, the East Boston High School Racing Team, also started back up after being absent from the sailing center for a few years.
“We hope to expand and become a provider of year-round youth programs,” said DeFronzo. “Bringing back sailing after school is the first step in that direction. My introduction to Piers Park Sailing Center was through the fall after school program with Connie Pike as my instructor.”
To learn more about the Sailing After School program and to register visit www.piersparksailing.org.