SAILING…TAKES ME AWAY…
 

Posted by Phil Murphy
Couldn’t get Christopher Cross’s dulcet singing voice out of my head as this week’s program was introduced by Cindy Ruzak. S.A.I.L Champion is an intriguing program of the Maritime Heritage  Alliance in partnership with Mental Wellness Counseling. Rich Brauer, local filmmaker and longtime maritime aficionado, introduced the program briefly prior to a video presentation that explained the program in more detail and included stories of the participants. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSguCIn0n6M
S.A.I.L. (Success Always Involves Learning) Champion is a sailing program created by Maritime Heritage Alliance and Mental Wellness Counseling that combines traditional sailing skills with onboard counseling sessions. The program strives to teach leadership, responsibility, and self-awareness in at-risk youth in Northern Michigan.
Sailing a tall ship requires focused teamwork, patience, and responsibility. Participants transition into a crew and develop the physical, mental, and social skills required to sail Champion, the ship designated for this purpose. Their experience is both challenging and therapeutic. Joe Sanok and the team of counselors work with at-risk youth who become the crew for Champion, a 39-ft. classic wooden Great Lakes sailboat. Over the course of a week, youth are responsible for the safe operation of the boat under the tutelage of a professional USCG Captain, volunteers from the Maritime Heritage Alliance (MHA), and a licensed therapist.
What Maritime Heritage Alliance has developed is unique. Youth that participate are referred by nonprofit agencies in the Traverse City area, such as Child and Family Services of Northwest Michigan. The youth generally have experienced a past that included neglect and abuse. Sailing on Champion for a week is often the best event of their lives. They love the new experience of learning to sail.
 
Because the program is so focused, the kids are quite changed by the end of the week. These are some of the Statistics:
  • 70-80% drop in the intensity of symptoms they are experiencing in one week
  • 65-75% drop in the frequency of the symptoms in one week
  • 100% of youth report being more likely to go to college as a direct result of the program
  • 100% of youth report being more interested in maritime history and sailing as a direct result of the program
The lasting result of experience-based therapy is proven remarkable.
There are a number of ways to engage with this program according to SAIL:
  • Become a member of Maritime Heritage Alliance and volunteer to help maintain Champion
  • Volunteer on Champion with the youth
  • Sponsor a group, youth, or other aspect of the program
  • Tell other people about the program
  • Charter Champion for a private event in Traverse City, MI to support the program ($500/three hours)
  • Donate to Maritime Heritage Alliance's SAIL Champion program