"Junior Jammers Sailing Program"
SMWYC's Junior Jammers program is for at risk teens from the Boys and Girls Club of Venice and was launched on July 11, 2006. The program this year runs for six weeks during the summer months from July 10 through August 16 with sailing instruction and on the water experience. This unique program provides over 20 kids with an opportunity to learn how to operate a large boat. All of the kids are scholarship and pay no fees to participate. The program targets disadvantaged youth to teach them teamwork, communication, critical thinking and self-esteem.
SMWYC's Junior Jammers is one of the new 'Junior Big Boat' pilot programs being tested across the nation by U.S. SAILING. We hope by offering a youth cruising alternative to Junior racing that other kids who drop out of racing may stick with boating. |
The kids are instructed by a certified sailing instructor, provided by the Boys and Girls Club of Venice plus assistance from the Project Leader from our club, Dave Lumian who is also a U.S. SAILING certified instructor. The use of the 30' - 42' cruising sailboats used in this program are generously donated by SMWYC members. Each vessel has an instructor and the owner aboard. The owner is in charge of the vessel at all times. If you would like to get involved with Junior Jammers, please email Commodore Dave Lumian, at 
During this program, the children learn sailing and seamanship skills such as safety, knot-tying, tacking, gibing, sail trim, steering, piloting and more. The kids are interested and very capable learners, they all take turns doing everything on the boat including steering, tacking, sailing to weather, sailing downwind and gibing. They also learned the Rules of the Road as they sail. It is remarkable how quickly the kids adapt to a new environment.