If you would
like to donate to TACS, please contact us at tacs@tacsailing.com
or 231-922-5922.
Mission
Statement
Traverse
Area Community Sailing's mission is to provide sailing opportunities
for the Grand Traverse Region by:
1.
Increasing participation in sailing by community youth
2. Providing affordable sailing opportunities for community
youth
3. Promoting respect and safety on the water while having
fun
4. Providing a participatory activity which utilizes the
unique environment indigenous to this area
5. Promoting life-long skills and life-long recreational
opportunities
6. Providing opportunities for positive involvement and
instruction for community youth during the summer
7. Promoting sailing's Corinthian Spirit of Fair Play
We strive
to keep our programs affordable, due greatly to a tremendous amount
of volunteers and donations. Parents are welcome to get involved,
and we can always use extra help -- no experience necessary! Informal
board meetings Friday @noon at Scott's Harbor Grill, Traverse
City. Monthly Board Meetings are held the third Monday of each
month at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club.
Note
To Parents: Sailing is a wholesome sport that kids can enjoy right
away and the lessons of sailing last a lifetime, like self-reliance,
the value of team work, respect for the environment and the rewards that
come from challenge and competition. Sailing builds physical strength
and mental acuity.
History
1994
A group of dedicated sailors wanted to share their passion for the sport of sailing with the local area youth. The Traverse area is a natural and unique water environment ideal for sailing. Yet, at the time, there were no organized public programs in the immediate area to teach sailing to our youngsters. Sailing is a life-long activity and sport where self-reliance and independence go hand-in-hand with team work and the spirit of fair play. Traverse Area Community Sailing, as a non profit organization, became a reality.
Hull Park, an area next to the sewage plant, was in the early stages of development as a city park and had no facilities; TACS brought in a Port-o-Potty and towed in an old bus for use as office and equipment storage place
That summer thirty-four
12-16 yr old boys and girls participated in a two-week hands-on
sailing school with borrowed boats and an entirely volunteer staff.
1995
Volunteers built 20 Optimist Pram Dinghies financed by local businesses sponsored by the Traverse City Optimist Club; this opened enrollment to include 8-12
year old youngsters and allowed TACS to present a full summer
schedule of five two-week camp sessions.
1996-2000
The on-going development of Hull Park by the City included a pavilion, board walk and dockage; TACS was permitted by the City to occupy office space in the pavilion and use the docks during sailing camp season.
Camp enrollment increased from 34 to 250 students per summer with a paid staff of 5 certified instructors.
The program expanded to 8 sessions of half day 2 wk programs. Donations of boats expanded our fleet to 20 Sunfish, 6 Interlakes, 6 JY15’s and 5 safety boats.
TACS Racing Team was formed. Beginning students now have a progressive
program to grow into. US Sailing (The national sailing organization) awarded
TACS the US Sailing Award for the 'Best Seasonal Community Sailing
Program for Year.
2000
and Beyond
Today TACS employs five instructors, a Camp Director and Racing
Coach, all US Sailing certified. Students have a wide range of
options for sailing based on their skill level from beginner to
expert; from day-sailor to avid racer; from small boat to keel
boat; from training for youngsters to training for adults.
TACS
fleet includes 28 Optimist Prams, 13 Sunfish, 8 - Interlakes,
8 - JY 15's, 8 lasers and 5 Safety Boats. Seven members from the TACS Racing
Team entered the Junior, Senior and Ladies Interlake National
Sailing Championships.
TACS programs were expanded to include a special week for the Boys & Girls Club, a TCAPS summer school option, an adult learn-to-sail program in the evenings and a special Adaptive Sports Day; a full week long program designed for children enrolled at the community Boys and Girls Club; a fall week-long program was developed for the TCAPS Alternative Education Program
Grant funds have provided tuition scholarships for disadvantaged youngsters who otherwise would not be able to attend the camp program; these funds are distributed through the local school districts
In 2004 Ben Ferris, our Camp Director, received the award for the Best Director of a Seasonal Community Sailing Program from US Sailing, the national sailing organization
The
Traverse City Parks and Recreation Commission encourages and has
endorsed the use of Hull Park at the north end of Boardman Lake.
This provided an ideal environment in which to learn to sail:
a central location; warm water; docks; launch ramp; and, fenced
storage area for boats. The Cornwell Sailing Center which will house the TACS fleet and better
serve the community was completed in November of 2008.
Your support is always
appreciated. It is because of dedicated supporters that we are able to
improve sailing opportunities for the community. Donations are gratefully
accepted for scholarship programs, the new boat house, as well as boats
and operating costs.
Please Call. (231) 922-5922 or email treasurer@tacsailing.com
if you have questions about donations.
We gladly accept donations to either our Capital Requirements Funds (for boats, equipment and site upgrades) or our Endowment Fund (For long term sustainability). You can contribute to either below:
TACS is
always in need of boats -- sailboats for teaching and powerboats and motors
for the safety boats. We are in need of Lasers, Interlakes, 420s
and safety boats. ANY TYPE OF BOAT is always appreciated as a donation,
and is tax deductable to the donor. Contact tacs@tacsailing.com or call (231) 218-1227.
