Students Set Sail Through Federally Funded Program
The excitement beams from Sean Kiely's face as he cranks the winch raising the main sail on Laurie Simms' 27-foot sailboat on Canyon Ferry Reservoir.
Kiely, 12, is ecstatic to be on the water, conscious of the vessel's anatomy, and attentive to the direction from Simms, a local sailing instructor.
Derek Lund is more of a fair-weather sailor. When the wind picks up and the boat starts heeling, the 12-year-old Lund quickly scurries to the cabin below where he feels more comfortable.
"Derek, come up here," Simms calls to Lund, who is looking a little green. "That's the worst place to be."
Lund returns, but only for a short while. As the winds increase the sway of the vessel, Lund's instinct is to return below where he feels safe from the open water.
"I prefer nice, sunny days," Lund says, poking just his head up from the cabin, "No wind and absolutely no tipping."
The outing was just one of many throughout a weeklong intermediate sailing course through the Helena School District's Promoting Enriching Activities for Kids summer program, commonly known as PEAK.
The sailing class was one of a dozen PEAK courses offered for students in first through ninth grades made possible by a federal grant through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. The courses provide a broad range of subject areas — some for academics and others designed to introduce students to new experiences taught by qualified instructors.
A Natural With Students
Simms, a sailor for over 30 years, is a natural with students. He is a teacher on the water and in the classroom. He owns True North Sailing and offers sailing lessons to folks of all ages. He also teaches advanced placement government at Capital High School. Simms says he'll continue doing both as long as he finds them both fun.
Simms said about half the students are like Kiely and ingest as much information about sailing as they can and return year after year for the class.
"Of any group of 10 kids, five are really interested and we get some good sailors out of the program," he said.
Anna Lund, 14, is one of those students. Unlike her brother Derek, Anna prefers staying on deck, enjoying the thrills of the heeling boat and shifting boom.
This is the fourth summer Anna, who will be a freshman this fall at CHS, took the class.
"I love it," she says with a smile that sparkles. "I come out here and I always learn something new. The first year I was completely stupid at doing it, but this year I knew just about everything."
Savoring the Challenge
Andy Turner was the youngest sailor of the bunch at age 10, but may be the most experienced.
"My grandpa (Bill Vollmer) is my inspiration," he said. "He's a sailor and takes us out about three times a summer."
Turner would like to have a sailboat of his own one day.
"You get to cruise around the lake in comfort," he said.
The hardest thing to remember when sailing, Turner said, is watching out for the boom.
"It swings back and hits you in the head," he said, admitting he's felt it before.
Kiely says operating a sailboat is different from other types of boats, and it's the challenge he likes.
"It's more work and takes more skill than other boats," he said.
Carson Yahvah assists Simms with the class. A chemical engineering student at Montana State University, Yahvah returns to Helena for the summer where he works as a lifeguard at Memorial Pool.
"I learn alongside them," he said. "It's more hands on but laid back. You're not cruising around at lightning speed, but it can get pretty chaotic sometimes."
Beyond Academia
Erin Maxwell, with the PEAK program, said the classes are selected from five subject areas beyond academia including math and science, technology, art, health and physical education and outdoors.
"We make sure we provide opportunities for students at each grade level in each of those areas," she said.
The classes change annually and are based on instructors and their interests as well what's available in the community, for example the tennis courts.
The programs are not free, but payment is based on a sliding scale determined by family income.
"The number of students (800) we've been serving has steadily been going up, and it just shows our big commitment to the community and how committed the community is to us," Maxwell said. "It's great to give students opportunities they may not get elsewhere."
Vol. 27, Issue 43
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