We reach kids through our Friends Afloat program, our School Afloat program, and this web site. Schools and recreational organizations, such as the YMCA, schedule sailing trips on the boat for young people enrolled in their organizations. We also take families and adults sailing, either as way of saying "thank you" for a donation to our program or for participating in one of our on-line challenges.

FRIENDS AFLOAT

Organizations interested in taking part in Friends Afloat should contact us to schedule sailing times. We reserve the months of July and August for these trips. Usually they last about an hour and a half. The crew consists of 4-6 kids and a supervisor from their program in addition to the boat's captain. All on board take part in rigging and sailing the boat. All learn about steering, sail handling and coastal navigation. Friends Afloat is great for helping to develop teamwork, leadership and just plain enjoyment of life on the water.

SCHOOL AFLOAT

Schools, home schools, and after-school programs are urged to join School Afloat. Here we take longer trips and more frequent trips with the same crew. School Afloat sailors do everything included in Friends Afloat but an academic component is added in to the experience. When the kids get back on shore, there are some follow up activities in their classrooms that link sailing to the subjects they are learning in school.

SEA-LEGS

Sailors from 9 to 18 can join Sea-Legs and sail every week. Kids must have a mentor (who could be their parent) to help them master their seafaring skills. Becoming a Sea-Legs Cadet is a long-term commitment to learning, service, fun and adventure. When you reach 18 you may become a Mentor yourself and sail with us for a lifetime.

FAMILY SAILING

Families can sail with us too. Simply get involved in our program as a sponsor or a volunteer or take part in one of our annual contests found on our website. If you can get to our port city (New London, CT), we wil take your family sailing as a "thank you" for your involvement.

OTHER WAYS TO SAIL

Adults are welcomed to serve our organization as volunteers or sponsors. Qualified sailors help us aboard one of our boats, either sailing with kids or moving the boat to a new port. Other adults help us with our web site, with our annual presentations at various boat shows, or with office work or fundraising. We also need Board Members and individuals with the skills necessary to maintain and restore our fleet of boats. Volunteers in any capacity can count on a chance to sail as our way of acknowledging their contribution to Virtual Voyages, Inc.

GUIDELINES FOR "THANK YOU" SAILING TRIPS

• Minimum cash donation: $50
• Volunteers earn 1 hour of sailing time for each full day of volunteer work.

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