Endeavouring to inspire future generations
“To know that I can play a part in changing a child’s life... is pretty cool.”
One of the lasting legacies of the America’s Cup in Bermuda was introducing children from across the Island to sailing for the first time. Katrina Williams ‘06 witnessed these opportunities first hand in her position as the West Endeavour Programme Manager, a position that saw her help write and implement the “Sailing through STEAM” curriculum for Endeavour. Over two years, approximately 1600 Primary and Middle School students took part in both the in-school and afterschool programme that “relates classroom learning to on-the-water sailing.” In one exercise, students are tasked with measuring and calculating sail area for three different triangle sails, hypothesising the impact size would have on the speed of a boat and then getting on the water to test their theories. For consecutive years, BHS sent their
Year 7 students, plus teacher chaperones, to take part in the one-week course.
“The enthusiasm of the BHS students, and teachers, really stood out,” says Katrina. “It was such a pleasure to have them with us for the week. I even got to teach one of my former teachers!” BHS also had 14 students selected to continue with the Endeavour Graduate programme. These students were able to dive more deeply into sailing through Summer camps, after-school and weekend training sessions. Katrina, who majored in Sports Management at Old Dominion University, says Endeavour Graduates were selected from across the community based on five Key Performance Indicators: Willingness to Learn; Attitude and Respect; Improvement; Teamwork and; Diligence/ Effort.
Graduates went on to participate in
Bermuda’s Optimist Nationals, in addition to qualification regattas for the America’s Cup youth races in O’Pen Bics, Hobie Waves and RS Fevas.
“They did amazingly well considering they had pretty much never sailed before the Endeavour Programme,” says Katrina. “What I saw is that we tend to underestimate the children in our community. They can do great
‘kids’ (which they’re not) and their parents, to our entire management team. It was an extremely intense process, especially in the six months leading up to, and including, the event. We were full time, non-stop; even during our short breaks, we were preparing, one way or another. We knew we had a limited amount of time to do the near-impossible, and we pushed each other hard to get there. That kind of demand, in such a concentrated form, is not for the faint of heart! It created a bond
that I don’t think will fade any time soon.
Would you do it again? In a word, yes. But, the nature of this particular set of circumstances means there will never be a repeat, per se, of exactly the same scenario. If I were to do it again, I would apply the learning and perspective gained this time, as you’re only a start-up once. It’s not sustainable to have so few people with such a wide span of accountability, at all levels from conception to completion.
things when they are inspired and given opportunities.”
On a personal note, Katrina says working with so many young people was, and continues to be, a rewarding experience: “To know that I can play a part in changing a child’s life, being a role model or inspiring them to be a better person is pretty cool.”
The actual America’s Cup was a further opportunity to impact Bermuda’s young people with Endeavour hosting nearly 2000 students, including Year 7 and 8 BHS students, at their Education Station in the event village. The activities were focused on four main pillars: Science, Technology, Sustainability and Health and Nutrition.
After a brief respite following the conclusion of the America’s Cup, Katrina was back teaching sailing camps at the Endeavour base in Dockyard over the Summer, with the “STEAM through Sailing” programme resuming this September.
“BHS will be our first school of the year!” she says.
She also says Endeavour is already fully funded for a further two years and is working with some of the Island’s smaller boating clubs to establish ongoing sailing opportunities for any child that wants to get out on the water:
“Sailing changed my life, I worked hard to get this opportunity with Endeavour and would love to see the programme change other Bermudians’ lives long into the future.”
Because we were creating it on the fly, we did things that would otherwise not be sustainable over time - such as having the team headquarters in our home, and cooking meals daily for athletes burning thousands of calories!
So, who knows…. maybe we’ll get another bite at the apple, next time. We, like the rest of the world, wait with bated breath to see what the Kiwis will decide for the 36th America’s Cup.
Torchbearer Fall 2017
25
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