INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The Gifford Middle School Dolphin Squadron combined sailing and environmental learning during a recent after school practice. Volunteer naturalist Barbara Bromberg from the Environmental Learning Center gave a comprehensive presentation on the ecology of the Indian River Lagoon and the environmental challenges to preserve and improve the water quality.
The Lagoon is a complex estuary and home to the largest and most diverse plant, bird and fish population in the country.
Launching from the Youth Sailing Foundation facility near the 17th Street Bridge in Vero Beach, the squadron then sailed to an island where they explored the habitat while picking up and removing litter. In addition they scouted locations for planting mangrove seedlings on a follow-up mission.
The Gifford Dolphin and Beachland Shark Squadrons are a pilot program for Youth Sailing Foundation to broaden interest and participation in sailing throughout Indian River County. With about 20 sailors from each school, the free program has garnered enthusiastic support from parents and students alike, who have displayed a high level of attendance and commitment.
Sailing can have an enduring impact, drawing students out of the digital world and into the natural outdoors, where they must solve geometrical and physics problems in a real world setting to safely and successfully pilot a boat.
The exposure to wind and water in a way that allows for close observation of sea and bird life encourages environmental awareness and correlates to sailors becoming committed stewards of the magnificent natural resources we all too often take for granted.
YSF plans to expand the squadron program in 2018 to other IRC elementary and middle schools. For more information on Youth Sailing Foundation please visit www.ysfirc.org.