Programs

The vision for KBBS is to work with children 8 -15,years of age who are disabled, underprivileged and or at risk, to build, operate and race, sailboats and soapbox cars. Increasing and building their leadership skills, team building skills and healthy competitive sportsmanship.

This type of program will develop skills needed in everyday adult life. Youth learn how to cooperate and work together by building and sailing a small boat or soapbox car.

Being part of a sailing or soapbox derby race team can satisfy the yearning for family. Participants develop a work ethic by learning the skills necessary to take instructions from a manual and guidance from an adult to build a boat or car.

Critical thinking skills are sharpened by having to learn the skills of sailing a boat, interacting with other sailors on the water, learning and following safety procedures.

Leadership skills are best taught in a mentoring situation, which this program richly provides. The teaching of building sailboats and soapbox cars, offers many organic opportunities for lessons in the interpersonal dynamics that are so necessary for success in our specialized society.

Fostering a sense of attainment for minority and at risk youth. Sailing has long been considered a sport for the wealthy, because of the high cost associated with the sport. The KBBS program opens a window on a wider world for inner city youth. It also increases the self-esteem of youth as they build their own boats, master sailing skills, and are responsible for piloting a boat without an adult on board. (Adults are close by in a coach boat).

Kid’s Boat Build Sail Program (KBBS) and a local yacht club, will provide the Leadership, Location, hands on support, and the training for youth participating in the program.

There are multiple reasons for establishing a program of this kind at this time. First Got Kids, KBBS program directors have assembled an outstanding team of Sailing, Racing, and professional youth advocates, to insure the success of this program from concept through operation (See Program Team Members).

Second the Got Kids Program/ organization has developed over the years to the point of being a stable platform for expansion, the KBBS program can be established and enhanced to experience growth potential, both regionally and nationally and perhaps even internationally.

Third sailing has been increasing in popularity amongst youth summer and after school programs outside of the intercity, and can be used as a powerful outreach tool.

Fourth there is a national campaign to improve the health of Americas’ youth. Increased physical activity is in important factor in preventing obesity and diabetes, diseases that are at an epidemic level in our country. For those who do not take to traditional team sports, boating and soapbox derby racing is a chance to play hard in a different way.

Children, who often won’t step over the threshold of the gym, can blossom in this program. The boats and cars being built will be presented to the children in kit form, no sawing, or cutting; will be done by the children.

There are many more reasons why a program of this nature, can play such a pivotal role in the life of any child facing the challenges of living as an under privileged individual in the intercity. Inadequate Education, The beach and waters of Marina Del Rey are a living laboratory for lessons about biology and ecology.

As citizens of southern California, our KBBS members are future stewards of our marine environment. It is important that lessons about interdependence of species and how we are all affected by water pollution and species extinction become part of their base understanding of the world. Through special lessons as well as adult mentoring, Kid’s Boat Build Sail Program imparts awareness of how to live a full life and at the same time keeping our environment clean.

The list reasons continue on and on, but simply put on behalf of the intercity children. For some it could mean the difference of Life or Death, Freedom or Prison, Healthy and Athletic Lifestyles or Drug Addiction and Suffering.