A national network of regional Reach “Hubs” led by “Centers of Excellence” serve as models of best practices and share learning resources with surrounding “Reach Centers” and “Reach Programs.”
The first Reach “Center of Excellence” at Community Boating Center, in Providence, RI has been instrumental in organizing regional mentoring events, training resources, and community partnership models to help “Reach Centers” and “Reach Programs” introduce STEM and environmental education in an efficient and economical manner.
The Reach “Hub” model was expanded to the Mid-West region in 2018 with the addition of
Columbia Sailing School/ Columbia Yacht Club an "Emerging Center of Excellence. The "Emerging Center of Excellence" will be mentored by the current Reach Centers of Excellence: Community Boating Center, Northeast; Downtown Sailing Center, Mid-Atlantic; and Mission Bay Aquatic Center in Southern California. Support from 11th Hour Racing and US Sailing donors has made this expansion possible.
Through the support of 11th Hour Racing and US Sailing donors development will continue as the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic continue their work and a new regional network will be identified and supported through an emerging Center of Excellence directly impacting a major US City and community in need. US Sailing is excited to help foster new Reach “Hub” network and share resources to actively “normalize” STEM education including environmental literacy and responsibility utilizing our vast network of potential highly skilled workers and ocean stewards.
National Reach Initiative “Hub” Network
Northeast Region:
Center of Excellence: Community Boating Center; Providence, RI
Centers: New England Science & Sailing, Community Sailing Center, Community Boating, Inc. – Boston, & The WaterFront Center
Programs: Sail Newport, Community Boating Center – New Bedford, Courageous Sailing, Nantucket Community Sailing, Mystic Seaport, Piers Park, Conanicut Yacht Club, Bourne Community Boating, URI Sailing & Greenwich Sailing
Mid-Atlantic Region:
Center of Excellence: Downtown Sailing Center; Baltimore, MD
Centers: Sail Nauticus, Baltimore County Sailing Center, SUNY Maritime, & Hudson River Community Sailing
PROGRAMS: Youth Sailing Virginia, Sailing Center Chesapeake
Southern California Region:
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE: Mission Bay Aquatic Center; San Diego, CA
CENTERS: Newport Sea Base, Westwind Sailing, Orange Coast College of Sailing and Seamanship, US Sailing Center Long Beach
2016 Reach Data:
Figure 1.1 Reach PQA Data from 10 sites through 27 evaluations from a third party evaluate.
In figure 1.1 Reach Initiative PQA data from 2015 & 2016 is compared to data collected by the David P. Weikart Center and National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) in 2013 and reported in the Summer Learning Program Quality Intervention Phase Two report in 2015. This report provides findings for an evaluation of the implementation of the SLPQI in 32 summer learning programs in Grand Rapids, Mich., Northern California, and Seattle, Wash. According to the study Programs with an Instructional Total Score above 4.1 can be considered high quality. In 2017 and 2018, US Sailing’s Reach Initiative will focus on the areas of interaction, engagement, and STEM Skill-Building. When compared to Weikart Center data, the Reach Initiative PQA data is above average in all areas. Please note STEM Skill building was not assessed in the study.
Other 2016 Data:
In 2015 sailing leadership self-reported current sustainability efforts within their organization at 6.1/ out of 10 increasing to 6.8/10 in 2016.
In 2016, Reach center leadership reported a 19% increase in student environmental behavior and literacy from the time students first come to the sailing center until they depart programming.
New Southern California Region:
Emerging Center of Excellence – Mission Bay Aquatic Center
2016 Reach Data:
Figure 1.1 Reach PQA Data from 10 sites through 27 evaluations from a third party evaluate.
In figure 1.1 Reach Initiative PQA data from 2015 & 2016 is compared to data collected by the David P. Weikart Center and National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) in 2013 and reported in the Summer Learning Program Quality Intervention Phase Two report in 2015. This report provides findings for an evaluation of the implementation of the SLPQI in 32 summer learning programs in Grand Rapids, Mich., Northern California, and Seattle, Wash. According to the study Programs with an Instructional Total Score above 4.1 can be considered high quality. In 2017 and 2018, US Sailing’s Reach Initiative will focus on the areas of interaction, engagement, and STEM Skill-Building. When compared to Weikart Center data, the Reach Initiative PQA data is above average in all areas. Please note STEM Skill building was not assessed in the study.
Other 2016 Data:
In 2015 sailing leadership self-reported current sustainability efforts within their organization at 6.1/ out of 10 increasing to 6.8/10 in 2016.
In 2016, Reach center leadership reported a 19% increase in student environmental behavior and literacy from the time students first come to the sailing center until they depart programming.
