Seven kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha set off in rowboats at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center on Saturday during the boat building camp boat launch.
The camp, which began last year, was held weekdays June 13 to June 24. Campers ranging in age from 8 to 13 built a row boat from wooden planks. The campers also painted and decorated the boat – this year’s was red and orange with Spiderman and Iron Man painted on the sides.
BGCK staff said the campers still haven’t come to a consensus about what to name the boat, with “Iron Spider” being one of the names most kids seemed to like.
The campers took off from the docks at the sailing center a little before 10 am Saturday. Three campers – Santiago Jaimes Caro, 11, Kaiden Hamilton, 9 and Jamesley Stevens, 9 – went on the water in the boat they built in June. The other four – Theodore Baldwin, 8, Taylon Cutts, 11, Zachariah Dalton, 10 and Barack Baldwin, 11 – took the boat the club built last year named Rick and Morty.
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A large group of parents, grandparents and BGCK staff gathered to watch the kids test out the boats. Five volunteers from the camp joined the kids on the water in their own boats to assist when necessary.
Learn by doing
Patrick McBriarty, one of the volunteers, said that while it can be hard for the adults, the best thing they can do for the kids is let them figure out the boats on their own.
“That’s the real beauty of it, if you just let them do it, and then check in on occasion,” McBriarty said. “We just put the kids in the boat, tell them a little bit about rowing and give them a shot and they figure it out. They got back to the dock safely; that in itself is an accomplishment.”
Paul Westcott, the Sailing Club’s lead instructor, said there are a lot of emotions that come with getting on the water for the first time. Westcott said their main concerns are safety and that the kids enjoy themselves.
“We don’t have to worry about proficiency, as long as they’re safe,” Westcott said.
Tara Panasewicz, BGCK’s CEO, said she was overwhelmed and happy that BGCK was able to provide the experience for Kenosha’s youth.
“They’re going to come out of this with so many skills that we’re never going to be able to take away, including using power tools and water safety,” Panasewicz said. “It’s something that I hope that we can continue to do for years to come.”
Positive experience
When it came time to launch the boats, some of the campers were a little hesitant to get on the water. However, once they took off, the seven first-time boaters rowed around the harbor for almost an hour. Some of the kids even got back on the water to test out a different boat.
Barack said he didn’t want to come at first, but after going on the boats, he didn’t want to leave.
“It was fun,” Barack said. “I want to go on one more ride.”
WATCH NOW: Boat building camp at the Boys and Girls Club in 2021
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOAT BUILDING
Marcelis Buttler, 13, right, drills a hole with help from Jason Justus, Teen Service Director, as a group participates in a boat building camp at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The two-week camp, sponsored by Snap-On and Offsite, is being provided by the Chicago Maritime Arts Center. The building takes place at the Boys and Girls Club where 13 club members are able to participate. The boats will be launched on Saturday, June 26, at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOAT BUILDING
Riziyah Williams, 10, center, uses a power drill to place a screw with help from Patrick McBriarty, of the Chicago Maritime Arts Center, during a boat building camp at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The two- week camp, sponsored by Snap-On and Offsite, is being provided by the Chicago Maritime Arts Center. The building takes place at the Boys and Girls Club where 13 club members are able to participate. The boats will be launched on Saturday, June 26, at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOAT BUILDING
Martin Perez, 13, right, sands a row boat that he and a group are building in a boat building camp at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday. The two-week camp, sponsored by Snap-On and Offsite, is being provided by the Chicago Maritime Arts Center. The building takes place at the Boys and Girls Club where 13 club members are able to participate. The boats will be launched on Saturday, June 26, at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOAT BUILDING
Amira Gordon, 13, points to boat plans as she works with a group in a boat building camp at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The two-week camp, sponsored by Snap-On and Offsite, is being provided by the Chicago Maritime Arts Center. The building takes place at the Boys and Girls Club where 13 club members are able to participate. The boats will be launched on Saturday, June 26, at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOAT BUILDING
Jailyn Smith, 11, front right, measures for a seat with Jason Justus, Teen Service Director, during a boat building camp at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The two-week camp, sponsored by Snap-On and Offsite, is being provided by the Chicago Maritime Arts Center. The building takes place at the Boys and Girls Club where 13 club members are able to participate. The boats will be launched on Saturday, June 26, at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOAT BUILDING
Jeveah Sullivan, 10, center, cuts a piece of wood with help from Ted Cartner, of the Chicago Maritime Arts Center, as Zachariah Dalton looks on during a boat building camp at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The two-week camp, sponsored by Snap-On and Offsite, is being provided by the Chicago Maritime Arts Center. The building takes place at the Boys and Girls Club where 13 club members are able to participate. The boats will be launched on Saturday, June 26, at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOAT BUILDING
Zachariah Dalton, 9, uses a saw to cut a piece of the bow off a rowboat with help from Ted Cartner, of the Chicago Maritime Arts Center, at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The two-week camp , sponsored by Snap-On and Offsite, is being provided by the Chicago Maritime Arts Center. The building takes place at the Boys and Girls Club where 13 club members are able to participate. The boats will be launched on Saturday, June 26, at the Kenosha Community Sailing Center.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
Boys and Girls Club Boat building
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