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Project SAIL
Learning to maneuver a motor powered vessel.
The crew of USCG 47341 telling Project SAIL Apprentices about their vessel and their lives in the US Coast Guard before an onboard tour.
WHAT IS PROJECT SAIL?
- Project SAIL (Successful Apprenticeships and Investments in Learning) is BMC's new after-school program. It offers an engaging learning experience to teens, ages 15-18, with an interest in maritime activities. Project SAIL includes elements designed to improve educational achievement and provides apprentices with a basic understanding of post-secondary opportunities. Using a career-centered approach, Project SAIL apprentices will be motivated to explore career pathways and understand more clearly the connection between high school achievement and life. Apprentices will develop the transferable skills necessary in the classroom and on the job, and gain a greater sense of self and future.
- Project SAIL includes assistance succeeding in and finishing high school, a healthy and supportive after school environment, and training in fundamental job skills.
Laying out proper spar taper using math skills and a compass. Shaping spars with hand tools.
WHY PROJECT SAIL?
- BMC knows that the 21st Century requires a skilled workforce. A high school diploma alone will often no longer suffice. This is why BMC is currently working to develop programming that will give Erie residents the skills to capitalize on a 20 percentage shortage of workers in the maritime industry. With many baby boomers retiring from the industry in the next ten years, this shortage is projected by the United States Coast Guard to rise to 35 percent, due to a lack of younger, skilled people to fill these jobs. With such a need, these family-sustaining jobs offer stable employment, good income, and great career prospects. In addition to the national need for maritime workers, there are opportunities here in Erie as well. The Port of Erie includes the largest dry-dock and crane on the Great Lakes, a full service shipyard, 300,000 square feet of warehouse space, a Foreign Trade Zone, a Keystone Opportunity Zone, and 6,000 feet of deep draft dock face.
SAIL Apprentices toured the Donjon Shipbuilding facility, the largest drydock on the Great Lakes.
WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR APPLYING TO PROJECT SAIL?
- The only requirement is the initiative and motivation to be successful, as demonstrated in aspects of the applicant’s program application.
2011-2012 SCHEDULE
-Apprentices meet either Monday/Wednesday (Port Watch) or Tuesday/Thursday (Starboard Watch) and can appply for either day, based on their schedule. Apprentices from both watches will join together to meet for Friday sessions. These sessions will be pre determined and apprentices will be promptly notified which days they will be required to attend.
-Apprentices may also choose which session they would like to apply for. There are 4 identical session offered throughout the school year begining September 12th (Port watch) and Sepotember 13th (Starboard Watch). We do welcome students to apply for multiple sessions.
Port Watch: Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Starboard Watch: Tuesday/Thursday/Friday: 3:30pm –5:30pm
- September 12, 2011 - October 26, 2011
- No Class: 9/14 –9/15, 10/10
- October 31, 2011—December 20, 2011
- No Class: 11/8, 11/21 - 11/28
- February 13, 2012—March 28, 2012
- No Class 2/17, 2/20, 3/2
Schedules for joint Friday classes (events, outings) will be posted at the beginning of each session.
Apprentices will be rewarded with a $50 VISA gift card stipend at the end of the first 3 weeks. Upon completion of the second 3 weeks, apprentices will receive $75 VISA gift card stipend.
I’M INTERESTED. HOW DO I APPLY TO PROJECT SAIL?
- You can apply by printing out the application form, which can be found here. You can complete the form and either email it to info@bayfrontcenter.org, fax it to us at 814-459-1678, or mail it to:
Bayfront Maritime Center
40 Holland Street
Erie, PA 16507
Click here for a downloadable one-page document to share with parents, students, teachers, etc.
Click here for the Project SAIL Alumni group on Facebook