Erie Maritime Foundation

TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ENGAGING MARITIME-THEMED EDUCATIONS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT CONNECTS YOUTH AND LOCAL RESIDENTS TO PRESQUE ISLE BAY

THE ERIE MARITIME FOUNDATION, WHICH CONDUCTS BUSINESS AS THE BAYFRONT MARITIME CENTER (BMC) HAS WORKED WITH THOUSANDS OF AREA YOUTH AND ADULTS TO CREATE POSITIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH BUILDING BOATS, STUDYING NAVIGATION, LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, SAILING, ROWING, AND HAVING FUN ON BEAUTIFUL PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND LAKE ERIE. BMC PROGRAMMING, WHETHER DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, AFTER SCHOOL, ON WEEKENDS, OR OVER THE SUMMER, ADDRESSES SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY: HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES, JOB SKILLS TRAINING, ACCLIMATION OF IMMIGRANTS TO A NEW CULTURE, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES, AND HELPING TEENS TO BECOME MORE ENGAGED IN LEARNING WHILE DEVELOPING A POSITIVE FUTURE OUTLOOK. SINCE 1998, BMC HAS WORKED WITH MORE THAN 18,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS TO BUILD 94 BOATS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE: CANOES, DORIES, SKIFFS, ICEBOATS, KAYAKS, AND MOST NOTABLY, THE ERIE BOAT - A 29 CAT KETCH RIGGED HISTORIC REPRODUCTION OF THE SAIL POWERED FISHING BOAT IN USE WHEN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA WAS THE FRESHWATER FISHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD FROM 1890-1915. THE NEWEST BOATBUILDING PROJECT IS THE BIGGEST. WE ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING A 62 REPRESENTATION OF THE 1812 NAVY GUNBOAT SCHOONER, PORCUPINE IN THE BMC BOATSHOP. THIS HISTORIC AND LOCALLY IMPORTANT SCHOONER WILL SAIL AS THE SCHOOLSHIP FOR PRESQUE ISLE BAY. HER CURRICULUM WILL INCLUDE A MENU OF HANDS-ON AGE APPROPRIATE LESSONS FROM 4TH GRADE THROUGH ADULTS INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, MARINE/MARITIME SKILLS, AND REGIONAL HISTORY. EVERY TYPE OF STUDENT HAS PARTICIPATED IN BMCS INNOVATIVE HANDS-ON PROGRAMMING: NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY STUDENTS, SPECIAL EDUCATION KIDS, CHILDREN WITH AUTISM OR DOWN SYNDROME, SCOUT GROUPS, CHURCH GROUPS, HOME AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS, NATIVE AMERICAN KIDS FROM THE SENECA NATION, KIDS LIVING IN COURT APPOINTED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES - ALL KINDS OF KIDS.THE BAYFRONT MARITIME CENTER HAD A PRODUCTIVE YEAR OF PROGRAMMING. BMC, THE SARAH REED CHILDRENS CENTER AND ERIES PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLLABORATED TO PROVIDE THE EIGHT CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF THE BAYFRONT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM (BAEP) FOR OVER 50 ERIE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STRUGGLING IN THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. BAEP IS SANCTUARY CERTIFIED BY THE ANDRUS FOUNDATION WHICH CREATES A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND NONVIOLENCE FOSTERING A POSITIVE, THERAPEUTIC AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. PROJECT SAIL (PS) BMCS INNOVATIVE MARITIME-THEMED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVES 90 STUDENTS A YEAR. THE MODEST STIPEND EARNED BY APPRENTICES THROUGH ATTENDANCE, ALONG WITH THE FINANCIAL LITERACY COMPONENT MAKES PS MORE LIKE THE APPRENTICES FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE, NOT THE MORE TYPICAL AFTER SCHOOL CUSTODIAL CARE. BMC COLLABORATES WITH MANY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON MARITIME OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING: HOUSING AUTHORITY-CITY OF ERIE, SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, THE SIGHT CENTER, FT. LEBOEUF SCHOOL DISTRICT GIFTED PROGRAM, AND THE BAYFRONT NATO/MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER. BMC HAS A PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH ERIES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CALLED THE BAYFRONT SUMMER CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND IN THEIR COURSE CREDITS REQUIRED TOWARDS GRADUATION. COMPUTER-BASED CURRICULUM WITH ON-SITE TEACHER SUPPORT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO CATCH UP WITH THEIR GRADE LEVEL AND GRADUATE. ON-THE-WATER ACTIVITIES CREATE A FUN, INVITING, LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. TWENTY-EIGHT STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM AND THREE SENIORS EARNED ENOUGH CREDITS TO GRADUATE FROM THEIR HOME SCHOOLS WHILE OTHER STUDENTS COMPLETED CREDITS WHICH MADE THEM CURRENT WITH THEIR CLASS. THE 7TH ANNUAL CARDBOARD BOAT REGATTA WAS ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS, PROVIDING A LARGE AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK UNDERWAY AT BMC AND AS WELL AS PROVIDING A CREATIVE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT FOR THE ERIE COMMUNITY. BMCS ERIE ADAPTIVE SAILING EXPERIENCE (EASE) HELPS FOSTER A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, PROMOTES SELF-CONFIDENCE AND BUILDS A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES AND CARE-GIVERS OF PARTICIPANTS. AT LEAST 30 VOLUNTEERS WORKED WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO HAVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGES LAST SUMMER, PROVIDING THEM WITH A CHALLENGING, THERAPEUTIC SAILING ENVIRONMENT. EASE VOLUNTEERS LOGGED OVER 1000 HOURS LAST SUMMER. EASE IS THE FIRST AND STILL THE ONLY ADAPTIVE SAILING PROGRAM IN PENNSYLVANIA.