DSC Volunteering

VOLUNTEERING

The Downtown Sailing Center (DSC) is an exemplary community sailing center thanks to our dedicated corps of member volunteers. We depend on an active membership to help with a variety of events and activities – from facilities and boat maintenance to after-school sailing instruction. Sailing at the DSC is affordable because our members donate so much time to keeping our facilities and boats in tip-top shape and our programs running smoothly.

If you share a passion for a particular program, or just love hanging out at the DSC during the summer, check out the many areas where your contribution of time can make a difference:

Work Parties

Work parties are scheduled throughout the year. At the spring work parties, members prep and launch the boats and tidy up the docks for the sailing season. In the fall, they pull the boats out of the water and ready them for winter storage. Throughout the season, members perform the bulk of the boat and dock maintenance. Joining a group of fellow sailors for a work party makes the work more fun – required tasks are completed quickly, there is plenty of time for friendly conversation as the work progresses and you can learn a lot about the boats you sail.

Check the calendar to see when work parties are scheduled and mark them on your calendar. Come and help out for a couple of hours or the whole day. Crew and adult family members are encouraged to attend at least one work party each season; Impulse and J/22/Sonar skippers are encouraged to attend at least three work parties each year.

Sailors with Disabilities Programs

Volunteer instructors, assistants and dock support allow us to offer the joy of sailing at little or no cost to disabled sailors. Volunteers receive training to ensure that all the participants enjoy themselves and sail safely.

Summer Youth Programs

We can offer many summer sailing programs because members give their time as instructors and assistants. High school and college students can earn service-learning hours working on the summer sailing programs. Schedules are flexible and some paid positions may also be available.

After-School Youth Programs

Instructors and competent skippers who are available weekday afternoons and want to work with youth may become involved in our after-school youth programs. Mentors with a desire to positively impact local area youth are also needed to assist with the Sailing Instructor Trainee (SIT) program.

Special Events

Committee chairs and members, as well as crew, are needed to make our Friday Socials, the Ya’ Gotta Regatta, the SuperKids Regatta, the Inner Harbor Challenge Corporate Fundraising Regatta and other special events possible. Special events announcements and details are sent out in our e-mail communications.

Office Support

The DSC employs a small paid staff. There is always a little too much work to be done, so volunteers keep the administrative side of the operation running smoothly by doing computer work, answering phones, filing, performing small office maintenance tasks, etc.

If you have any questions about the volunteer opportunities available, please talk to one of the DSC staff members.

DSC members receive weekly newsletters and periodic special announcements by e-mail with details about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. The DSC calendar also lists event dates so members can plan to participate well in advance.

Boat Maintenance

All boats in the DSC fleet require routine and sometimes restorative work. Drawing on the diverse skills of our member volunteers, maintenance is performed while providing others with the ability to learn first hand. All kinds of skills are needed. If you are interested, contact Steve Maddox.