Piers Park Sailing Center is a place for students of all abilities to access, enjoy, and learn on Boston Harbor.
Watch our adaptive sailing virtual voyage to get an idea of what the experience will be like to come and take the helm of a Piers Park sailboat.
Do you want to learn how to sail?
Our primary way of getting started is through one of our many partnership programs with other nonprofits and schools that work with youth and adults with disabilities.
If you are a youth or a guardian, you can also check out our inclusive youth programs. Youth with disabilities age 6-22 can enroll for free in our Harbor Explorers, Science of Sailing, and Sailing After School programs.
If you are an adult with a spinal cord injury and you’ve never sailed before, you can sign up for a ‘give it a try‘ session for free – email info@piersparksailing.org to schedule. If you fall in love with the joy of sailing after your first try, you can participate in our Learn to Sail class and Sailing Pass for full access to the fleet at 50% off regular pricing.
If you are an adult and you have ALS, CP, MS, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s, Spina Bifida, a TBI, or another mobility impairment you may be eligible to participate in free group programming that we offer throughout the season, email info@piersparksailing.org to request a schedule of events.
The Adaptive Sailing Program at Piers Park Sailing Center is a nationally recognized program. We’ve worked with over 2,800 people with disabilities since the program’s inception. US Sailing has awarded PPSC Best Community Program for Disabled Sailors and PPSC maintains its status as an accredited US SAILING Adaptive Sailing Center, one of fewer than 10 across the country.
Our Adaptive Program’s mission is to empower new disabled sailors to realize their educational and recreational goals using adapted teaching methods and a full array of adapted equipment. Our sailors tell us that while learning the important sailing skills, they are rewarded with a sense of confidence while being challenged by the sport of sailing.
You can see many of the different chair configurations available for sailing online here.
f we don’t use Banner then we need to Revise this copy:Piers Park Sailing Center (PPSC) is a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to using outdoor education, particularly sailing, to build community, foster cultural understanding, and encourage self-development among youth and people with disabilities in the diverse neighborhood of East Boston. PPSC works primarily with low-income or at-risk youth, ranging in age from 7 to 18, and people with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities of all ages. For the past eleven years, PPSC has been changing lives through our sailing programs for the children of our city who would never otherwise have access to this unique opportunity. East Boston has the least amounts of green space of all of the Boston neighborhoods.
In 1995, Piers Park was created to meet the need for more public green space. This award-winning waterfront park is a source of great pride for the citizens of Eastie. The sailing center has become an important part of this neighborhood as well; continued support from the community makes it possible that all programs serving children and people with disabilities are provided at absolutely no cost. The 2009 season was a successful year for PPSC. We served more youth than ever in our Harbor Explorers, After-School and Summer Youth Sailing programs, a 55% increase in overall participation. Our Adaptive program for children and adults with disabilities is becoming increasingly popular, growing 1000% this year in number of youth served, adult membership and Learn-to-Sail graduates. Spring 2010 will mark the beginning another season and we look forward to providing another season of Outreach, Empowerment and Adventure.
