Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Contributed Photo International Youth Sailing of Oshkosh introduced free sailboat lessons last year on Shawano Lake and will return this summer, with lessons expanding to the Wolf River.
Free sailboat lessons are returning to Shawano this summer in an expanded community service that is branching out to include the Wolf River.
Shawano School District summer school students will learn about sailing Fridays on the river at Smalley Park, while the same introductory lessons will be offered to the general public Saturdays on Shawano Lake at Shawano Lake County Park.
Registration is underway, and individuals or groups are encouraged to sign up early for the popular two-hour lessons.
After a successful first season in 2016, organizers have formed the nonprofit group Shawano Community Sailing with hopes of making the program a permanent summer activity.
Aaron Wallrich, a member of Shawano Community Sailing, said private donations have been collected to purchase sailboats and to build a program that he said should prove popular with both local residents and summer tourists.
“People like our lake,” Wallrich said. “And they like to see people using it.”
The sailing lessons will return for summer school students June 16 at Smalley Park and continue June 30, July 7 and July 14, starting at 1 p.m. each day.
Lessons for the general public will be offered twice daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. starting June 17 and continuing June 24, July 1, July 8 and July 15, all at Shawano Lake County Park in the town of Wescott.
Steve Eliason, coordinator of the program, said expanding to include the Wolf River makes sense because the Smalley Park location is more convenient for summer school students. Students will get a good introduction to sailing on the river while others will experience the lake, Eliason said.
“It’s wind and water,” he said. “The principle remains the same.”
Eliason is executive director of International Youth Sailing of Oshkosh, a group that began offering sailboat lessons nine years ago at schools, clubs and summer camps throughout Wisconsin. The group reached out to Shawano last summer and found support from the school district, the city and others.
Public turnout also was strong among those wanting to try sailing on Shawano Lake, with Eliason’s group providing the instructors, sailboats, life jackets and other equipment.
Shawano Community Sailing has collected enough donations to purchase five boats that will remain in Shawano. Members of the group hope to continue growing the program in future years.
FYI
To register an individual or group for a sailboat lesson, contact the Shawano Park and Recreation Department at 715-526-6171 or at the recreation center, 220 E. Division St.