GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – As the City of Gladstone’s Sail School prepares for its return to Little Bay de Noc this summer, organizers are raising funds to make the program better for all students.
Launched in the 1950s, the Gladstone Sail School was a summertime tradition for decades. However, Instructor and Parks & Recreation employee Troy Drebenstedt says it was mothballed about ten years ago.
“After I retired out of the Army, my wife and I moved back here to Gladstone with our family,” he said. “Three years ago, we got the school started up again.”
Eight kids enrolled that year. Enrollment increased to 30 kids and six adults last summer.
“The school has expanded from general sail instructing to advanced sail skills, sail racing, and sail theory,” said Drebenstedt. “We have anyone who’s never sailed to more experienced sailors coming out to take the class.”
With that expansion, the Sail School has outgrown its current 1960s facility, the “pram shack.”
“We’re looking to build more of a multi-purpose building that we can use to host different events but also as a classroom,” Drebenstedt said. “We’re looking to make the program more accessible to people with disabilities.”
The Sail School is working to raise $25,000 to update the facility. The Gladstone Lions Club is helping organizers reach that goal with its annual Spring Social this Saturday, April 20.
“Every year, we raise money for a different organization,” explained Spring Social Chairman Bill Sjoquist. “A lot of us in the community have taught sailing here, and the Parks & Recreation guys have really taken it up on themselves to make this program better.”
The Spring Social begins at 7 p.m. at the Bluff Country Club. Admission is $15 at the door, and the event will feature live music by the Jam Band, raffles, a silent auction, and other activities. Sjoquist says it is a fun opportunity to support an important community program.
“In this area, you need to know how to swim, and you should really know how to sail,” he said. “This is the perfect bay for it; a lot of people move to Gladstone for that very reason. It’s a wonderful place to grow up and a wonderful place to learn.”
Drebenstedt says the public’s support can keep sailors new and experienced alike safe, informed, and enjoying the bay for years to come.
“It’s a staple of the community because it not only teaches kids and adults how to sail, but it also teaches problem-solving, self-resilience, and teamwork,” he said. “It’s just a great way for kids to learn different skills that they can use throughout their life.”
Registration for the Sail School begins in June and is open to everyone. To learn more, visit gladstonemi.org or join the Gladstone Sail School Facebook group.
Click here for full details on the Gladstone Lions Club Spring Social.
