Steering Teens Outdoors

by MELANIE GRAYCE WEST

Hannah Swett wants to ensure that New York City public school students have educational and fun experiences on the water.

The 42-year-old New Yorker, an Olympian who was previously a member of the U.S. Sailing team and was on the 1995 America's Cup all-women's team, began sailing at age 6. Her lifelong passion for sailing and a love of the water is something she wants to inspire in young people.

A few years ago, Ms. Swett became involved in the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, a small, public high school established in 2003. The institution's focus is to inspire a love of the water, the environment and an understanding New York's maritime history and culture.

Ms. Swett, a board member of the Harbor School, recently contributed $25,000 to the school in support of afterschool programs that include yoga, lacrosse, rowing, gardening and a student newspaper. Ms. Swett says that after-school programs were integral to her development and so, with her family, she helped to establish activities for the Harbor School.

Additionally, Ms. Swett has given $15,000 to help launch the first regatta in support of the school. The event, to be held Oct. 6 on Governor's Island, is expected to raise $125,000 and go toward supporting college-preparatory programs.

Ms. Swett is among the regatta's co-chairs and has been involved in hosting fund-raisers for the school for a few years. The regatta will include America's Cup 12-meter and J24 sailboats that will race around the island. Some students from the Harbor School will sail in the event and the hope is that the regatta will help to raise the profile of the school within New York's sailing community.

"Nobody understands better than sailors that you can't run a maritime school if you don't have fun and meaningful experiences on the water," says Ms. Swett.

The school accepts about 100 freshman students annually and most students come from Brooklyn. The focus of the Harbor School is to offer a curriculum in all aspects of New York City's harbor. There are studies in all the basics, but also a focus on vessel operations and engineering, diving, aquaculture and marine policy. Students can work on an oyster restoration and research project and learn to scuba dive, too.

The school is about "getting them a good maritime experience," says Ms. Swett. "To get them outside, on the water and with hands-on learning."

The Wall Street Journal