Bold On the Water: New CYC Foundation Partnership Puts Girls Inc. of Chicago Participants At the Helm
July 30, 2025
by Megan McNichols Mahon
The 14 teenagers from Girls Inc. of Chicago were quiet as they walked down the Monroe Station dock on a sunny Monday morning in late June, eyeing the two J/100 sailboats with uncertainty. For these young women, stepping aboard was venturing into unfamiliar territory—but exactly the kind of brave step that embodies Girls Inc.ʼs mission to empower girls to be strong, smart, and bold. By Wednesday, those same girls were eagerly taking turns at the helm and comparing notes on wind direction and boat handling. As the three-day Monroe sailing camp came to a close, their perspective had shifted from nervous hesitation to wishing the camp was longer and wondering when they could be back on the water.
“The girls were nervous on the first day, but by Wednesday, they were really excited—especially about driving the boat and understanding how the wind impacts sailing,” said Carmen Emanuel, Girls Inc. of Chicago Youth Engagement Manager. “I think the girls gained leadership, teambuilding, and collaborative skills. It helped the girls connect a lot more with one another, too.”
The Monroe sailing camp was the first initiative in a new partnership between the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation and Girls Inc. of Chicago, an organization dedicated to providing girls from Chicago’s South Side with education and opportunities to thrive in school and beyond. Girls Inc., the country’s longest-running girls’ leadership program, was established in 1864 and started its Chicago chapter in 2017. The local chapter works with more than 1,100 girls and young adults each year, ranging in age from 5 to 24, offering programs from STEM-based learning to career development to a girlsʼ bill of rights with a focus on self-expression, confidence, and economic independence.
“Weʼre excited about this partnership and the opportunities it offers our girls,” said Kiah Wilson, Girls Inc. of Chicago Director of Community Engagement. “Introducing girls to new water activities is a great example of doing bold things. Whether they’re sailing, swimming or learning about careers on the water, these experiences will help them build confidence thatʼs translatable to other areas of their lives.”
Beyond the sailing camp, the Foundation sponsored a Shedd Aquarium field trip for 80 younger girls in early July and is sponsoring a four-day keelboat sailing program for 18 middle school girls at Columbia Yacht Club this week. Also this week, 15 girls from Girls Inc. of Chicago’s Bold Girls Society are participating along with several other community partner groups in Sailapalooza, a four-day sailing/swimming/fishing camp with more than 45 youth from across the city.
View CBS Newsʼ coverage of Girls Inc. and Sailapalooza, July 29.
“We hope the girls enjoy trying something new and feel welcome in a previously unexplored space,” said Maggie Shea, CYC Foundation Executive Director. “Hopefully, this is the beginning of a long-term partnership where we get the girls more time on the water and also spend more time together off the water.”
Introducing more teenagers to sailing and Lake Michigan is a focus of the Foundation this year, Shea said. “We want to expand the high school pipeline for our programs like the InSPIRE scholarships, maritime internships, and career programs by getting more young people involved in Foundation activities. Ideally, some of our high school sailors will also come back to be senior camp leaders.”
Wilson said Girls Inc. of Chicago is equally enthusiastic about expanding the partnership.
“We serve different age groups because we want to support the whole girl through her entire journey,” she explained. “For our middle and high school participants, this summerʼs water experiences are just the beginning—weʼre thrilled they'll also have access to scholarships, career opportunities, and year-round water-related STEM activities.”
Wilson praised the Foundationʼs flexibility in tailoring this summerʼs activities and highlighted the patience and kindness the sailing instructors showed to initially hesitant participants. The girlsʼ reflections show the impact of that thoughtful instruction.
“I thoroughly enjoyed spending three days with the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation. All of the instructors were really patient and enthusiastic about sailing. I learned how to sail into the wind and how to put up and take down the mainsail. The instructors made the lessons easy to understand by using a whiteboard, and I was able to apply everything they taught once I got on the boat,” said 16-year-old Gabrielle P.
Building confidence and encouraging teamwork while learning to sail were highlights for 17-year-old Shartrell B. “Each day, I practiced navigating the water, improved my sailing skills, and even took part in fun races with other campers. I learned how important communication and responsibility are on the boat. Our instructors were great at teaching us safety and strategy, making the whole experience both exciting and educational.”