Shake-A-Leg Miami

Visit Our Website	www.shakealegmiami.org
Contact	Phone (305)858-5550 Fax (305)858-6262
Address	2620 South Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33133
Category List	Associations and Organizations Classes, Instruction, and Training Sailing Schools, Lessons, Instruction

Mission Statement

To bring hope, confidence, social integration, independence and fun back into the lives of people with disabilities and their families. To provide affordable and effective services and programs that will enhance the participant's independence, employment potential, and quality of life. To develop a universally accessible water sports training facility in Miami, open to all people, serving local residents, and visitors from around the world.

Programs

Classes and recreational opportunities are arranged to fit the schedules of as many people as possible, including evenings and weekends. Rarely are classes canceled. In the event of inclement weather, they are rescheduled at the earliest opportunity.

Instructional and recreational programs focus on sailing and kayaking. Programs include group and private instruction, lectures, clinics, special events, on-the-water outings, and advanced training for sailboat racing.

Instruction is based on guidelines established by the United States Sailing Association and the American Red Cross. We make sure that physical, mental, and emotional requirements are met, with safety a primary concern. All classes are taught under the supervision of certified instructors and are structured to allow participants to develop skills at their own pace.

As part of its community water sports activities, Shake-A-leg instructors and volunteers take hundreds of individuals and families out on beautiful Biscayne Bay. This enables them to experience what they thought was never possible, to skipper a boat independently and even to win local and national competitions.

Programs include: Adult Instruction & Leisure, Youth Instruction/Recreation & Summer Camp, Youth At Risk, Municipal Parks and Groups, Competition Training, Special Olympic/Developmental Disabled, Education and Outreach, Research and Development.

Boat Donation Program

In an effort to both supplement our program income and give our Sea School students projects to work on, we are now accepting certain donated boats. Allen Fiske will be heading this up and can be reached by phone at 305-858-5550 x105. We will be making careful decisions based on the following parameters:

• We only accept vessels valued at $1,000 or more.
• Vessels must either be suitable for our programs or for sale.
• Vessels valued at over $5,000 must have a current survey.
• Vessels valued at over $5,000 must have an appraisal not more than sixty days old supplied by the donor.
• Each donor will receive an In-Kind Donation form filled out and signed by both parties.

Facts

• Working in conjunction with the City of Miami, Dade County and 60 community-based organizations, we operate South Florida's only adaptive sailing program. We serve adults and youth with disabilities, youth at risk, students and families.
• We serve approximately 5,000 people with over 18,000 outings annually; 50% disabled, 30% youth, the remainder college students, families and community volunteers.
• The Miami Dade County School Board approved a pilot project for 240 students with disabilities, for a sailing and environmental education experience. The positive response from the students, teachers and administrators resulted in a request to expand the number of students to 800.
• Shake-A-Leg Miami and the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind have developed a blind sailing program for local residents. We hosted the 1999 World Blind Sailing Championships event on October 16 - 22, 1999. 120 sailors (60 blind) from 14 different countries participated.
• US Sailing awarded Shake-A-Leg Miami as the nation's "Outstanding Year Round Community Sailing Program" for 1997. The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce named Shake-A-Leg Miami the Outstanding Non-Profit Sports Program.
• Shake-A-Leg has formed a strategic alliance with the YMCA of Greater Miami and the City of Miami Parks Department to create the Miami Watersports Park and Recreation Center. The project's substantial impact on the community, the Trust for Safe Neighborhood Parks bond act awarded the enterprise $3,800,000 for capital improvements. Phase 1 of the project is complete with the installation of new docks and restoration of the historic seaplane hangar.
• To further utilize the natural resources of the Bay, the Island Adventure Project was established. Through the efforts of Congresswomen Carrie Meek and Ileana Ros Lehtinen, the US Congress appropriated $100,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to do an environmental restoration study of the spoil islands. The islands will provide a beachfront for environmental education recreation and camping.

Volunteers

Our volunteers are the backbone of our operation! We could not operate without them! They are able-bodied and disabled volunteers who insure the success of our activities.

Become a Member

Join Shake-A-Leg Miami and have access to our equipment and take advantage of our many exciting and skill building programs! Learn to sail or fine tune your skills, explore Biscayne Bay, take part in some of our many special events - regattas, moonlight sails, art festivals, boat shows and more! Your membership fees support programs we offer to disabled individuals and youth-at-risk. Help keep the wind in our sails and join today!

Please let us know that you found us in Fort Lauderdale Marine Directory.

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Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Sunday, May 11, 2008 10:08 pm DST