On the last day of our Stubbers outdoor session we had the opportunity to learn how to sail a boat. These weren’t large boats, but they were large enough to take 2 or 3 people on board and had all the basic features of a boat.
They first began by learning important safety rules and principles. Answering questions related to falling into the water, how the boat remains stable, and how to wear the life jacket. Then they took their ‘dagger boards’ which were long planks of wood shaped like a dagger that they had to insert into the middle of the boat to prevent it from rolling over. We then made our way to the pier where they learnt how to set up the boat. How to unwrap the sail, how to put the rudder down, how to tie ropes and more. This was where they learnt the basics of how boats work.
Once they learnt the basics, they were given the opportunity to sail on their own, in groups of 2. This was very important for them to develop their skills of interacting with people. They had to prepare and sail a boat with people they had not met before this event. This is a big part of Keen On Deen, which is to prepare them to interact with their surroundings, and to give them the opportunity to form and build new meaningful bonds with their fellow muslims.
Their sense of achievement was immense as they sailed on the lake. They were controlling this large vessel on their own and for most of them, for their first time.