The Maiden Voyages are part of a new collaboration with PACE, a Portland based service providing unique immersion therapies for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). PACE‘s staff includes founder Kathi Calouri, Ph.D., Eric Hamblen, Program Director, and Steve Ryan, MA, CCC, Speech Language Pathologist. Families participating in PACE Place work directly with these professionals during week long immersion programs to help guide their child’s development within the flow of their daily lives. PACE’s parent-led intervention is the foundation of a family-centered model focusing on “real-life situations.”  PACE Place nurtures learning within a home environment and the community. The new affiliation with Heart of Sailing reflects the philosophy of PACE Place : learning happens in all environments. 

PACE’s Program Director Eric Hamblen coordinated and sponsored the Maiden Voyages and provided lunches for the families. Over 2 days, 17 families (63 participants) enjoyed 4 separate Daysails along the beautiful Columbia River . The voyages were held at 2 different locations including the Rose City Yacht Club and the Island Sailing Center located at the Tomahawk Marina with 7 sailboats participating.

The successful launch of the Portland Daysails would not have been possible without the efforts and generosity of Eric Hamblen and PACE, Bob and Mary Laird, Mike and Judy Oxborrow, Bob and Leslie Phillips and Mike and Carol Pick as well as Michael and Chris Holloway.

Eric will be spearheading the development of Heart of Sailing’s Portland Chapter in collaboration with the opportunities offered at PACE Place, with ongoing Daysails to be offered by volunteers Michael and Chris Holloway. More information about the growing Portland Chapter will be coming soon.

Please visit the PACE Place website for more information about the Family Immersion Program: www.paceplace.org

For more information about our new locations or to sail with us, please visit the link “Sail with Us” at our website: www.heartofsailing.org.

Contact us by phone at (812) 935-7245 or by email at news@heartofsailing.org for any question or if you have a story to send to us