The RYA explain why windsurfing helps develop positive character traits.
Why do you windsurf? Well, the most common answer is that it’s lots of fun! But what makes it so fun, particularly for young people? Is it the fact that whilst on the water you are often for the first time at the control of uncontrollable elements like the wind and the tide? Is it being in control of your course, speed and destination and being relatively free to roam where you want? Or maybe it’s just being outside with friends, messing about on the water! Whatever the reason, it’s not only really good fun, but also helps young people to develop and get on in life. As well as positively impacting physical and mental health, outdoor activities like windsurfing can aid character development in young people.
“There is an almost universal consensus that character as well as exam results, has a significant role to play in shaping young people’s life chances, and these character ‘skills’ are much sought after by employers too,” explains Professor Bill Lucas, Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning and Professor of Learning at the University of Winchester, who has worked with the RYA in developing their OnBoard programme.
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