Sailing experiences can bring joy and build confidence.

Argus House is a group home in Arlington, Virginia. Although these teens have had challenges, they are so much fun to sail with!

As they learn to tack upwind, we discuss the fact that even though the wind and waves are sometimes against us, we are still able to use new found sailing skills to get to our destination.

The same is true in life, they don’t have to get pushed around by adversity. Always, there is hope, and setbacks can be overcome, and goals can be reached.

I hope these young men leave us as inspired as I am! -Capt. Jeff

For the past four winters PHLAS has brought teams of young people to serve in El Salvador. On our first trip, five of our sailing instructors taught sailing at the El Salvador Sailing Federation. We also led a surf camp for local children.

Sixty percent of the country lives in poverty. Bringing the activities that we normally do in the U.S. to these young people is a life changing experience (for us!). The children have such a wonderful time and are so much fun to work with.

At the Remar Orphanage we have taught at chapel services, taken groups on offsite adventures such as a high ropes course, hosted pizza parties, led game days, helped with work projects and helped to teach English.

With La Red (the local church that hosts us), we have helped to lead their youth camps, distributed food to needy families, taught at the Christian Surfers meetings, and helped with cleaning and service projects. Once, our team made American cheese burgers for the whole community!

These trips are exhausting, but our team has such wonderful experiences that we all look forward to going back. Contact us if you would be interested in future outreach trips.